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Description
Despite the legal solutions currently in place, Deaf people continue to be a socially excluded group (Situation of d/Deaf People in Poland. Report by Commissioner for Human Rights Team for d/Deaf People, 2014). This is due to a lack of awareness on the part of people with normal hearing on how Deaf people function and their needs. We can definitely say, based on almost seven years of experience of working in this field, that the society has very little knowledge of the culture of Deaf people and the Polish Sign Language. There are still commonly-believed detrimental stereotypes regarding Deaf people. The project addresses the problem of social exclusion of Deaf people. We will set up a self-help group and conduct meetings for the group on preventative and awareness-raising issues, and self-advocacy. We will determine the subject matter in consultation with the attendees. We will select five people from that group to be self-advocates who, with their acquired skills, will act for the good of their community. These people will conduct workshops in government offices and other public institutions to raise awareness of the culture and needs of Deaf people. The participants in the project will be assisted by a Polish Sign Language interpreter and will be given advice on legal, civil, and psychosocial issues. We will organize voluntary work intended to assist with education of children of Deaf parents. 25 people with hearing loss from the Olsztyn area will take part in the project. Participants in the project will gain basic knowledge about their rights, options for overcoming difficulties, and self-representation. Five people will take up self-advocacy activities.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of social exclusion of Deaf people living in and around Olsztyn. It is estimated that there are between 60,000 and 100,000 Deaf people living in Poland. They still experience systemic discrimination, lack access to information, infrastructure and public services; they are being treated condescendingly by the hearing majority, including loved ones. Hearing people in Poland are unaware of the situation and the needs of the Deaf community and often base their knowledge on stereotypes. Knowledge of Polish Sign Language (PSL) in Polish society is negligible and the availability of interpreters and translators is very limited. There are only 4 professional PSL interpreters in the Warminsko-Mazurskie voivodship.As part of the project, various activities were carried out targeting the Deaf, their environment and professionals providing public services. A Deaf self-advocacy group was set up and met regularly to discuss a range of issues of concern to members and the wider community. Following preparatory training, these self-advocates facilitated 10 workshops for health workers (178 people in total) in various hospitals in the region. The workshops focused on Deaf culture and needs and the accessibility of services provided by hospitals and clinics. The project also trained volunteers and organised volunteer teaching for the hearing children of deaf parents. Deaf people were provided with legal and civic counselling and psychological support.Thanks to the project, Deaf people have received various types of support in their daily functioning, increased their self-confidence, developed problem-solving skills and self-reliance, and been empowered in their role as self-advocates. The availability of social services for the Deaf community in Olsztyn and the surrounding area has increased. Healthcare staff have been sensitised to the needs of Deaf people and to what constitutes proper communication between a Deaf person and a hearing person and a sign language interpreter.
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