Seminar Report of Disaster Risk Reduction for the Deaf in Pakistan
Recent disasters in the world alert the expert about preventive action to minimize the risk to life in disaster. Besides building homes, schools and other buildings, more resistible to earthquake, experts also focus on training on protection and evacuation when disaster hit.
We at DANISHKADAH believe that "knowledge is power", and we always try exchange knowledge from around the world. This time we arranged a seminar on "Disaster and Disability - Disaster Risk Re-education (DRR) for Persons with Disability (PWDs), and invited Ms. Galuh Sukmara to share knowledge with Pakistani deaf community. Ms. Galuh has presented similar workshop at UNESCAP - Bangkok with ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, Indonesia Office) a project of German Government, and currently pursuing her Master at La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia. Seminar was commenced by recital of holy Quran, and then Founder Chairman DANISHKADAH welcomed the participants and explained the purpose of the seminar he also introduced Ms. Galuh and thanked her for visiting Pakistan.
Ms. Galuh's Presentation: Ms. Galuh Sukmara gave a presentation on Disaster Risk Reduction with the help of ASB. She explains that protection come first and evacuation second. She also demonstrated protection and evacuation drill with deaf students of PAD.
She said that visual method is the best teaching method for the deaf, because most of deaf people cannot understand well by reading. Also, if we use sign language it still may not be very effective because deaf people use different sign at different places, and Sign Language is neither standardize (in most of countries) it has insufficient vocabulary. Therefore, using visual method (such as mime show, drama, and cartoon sketches) is best strategy not only for the deaf but also for others since all people understand by visual method much faster and easily.
Besides other things Ms. Galuh taught the following points that help at time of earthquake;
1. Preventive action;
o make the shelves, cupboards safe so the things won't fall on you when earthquake hit
o keep first aid box, water bottle, biscuit, blanket, torch / light, etc. in a bag, and bring this bag with you, so that will be handy after evacuation.
2. Protection
o to protect yourself, hide under table or something when earthquake hit
3. Evacuation;
o don't panic, don't run and push other people, make queue, protect your head with hands, bag or something and stay calm.
o if you are bare feet put your shoes on to protect your feet.
4. Post Evacuation;
o Do not go back in the house after evacuation, to pick anything even if the earthquake has stopped. Building or part of it may fall and toll injury or death
She also showed DVD that explains how to teach deaf students.
Mr. Ghulam Nabi Nizamani's Presentation: Mr. Ghulam Nabi Nizamnani gave presentation on "inclusion on Risk Management". He focused on Importance of integrating the voice of disabled persons into climate change and disaster mitigation strategies.
He said that the groups of people affected worse are vulnerable groups like the elderly, women and girls, minority groups, children, indigenous communities and people with disabilities. Most vulnerable group among vulnerable groups is disable people. 650 million people worldwide have a disability. One fourth of total world population lives in South Asia
He recommends that;
Persons with disabilities need to be actively engaged at all levels (local, national and international) of disaster and emergency planning, disaster risk reduction, recovery and reconstruction projects.
DPOs capacity in disaster-prone countries needs to be strengthened.
Support to be provided for DPOs in the dissemination of information about the UN convention, and in monitoring and assessing its implementation.
All agencies should incorporate training and support using a rights-based approach at field level for disabled persons.
DPOs should also be involved in the planning and conducting of such needs assessments.
Individual countries need to be encouraged, enabled and supported to conduct an accurate and reliable census and data of their population with disabilities.
Aid agencies need to improve initial needs assessments by sharing information, learning from experience and developing common indicators on the impact of discrimination towards disabled people.
Grass-root self help organizations of disabled people need to be encouraged enabled and engaged in times of stability in order to build capacity, empower the DPOs involved and reduce potential vulnerability in an emergency.
All agencies engaged in disaster mitigation need to advocate within communities to change existing negative attitudes towards disabled people. As they may be equally treated in emergency situations.
Government and nongovernmental agencies must also identify and address obvious and hidden discrimination within their own organizations.
Civil Society Organizations need to promote a barrier-free, inclusive and right-based society for disabled people for better support in disaster and emergencies.
Mr. Muhammad Akram's presentation: He gave a presentation on "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons in disaster / emergency" (Accessible Environment towards a barrier-free society for all.
He said that Asia Pacific Development Center (APCD) arranged a seminar / workshop in Islamabad after earthquake in Kashmir wherein he shared his experience and mentioned that Deaf and Hard of hearing community has been ignored in National Policy and in National Action Plan.
He said that because Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) people are able body, authorities and agencies usually do not give proper attention to their needs, however During Hurricane Katrina, the most underserved group were the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Why? Because:
Less than 30 percent of shelters had access to American Sign Language interpreters
80 percent did NOT have TTY's and
60 percent did NOT have TVs with open caption capability
Source: US National Council on Disability, N.O.D. Emergency Preparedness Initiative's Report on Special Needs Assessment for Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Project
Akram focused on the barriers that deaf and Hard of Hearing people faced during the emergency.
1. There is no emergency alert system for deaf in any hotel, hostel or other place. So in case of emergency it may toll death.
2. Deaf and HOH people have very limited access to information, TV channels do not use captions, and sign Language interpretation, so deaf and HOH people face barriers in accessing information on-time. And may not be able to safely evacuate.
3. Deaf and HOH people cannot call emergency number 15, as that is only for voice calls.
4. Usually relief workers cannot communicate in Sign Language that make barriers and put deaf people down.
He suggested that in all school basic sign language should be taught as an extra curriculum activity, so the main stream society will have more exposure to Sign Language and it will help in inclusion.
At end of the Seminar DANISHKADAH, thanked all the participants, speakers, ASB and Dr. Abdul Wahab, president of M. A. Jinnah University.
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This Workshop is organized and presented by Danishkadah Organization in Karachi Pakistan. Danishkadah was established to empower persons with disabilities and deafness, and to work as a think-tank on disability related issues. Mr. Muhammad Akram as he himself deaf person is the main person who established it.
For detailed information, please have a look at:
Note: the material used, was developed by ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, Indonesia Office) a project of German Government, DANISHKADAH is grateful for ASB for letting us use their material.
ABOUT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS on DRR WORKSHOP FOR THE DEAF in KARACHI:
Galuh Sukmara Soejanto, one of our advisory board member is Founder and former president of Matahairku Social Voluntary Group (Indonesia - Japan), she is talented leader of deaf community. She has presented a workshop at UNESCAP - Bangkok Thailand on "school emergency preparedness for deaf student" with ASB (Arbeiter Samariter Bund) Germany-Indonesia. Currently she pursing her Master at La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia. She is visiting Pakistan on request of DANISHKADAH, and will be the key note speaker for the workshop.
Ghulam Nabi Niazamni, one of our advisory board member is well know leader in disability movement, and working as resource person with JICA / APCD and has been resource persons for various training programs in Pakistan and abroad. He is chief Executive of ASHA and vice chair of DPI - south Asia, and representative from south Asia for commonwealth forum on disability. Also he is President of Sindh Disability Forum (SDF).
Muhammad Akram is founder chairman of DANISHKADAH, he has more than 7 years experience in disability movement, and he attended various seminars, conference and training program as participants and as speaker in Pakistan and abroad. He is the first and only member of ALDA from Pakistan. He is supporting various local and international organizations for / of persons with disabilities. He has written a book on "information accessibility for persons with disabilities" and presented paper on "Accessible tourism from the perspective of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People" at UNSECAPE Bangkok-Thailand.
copy right: The above two photos in title image and some other material that will be used during workshop / semianr are taken from the material developed by ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, Indonesia Office) a German government sponsor Project. We are greatful for ASB Indonesia / Germany for letting us use the material.
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