DISASTER RISK REDUCTION WORKSHOP FOR THE DEAF IN KARACHI-PAKISTAN

In case of disaster...

By Rukhsana Ahsan

Globalisation in recent years has led to a rapid growth in cross-cultural contacts and interaction worldwide. With the advancement in communication and transport technologies, major geographical obstacles and cultural differences have been removed and this has led to greater access to knowledge and sharing of ideas between nations and societies.

Events, activities and decisions in one part of the world can have significant consequences for communities in distant parts of the globe. The earthquake in Kashmir and the northern areas and the tsunami in south-east Asia have all had far-reaching effects. Such catastrophes can strike any region of the world at any time with the result that people and governments are usually taken unawares.

High-level meetings and conferences were held around the world to discuss risk reduction strategies during natural calamities. Many South Asian countries including Pakistan have prepared a framework for disaster management and are now working towards a national policy. In order to minimise the loss of lives and property, public involvement is essential at all levels. Therefore awareness campaigns are underway in Indonesia and other countries for the benefit of all citizens including special training programmes for the disabled.

A workshop was held recently on this subject in Karachi. It was unique in the sense that it had been organised by hearing-impaired adults to educate other people with disabilities on how to protect themselves during natural calamities. The workshop was held under the auspices of Daneshkadah, a non-political organisation working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities and deafness, which acts as a think-tank on disability related issues. The topic of the workshop was “Disaster risk reduction for persons with disabilities”.

The hearing-impaired community in Pakistan is well aware of the benefits of globalisation and is eager to take full advantage of networking and collaboration with all segments of society and different organisations of the disabled at the national and international level. Daneshkadah invited Ms Galuh Sukmara Suijanto, a dedicated leader of the deaf community in Indonesia to present the keynote address. She has given several workshops on the subject in her country and at international conferences too. Presently, Ms Galuh is pursuing her master’s degree at La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia.

In her workshop on “Emergency preparedness for deaf and hard of hearing students”, Ms Galuh explained to the audience comprising mostly of hearing-impaired adults, that in every disaster of any magnitude, the communities are basically of two types — vulnerable and non-vulnerable. The most vulnerable are the elderly people, children and disabled persons and they are the worst sufferers because of a lack of mobility, sight, hearing, etc. Previously, they had been ignored but after the tsunami, awareness about their needs is growing and training programmes have been devised for them in Indonesia.

Ms Galuh spoke about evacuation of deaf students during earthquakes and various drills that are practiced in schools. Her presentation was interspersed with power point displays, illustrations and video films. Each point was explained in detail through Pakistani sign language along with its oral translation. The highlight of Ms Galuh’s workshop was the skits and role play modules used to demonstrate some of her points practically to the audience.

The deaf and disabled communities in Hyderabad and Sanghar will also benefit from Ms Galuh’ lecture as she will be holding workshops there as well.

The next speaker, Mr Ghulam Nabi Niazamani spoke about “Inclusion in risk management”. He is a well-known vocal figure at the national and international seminars on disabilities and a resourceful person for various training programmes in Pakistan and abroad. He is the representative from South Asia for the Commonwealth forum on disability. Mr Nizamani pointed out that people with disabilities are one of the most neglected and alienated sections of society and are ignored at every level, even in decision making processes that concerns them. Legislatures are passed without consulting them and they have no voice or seat in the government. In the absence of any special provisions for them and their needs, human casualties during cyclones, tornadoes, floods, etc., comprise proportionately more people with disabilities.

Mr Nizamani gave the example of a study conducted in the US after the destruction caused by hurricane Katrina and it was found that persons with disabilities had been the worst sufferers.

He said that the need of the hour was to have public awareness campaigns on disaster management not only for the urban population but also for the rural far-flung areas inland and the coastal belt.

The last speaker was Mr Muhammad Akram, the founder chairman of Daneshkadah. He is a very active member of the deaf community and has attended various seminars, conferences and training programmes as a participant/speaker in Pakistan and abroad. His paper on “Accessible tourism from the perspective of deaf and hard of hearing people” presented at the conference organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand, has been highly acclaimed.

Mr Akram began his talk on “Accessible environment towards a barrier-free society for all” by asking some very pertinent questions such as:

• How do you alert the deaf during an emergency?

• How do they call for help?

• How do they get information?

He emphasized the need for educating society and the common man about the plight of the disabled and elderly during disasters and emergencies. He said that one of the most effective methods of doing so was through films and the media. He said that it was necessary to create awareness within the deaf and disabled population about disaster management through captioning and sign language windows during television programmes.

Mr Akram said that the removal of attitudinal and institutional barriers at all levels and access to transport, information, communication and other facilities/services will bring about a change and lead to an inclusive, barrier-free society with equal rights for all. People in general are unaware about disaster management and every effort should be made to educate them. It is important that seminars, talks, shows, discussions be held regularly in which persons from all walks of life can participate.

Emergency evacuation drills should be conducted in educational institutions, offices, factories, etc., so as to minimise casualties.

Resource link: http://www.dawn.com/weekly/education/archive/080824/education3.htm

Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop for the Deaf

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:

http://www.danishkadah.org.pk/activities/events/080720-DRR/program.html

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.