Deafblindness and inclusion – an interview with Carlos, Mriam and José Darío
By Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following
an important interview realised by (Carlos Jorge), Brazilian, from ABRASC (Associação Brasileira de Surdocegos), Miriam Torres of Orves (Organización Venezolana De Sordociegos en Venezuela) and José Darío Rendón Nieblas from Mexico. We talked about deafblind people. We have already interviewed
Alex Garcia from Brazil about what deafblindness means, and how it restricts
life. Alex showed us his struggle to be part of society. Here you can find his interview
and his poem
about the dreams he has as deafblind person. ProMosaik is for a complete
inclusion of people with disabilities. Would like to thank Carlos for his
impulses and photos.
What kind of problems do people with
deafblindness face nowadays?
deafblindness face nowadays?
a) Misinformation or lack of information – most
people don’t know what deafblindness is. They usually expect someone who can’t
hear and can’t see absolutely nothing and they want a “recipy” of how
to communicate. However, deafblindness involve different ways of communication
and different necessities.
people don’t know what deafblindness is. They usually expect someone who can’t
hear and can’t see absolutely nothing and they want a “recipy” of how
to communicate. However, deafblindness involve different ways of communication
and different necessities.
b) There are specific laws for people with
disabilities, but many important aspects aren’t accomplished. Sometimes, they
are not even respected.
disabilities, but many important aspects aren’t accomplished. Sometimes, they
are not even respected.
c) People with deafblindness need
guide-interpreters. The government and/or government-owned private corporations
could an should provide these professionals, but not always it happens.
guide-interpreters. The government and/or government-owned private corporations
could an should provide these professionals, but not always it happens.
In São Paulo, we have the CIL (Brazilian Sign
Language Interpreters Central) that provides guide interpreters only for public
services, but it’s not enough. We always need volunteers, and the same happens
in Venezuela and Mexico. Considering that we are all facing serious challenges
related to economy and politics, it makes it much more difficult for us to find
volunteers. So, the governments and companies should take the responsibility to
provide guide-interpreters to guarantee good communication (oral, tactile, or
any other ways of communication).
Language Interpreters Central) that provides guide interpreters only for public
services, but it’s not enough. We always need volunteers, and the same happens
in Venezuela and Mexico. Considering that we are all facing serious challenges
related to economy and politics, it makes it much more difficult for us to find
volunteers. So, the governments and companies should take the responsibility to
provide guide-interpreters to guarantee good communication (oral, tactile, or
any other ways of communication).
d) The issue related to the lack of
professionals who work as guide-interpreters is much more serious when we think
about students. And there is also the problem related to the distance: schools
that can give a good support usually are far from the houses of the students
with deafblindness.
professionals who work as guide-interpreters is much more serious when we think
about students. And there is also the problem related to the distance: schools
that can give a good support usually are far from the houses of the students
with deafblindness.
e) The assistive technology and apps or other
supports are usually very expensive.
supports are usually very expensive.
What are the main obstacles to the social
inclusion of people with deafblindness?
inclusion of people with deafblindness?
a) Lack of accessibility, not only
environmental, but also and especially attitudinal.
environmental, but also and especially attitudinal.
b) No solutions for the problems listed above.
c) Lack of information and ignorance, and as a
consequence, lack of interest to provide guide-interpreters.
consequence, lack of interest to provide guide-interpreters.
d) Not considering the people with deafblindness
in the census.
in the census.
e) Lack of resources to empower families to give
the necessary support to the family member with deafblindness at school, at the
university, at rehab institutions, or even to give formation to the people in
general. It is usually done by Social Organizations or Associations, like ORVES
(Organizacion Venezolanda de Sordociegos) in Venezuela and ABRASC (Associação Brasileira
de Surdocegos) in Brazil.
the necessary support to the family member with deafblindness at school, at the
university, at rehab institutions, or even to give formation to the people in
general. It is usually done by Social Organizations or Associations, like ORVES
(Organizacion Venezolanda de Sordociegos) in Venezuela and ABRASC (Associação Brasileira
de Surdocegos) in Brazil.
f) The laws aren’t followed as they should. They
should be part of our everyday life and not only on the paper.
should be part of our everyday life and not only on the paper.
I read on your site that you cooperate with
international organizations such as WHO and ONU. What is your role at the
international level and what is being done, in order to support the advocacy?
international organizations such as WHO and ONU. What is your role at the
international level and what is being done, in order to support the advocacy?
Personally I cooperate with WFDB (World
Federation of the Deafblind) – www.wfdb.eu. Here
you can find the homepage of the organization supporting deafblind poeple all
over the world.
Federation of the Deafblind) – www.wfdb.eu. Here
you can find the homepage of the organization supporting deafblind poeple all
over the world.
Do you cooperate with other public institutions?
(local authorities, governments..)
(local authorities, governments..)
About the problems faced by people with
deafblindness
deafblindness
In Venezuela, Orves cooperates and works with
public institutions.
public institutions.
In Mexico, when they are invited.
I don’t work directly with public institutions,
but as the General Director of ABRASC, with a partnership with Grupo Brasil, we
are all involved in questions related to education, health, culture,
accessibility, technology, and many other issues. The campaigns and our actions
aim to provide information and to make the community aware of the necessities
of people with deafblindness. So we are always giving lectures, we also
participate in Congresses and other public activities.
but as the General Director of ABRASC, with a partnership with Grupo Brasil, we
are all involved in questions related to education, health, culture,
accessibility, technology, and many other issues. The campaigns and our actions
aim to provide information and to make the community aware of the necessities
of people with deafblindness. So we are always giving lectures, we also
participate in Congresses and other public activities.
