Comments on: 2010 off to a great start! http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/ Living today with hearing loss. Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:29:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andre van Deventer http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Andre van Deventer Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:29:11 +0000 http://www.hear2day.co.za/?p=134#comment-83 Hi folks! Not sure if it is possible to start a new topic on this forum but hopefully some of you will see this post. Otherwise can someone please paste this in a new topic? My question is as follows: Has there been any attempt in SA to establish some kind of national structure for hard of hearing and deaf persons who lost their hearing later in life? Currently, the situation is as follows: The Deaf Federation of South Africa [Deafsa] is the organisation that seems to be accepted by Government and other national bodies as speaking for all persons with hearing loss in South Africa. But the practical situation is that Deafsa focuses on persons who use South African Sign Language as their primary method of communication. This means then that they do not advocate for the rights of either hard of hearing persons or persons who be came deaf later in their lives. So who advocates for hard of hearing persons? Their is no national organisation of hard of hearing persons in South Africa. The National Council of Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa [NCPPDSA] has valiantly tried to take up the slack for thae last few years but they are primarily an organisation catering for persons with physical disabilities in South Africa. That is how it should be. Has the time perhaps arrived for like-minded individuals to at some stage come together and start discussing the formation of a national structure for hard of hearing persons in South Africa Such a structure can affiliate to the International of Hard of Hearing Persons [IFHOH] thus giving us an international voice. Why is it that the group of Sign Language users, who make up a minority group within the larger group of persons with hearing loss - are able to penetrate government to the highest level to make their needs known but the same is not necessarily true for hard of hearing persons although we form the majority of persons with hearing loss? Just some thoughts to ponder. Please note that I am posting here as a private individual and am not necessarily expressing the views of the National Institute for the Deaf. Andre Hi folks!
Not sure if it is possible to start a new topic on this forum but hopefully some of you will see this post. Otherwise can someone please paste this in a new topic?
My question is as follows:
Has there been any attempt in SA to establish some kind of national structure for hard of hearing and deaf persons who lost their hearing later in life?
Currently, the situation is as follows:
The Deaf Federation of South Africa [Deafsa] is the organisation that seems to be accepted by Government and other national bodies as speaking for all persons with hearing loss in South Africa. But the practical situation is that Deafsa focuses on persons who use South African Sign Language as their primary method of communication.
This means then that they do not advocate for the rights of either hard of hearing persons or persons who be came deaf later in their lives.
So who advocates for hard of hearing persons? Their is no national organisation of hard of hearing persons in South Africa.
The National Council of Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa [NCPPDSA] has valiantly tried to take up the slack for thae last few years but they are primarily an organisation catering for persons with physical disabilities in South Africa. That is how it should be.
Has the time perhaps arrived for like-minded individuals to at some stage come together and start discussing the formation of a national structure for hard of hearing persons in South Africa Such a structure can affiliate to the International of Hard of Hearing Persons [IFHOH] thus giving us an international voice.

Why is it that the group of Sign Language users, who make up a minority group within the larger group of persons with hearing loss – are able to penetrate government to the highest level to make their needs known but the same is not necessarily true for hard of hearing persons although we form the majority of persons with hearing loss?

Just some thoughts to ponder.
Please note that I am posting here as a private individual and am not necessarily expressing the views of the National Institute for the Deaf.

Andre

]]> By: Andre van Deventer http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Andre van Deventer Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:32:26 +0000 http://www.hear2day.co.za/?p=134#comment-81 Hi Fred! Must really make a point of checking into the website on a more regular basis. Once again my apologies for the long delay in responding. I really think my colleague Tim Stones and I must make some kind of plan to join you folks for your next get-together. We need to establish some kind of more permanent link with all of you across the mountain! The differences between the two main communities of persons with hearing loss is one that I have had to deal with during the past more than ten years. The problem is most probably that there are hotheads on both sides of this controversial debate. If you want to debate any issue you must first try to understand why people may hve differing viewpoints from yours. Only then I believe can you sit down and find common ground. And in many cases this has not happened in the community with hearing loss. I believe that most folks actually want to find some way of working together. But we tend to fear things/people/situations we do not know and react out of this fear. Hi Fred!
Must really make a point of checking into the website on a more regular basis. Once again my apologies for the long delay in responding.
I really think my colleague Tim Stones and I must make some kind of plan to join you folks for your next get-together. We need to establish some kind of more permanent link with all of you across the mountain!
The differences between the two main communities of persons with hearing loss is one that I have had to deal with during the past more than ten years. The problem is most probably that there are hotheads on both sides of this controversial debate. If you want to debate any issue you must first try to understand why people may hve differing viewpoints from yours. Only then I believe can you sit down and find common ground. And in many cases this has not happened in the community with hearing loss.
I believe that most folks actually want to find some way of working together. But we tend to fear things/people/situations we do not know and react out of this fear.

]]> By: Fred Benning http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Fred Benning Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:08:49 +0000 http://www.hear2day.co.za/?p=134#comment-78 Hi here Andre, So good to read your latest response. We have the honour of Fanie presenting a talk to our Table View Chapter of Hear2day on Friday 25th June, about his work. Our Exco also is actively trying to formalise our working relationship with Fanie and the NCPPDSA organisation. This is an effort for Hear2d to become better known, our aims and objectives understood by as wide a hearing impaired community, including the culturally deaf, by way of the printed word. An example of this is our newly published and released brochure, which we hope shortly to publish on our website. Although we are in the infancy of our development, we have some understanding of the communication difficulties existing b etween the two groups of hearing impaired persons. We have much to learn on how to deal with these difficulties and look to yourself and Fanie advices as to how best to go about this. Many thanks and lets keep the communication going. Very best wishes. Fred Benning pp Hear2day Exco Hi here Andre, So good to read your latest response. We have the honour of Fanie presenting a talk to our Table View Chapter of Hear2day on Friday 25th June, about his work. Our Exco also is actively trying to formalise our working relationship with Fanie and the NCPPDSA organisation. This is an effort for Hear2d to become better known, our aims and objectives understood by as wide a hearing impaired community, including the culturally deaf, by way of the printed word. An example of this is our newly published and released brochure, which we hope shortly to publish on our website. Although we are in the infancy of our development, we have some understanding of the communication difficulties existing b etween the two groups of hearing impaired persons. We have much to learn on how to deal with these difficulties and look to yourself and Fanie advices as to how best to go about this. Many thanks and lets keep the communication going. Very best wishes. Fred Benning pp Hear2day Exco

]]> By: Andre van Deventer http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Andre van Deventer Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:14:58 +0000 http://www.hear2day.co.za/?p=134#comment-74 Fred Thanx a lot for the welcome and my sincere appologies for taking such a long time to respond. Things have been a bit busy here! I have been working with Fanie since the late 90s. In fact, the Public Education and Awareness programme we present is one he compiled. There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the NID and NCPPDSA regarding presenting this programme. We have been presenting at various businesses, old age homes, and even at correctional services and municipalities during this year. One of our challenges is that we present together with folks who come from a Deaf culture background. It is important for us that all aspects of hearing loss are given the same preference. Not the easiest of things to do. We are kind of stuck between the NID, which works mainly with culturally Deaf persons, and NCPPDSA, who work mainly with hard of hearing persons and persons who became deaf later in life. Finding a common ground here sometimes needs som diplomacy to put it mildly!! Fred
Thanx a lot for the welcome and my sincere appologies for taking such a long time to respond. Things have been a bit busy here!
I have been working with Fanie since the late 90s. In fact, the Public Education and Awareness programme we present is one he compiled. There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the NID and NCPPDSA regarding presenting this programme. We have been presenting at various businesses, old age homes, and even at correctional services and municipalities during this year.

One of our challenges is that we present together with folks who come from a Deaf culture background. It is important for us that all aspects of hearing loss are given the same preference. Not the easiest of things to do. We are kind of stuck between the NID, which works mainly with culturally Deaf persons, and NCPPDSA, who work mainly with hard of hearing persons and persons who became deaf later in life. Finding a common ground here sometimes needs som diplomacy to put it mildly!!

]]> By: Fred Benning http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Fred Benning Mon, 03 May 2010 19:07:58 +0000 http://www.hear2day.co.za/?p=134#comment-73 Dear Andre, A hearty welcome to Hear2day's website. It is always so encouraging to note that our message is getting through to an increasing number of folks out there. We are especially excited to read how you have so very succesfully developed your own special coping strategies under very difficult circiumstances You are indeed a great inspiration to us who only having a hearing impairment. We sincerely hope that you have benefitted from your CI as I have had over the past 6 months! For your information we have made contact and work closely with Fanie du Toit of NCPPDSA, withwhom we held a workshop at the start of the year which will lead to a greater 'connectivelty' of H2d and the greater formal disabled society out there. There is much to look forward to as we spread the word far and wide on our desire to help others less fortunate than ourselves who have received some form of assistance by way of hearing aids or CI's. Please keep in touch, we are sure to visit Worcester in the future and we will definitely look out for you. Fondest regards Fred Benning Hon Treasurer for and on behalf of Hear2day SA Dear Andre,

A hearty welcome to Hear2day’s website. It is always so encouraging to note that our message is getting through to an increasing number of folks out there. We are especially excited to read how you have so very succesfully developed your own special coping strategies under very difficult circiumstances You are indeed a great inspiration to us who only having a hearing impairment. We sincerely hope that you have benefitted from your CI as I have had over the past 6 months! For your information we have made contact and work closely with Fanie du Toit of NCPPDSA, withwhom we held a workshop at the start of the year which will lead to a greater ‘connectivelty’ of H2d and the greater formal disabled society out there. There is much to look forward to as we spread the word far and wide on our desire to help others less fortunate than ourselves who have received some form of assistance by way of hearing aids or CI’s. Please keep in touch, we are sure to visit Worcester in the future and we will definitely look out for you. Fondest regards Fred Benning Hon Treasurer for and on behalf of Hear2day SA

]]> By: Andre van Deventer http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Andre van Deventer Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:47:15 +0000 http://www.hear2day.co.za/?p=134#comment-69 Hi to all for the first time! I'm André van Deventer living on the more civilised side of the mountains here in Worcester! I work at the National Institute for the Deaf at the Deafnet Center of Knowledge. One of my main responsibilities is working in the Public Education and Awarness programme where I am responsible for research and presentations regarding hard of hearing and deafblind persons. Thanx for Diane for introducing me to this website and this community. It seems as if you folks are doing quite a lot! Just something about myself: I was born blind and my parents moved down with me when I was 4 years old so that I could attend the then School for the Blind here in Worcester. At the age of 16, while I was doing mobility and orientation training, it was discovered that I had a yearing loss. I received my first hearing aid at 17 years old. While losing your hearing is bad for a sighted person, losing your hearing if you are completely blind is a catastrophic. Remember that blind persons depend on their hearing for many things from mobility and orientation to knowing where people are when they speak to you. There was no real assistance available for me at school so I had to find my own coping strategies. However, I am glad to say that I did manage to complete my matric with good marks. At that time it would have been very difficult for me to go to university - this was during the early eighties - so I went to work at a braille production service as braille proofreader. I did this for 17 years until I went to work as the National Director of Deafblind South Africa, a disabled people's organisation for deafblind persons in SA. After the office had to close due to financial reasons, aI managed to secure a position at the NID here in Worcester. One of the main differences I think between a visually impaired person and a sighted person losing their hearing is the fact that lipreading is not an option. You have to rely on the little bit of hearing you have left and to utalise this to the best of your ability. I am very lucky that I could do this very well. Although English is not my first language, I completed matric with both English and Afrikaans as first languages and in higher grade. During my time at Deafblind South Africa and even before I started working as National Director, I was priveleged to travel widely both nationally and internationally. Travelling for a deafblind person is not the easiest thing to put it mildly. But this specific time has greatly enriched my life. I am experienced in advocacy work both on a national and international level, having served on a panel of advisors to the previous United Nations Rapporteur on Disabilities. This panel consisted of various persons from international organisations of Disabled Persons and was set up to advise the Special Rapporteur. As a member of the International Disability Alliance, I was also involved in negotiations regarding the UN Conventsion on the rights of disabled persons. I now wear a cochlear implant in one ear and a phonak naida hearing in the other. I have a keen interest in assistive devices and you will always find me with some or other weird gadget. André Hi to all for the first time!
I’m André van Deventer living on the more civilised side of the mountains here in Worcester! I work at the National Institute for the Deaf at the Deafnet Center of Knowledge. One of my main responsibilities is working in the Public Education and Awarness programme where I am responsible for research and presentations regarding hard of hearing and deafblind persons.

Thanx for Diane for introducing me to this website and this community.

It seems as if you folks are doing quite a lot!

Just something about myself: I was born blind and my parents moved down with me when I was 4 years old so that I could attend the then School for the Blind here in Worcester. At the age of 16, while I was doing mobility and orientation training, it was discovered that I had a yearing loss. I received my first hearing aid at 17 years old.

While losing your hearing is bad for a sighted person, losing your hearing if you are completely blind is a catastrophic. Remember that blind persons depend on their hearing for many things from mobility and orientation to knowing where people are when they speak to you. There was no real assistance available for me at school so I had to find my own coping strategies. However, I am glad to say that I did manage to complete my matric with good marks. At that time it would have been very difficult for me to go to university – this was during the early eighties – so I went to work at a braille production service as braille proofreader. I did this for 17 years until I went to work as the National Director of Deafblind South Africa, a disabled people’s organisation for deafblind persons in SA. After the office had to close due to financial reasons, aI managed to secure a position at the NID here in Worcester.

One of the main differences I think between a visually impaired person and a sighted person losing their hearing is the fact that lipreading is not an option. You have to rely on the little bit of hearing you have left and to utalise this to the best of your ability. I am very lucky that I could do this very well. Although English is not my first language, I completed matric with both English and Afrikaans as first languages and in higher grade.

During my time at Deafblind South Africa and even before I started working as National Director, I was priveleged to travel widely both nationally and internationally. Travelling for a deafblind person is not the easiest thing to put it mildly. But this specific time has greatly enriched my life. I am experienced in advocacy work both on a national and international level, having served on a panel of advisors to the previous United Nations Rapporteur on Disabilities. This panel consisted of various persons from international organisations of Disabled Persons and was set up to advise the Special Rapporteur. As a member of the International Disability Alliance, I was also involved in negotiations regarding the UN Conventsion on the rights of disabled persons.

I now wear a cochlear implant in one ear and a phonak naida hearing in the other. I have a keen interest in assistive devices and you will always find me with some or other weird gadget.

André

]]> By: Fred Benning http://www.hear2day.co.za/2010/02/01/2010-off-to-a-great-start/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Fred Benning Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:21:25 +0000 http://www.hear2day.co.za/?p=134#comment-36 Hi Yunus, Thanks for a great effort in putting this update on line. Patrick thanks for your input, it was highly apprecited, tahnsk too to Jenny forleading us so enthusiastically. I also have a ew photos which I will downsize and send to you on e-mail for inclusion sometime soon. Best regards See you at Varsity sometime. will SMS you if you can provide me with your mobile phone no Hi Yunus,

Thanks for a great effort in putting this update on line. Patrick thanks for your input, it was highly apprecited, tahnsk too to Jenny forleading us so enthusiastically.

I also have a ew photos which I will downsize and send to you on e-mail for inclusion sometime soon. Best regards See you at Varsity sometime. will SMS you if you can provide me with your mobile phone no

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