DEAF YOUTH NEED INFORMATION

From: Armenian Daily, Armenia
Oct. 22, 2002

The 3,500 deaf people officially registered in Armenia do not have a way of receiving news about events that take place in the world because of absence of surdo-translations on the Armenian TV channels.

The only source where they got information from was ‘Prometheus’ TV channel’s ‘Lraber’ news program’s deaf-and-dumb translation, which, though, was halted this June due to financial problems of the company.

It is obvious that the deaf young people of Armenia have a big desire to receive information, and education, just like each one of us. Bearing this problem in mind, the Armenian ‘Youth Cultural Organization’ NGO tries to implement a program of ‘Informational support to deaf youth’, which supposes organizing computer and Internet literacy lessons for the deaf.

The initiators of the program met with several deaf young people to discuss the issue with them and listen to their suggestions and opinions. One of the leaders of the NGO Arthur Dashian, who has presented the urgent issues of deaf and dumb people at a UN meeting couple of months ago, particularly stressed the importance of Internet in respect of eliminating the isolation of the deaf people from the developments taking place in the world. The gathered young people expressed a wish to learn English language together with computer, in order to better comprehend the computer lessons and easing contacts with their coevals in foreign countries.

A surdo-translator Zubeyda Melikian, who has worked with deaf and dumb people for more than 30 years, said that the deaf are ‘thirsty’ for information. She noted that the deaf people are also interested in the national issues and their resolutions. Mrs. Melikian said that the role of deaf kids’ parents is also important, and that they should apply to corresponding agencies for help.

If the ‘Informational support to deaf youth’ program is financed, the deaf teenagers and young men will get a chance to work in future, teaching their friends in computer literacy.

© Copyright AZG