#DeafStrong #SignLanguageAccess
By: Phuong Anh Doan, Vice Director, HandSpeak Vietnam
Are we equal?
In this crazy time of the COVID-19 outbreak, information is so important. We all need to know what’s happening and how to keep ourselves safe. However, not everyone gets this information. In Vietnam, the government is doing its best in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. News on the situation is shared directly to the citizens through their mobile phones and TV programs. The national television provides sign language interpreters on COVID-19 news. However, it is still very challenging for the deaf community to fully access the information because many deaf people cannot read Vietnamese well and the academic sign language is not understood by all deaf people in different parts of the country.
Therefore, we at HandSpeak Vietnam took the responsibility to provide information in the most deaf-friendly way to our deaf fellows.
“We will go through this hardship as a community and
Thuy Tien, Director, HandSpeak Vietnam
leave no one behind. Together we fight.”
SignLanguageAccess
A video series on COVID-19 sign language news is created to keep the deaf community updated on topics such as:
- Symptoms of COVID-19
- Ways to keep yourself and others safe during COVID-19
- COVID-19 related signs and meanings
- Government announcements
- Fake and official news on COVID-19
We confirmed that this was much needed when many deaf people, especially from the provincial areas, contacted us and expressed their appreciation. They were happy to have fully understood what is going on and what they could do to protect themselves and others.
But that is not enough…
We thought of what else we could do, more than just providing information. What else could we do as a community to fight with this crisis?
DeafStrong
We created a campaign on social media where everyone, despite them being deaf or otherwise, signed the message #stayhome. This was to encourage each other to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We got a huge reaction with more than 100 people participating in the #stayhome campaign a day after it was launched!
Take a look at what we did
You can find out more on https://www.facebook.com/handspeakvn
To our friends all around the world, #staysafe wherever you are!
