Sign language inclusion ‘must lead to improved access’
The Pan SA Language Board has called on the government and society to make sure that the decision to include sign language as the country's twelfth official language promotes access to quality information and services for the deaf community.
The board's welcomed the passing of the constitutional amendment bill by MPs this week.
Describing it as a watershed moment for the deaf community, CEO Lance Schultz says the bill affirms the linguistic rights of deaf persons.
He says the exclusion of the deaf community, in our society, has affected their ability to actively participate in their communities.
READ: Sign language get thumbs up as 12th official language
"This is a significant milestone that reaffirms the rights of Deaf persons to have access to quality information and services.
"The exclusion of the Deaf community in our society has had a negative impact on their ability to be active participants within their communities.
"Therefore, whilst we celebrate this great milestone in the history of our country, we must also focus on the effective implementation and inclusion of South African Sign Language within our language policies and practices by adopting cross-sectoral policies and programmes to address the needs of the Deaf community."
