2005 WDL Scholar

Development of aDevelopment of aJamaican Deaf AdvocacyJamaican Deaf Advocacy

OrganizationOrganization

Rian GayleRian Gayle

Business AdministrationBusiness Administration

Progress Report for WDL Project

RIAN ANTHONY GAYLERIAN ANTHONY GAYLE

Born in Kingston, Jamaica. Born in Kingston, Jamaica.

Grew up in a hearing world. Grew up in a hearing world.

Became Deaf at age 3.Became Deaf at age 3.

Graduated from High School in 2000.Graduated from High School in 2000.

Graduated in 2002 from Mount Aloysius College Graduated in 2002 from Mount Aloysius College in USA with an AA Degree, Magnum Cum in USA with an AA Degree, Magnum Cum Laude, in Computer & Business. Laude, in Computer & Business.

Worked in the Insurance industry for 3 Years.Worked in the Insurance industry for 3 Years.

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

Dance groupDance group

SportsSports

President of the Kingston Deaf ClubPresident of the Kingston Deaf Club

Board of Directors for CDA Board of Directors for CDA

(Combined Disabilities Association)(Combined Disabilities Association)

Represented Jamaican Deaf Represented Jamaican Deaf

Community at the Disabled People Community at the Disabled People

International Congress in 2004.International Congress in 2004.

The Jamaican Deaf CommunityThe Jamaican Deaf Community

Jamaica’s population is 2.7 million. Jamaica’s population is 2.7 million. 200,000 are deaf, but only few are 200,000 are deaf, but only few are involved in Deaf culture.involved in Deaf culture.Has less than 9 deaf institution. Has less than 9 deaf institution. The Deaf are not allowed to drive.The Deaf are not allowed to drive.Jobs are hard to find, because the deaf Jobs are hard to find, because the deaf community is very underexposed. Not community is very underexposed. Not much exposure.much exposure.Only 2% or less have a well paid job.Only 2% or less have a well paid job.

Deaf Community Cont’dDeaf Community Cont’d

Jamaican Associate for the Deaf is the only Jamaican Associate for the Deaf is the only company that carters to the Deaf but their main company that carters to the Deaf but their main focus is hearing assessment. It is operated by focus is hearing assessment. It is operated by mainly hearing persons.mainly hearing persons.The high school dropouts numbers are very The high school dropouts numbers are very high.high.Only 4 deaf clubs existed to provide socialization Only 4 deaf clubs existed to provide socialization for the deaf.for the deaf.Interpretation, Technology, and Deaf services Interpretation, Technology, and Deaf services are scared.are scared.

Jamaica Deaf AdvocateJamaica Deaf AdvocateKingston, Jamaica.Kingston, Jamaica.

The Jamaica Deaf Advocate (JDA) was formed The Jamaica Deaf Advocate (JDA) was formed in 2002.in 2002.

Six deaf founding members led by Rian GayleSix deaf founding members led by Rian Gayle

Founded out of concern for the reputation of the Founded out of concern for the reputation of the Deaf Community.Deaf Community.

Develop a plan to put the Deaf Community back Develop a plan to put the Deaf Community back on track.on track.

Making changes through the Making changes through the CommunityCommunity

The project will tackle communities where The project will tackle communities where the deaf population is high, because that’s the deaf population is high, because that’s where the most pressing problems existing where the most pressing problems existing like unemployment, crime, lacking like unemployment, crime, lacking education, interpretation services among education, interpretation services among others. The project will aim at pulling others. The project will aim at pulling members age 16 and up, together, to members age 16 and up, together, to social, host fundraising events and keep social, host fundraising events and keep monthly seminars to educate members monthly seminars to educate members about various aspects of life.about various aspects of life.

Project Cont’dProject Cont’d

GOALS:GOALS: Enhance basic job search skills.Enhance basic job search skills. Motivate interest in higher education pursuits.Motivate interest in higher education pursuits. Foster a sense of community with the hearing public.Foster a sense of community with the hearing public. Build self-esteem.Build self-esteem. Agitate for interpreting services and more inclusive Agitate for interpreting services and more inclusive

opportunities.opportunities. Seek to raise funds to provide financial aid for education Seek to raise funds to provide financial aid for education

and small business-start up.and small business-start up. Provide entertainment opportunities for the deaf.Provide entertainment opportunities for the deaf. Link with other Deaf Communities across the globe to Link with other Deaf Communities across the globe to

foster and international relationship.foster and international relationship.

Summer Internship 2006Summer Internship 2006

Visited Deaf schools, communities and Deaf Visited Deaf schools, communities and Deaf organizations.organizations.

Presented about my project. Presented about my project.

Collected and updated information about theCollected and updated information about the progress of the deaf community. progress of the deaf community.

Conducted surveys. Conducted surveys.

Sought new members.Sought new members.

Internship (Cont’d)Internship (Cont’d) Gave a 10 – 15 minutes presentation, about my Gave a 10 – 15 minutes presentation, about my

project, its aim, benefits and who it is forproject, its aim, benefits and who it is for..

Conducted a survey to document the Conducted a survey to document the opinions of Deaf Jamaicans about: opinions of Deaf Jamaicans about:

1)1) JobsJobs2) 2) EducationEducation3) 3) Crime and Violence Crime and Violence 4) 4) Interpretating services in Jamaica.Interpretating services in Jamaica.

Results of SurveyResults of Survey

Visited 7 Different deaf communities Visited 7 Different deaf communities across Jamaica.across Jamaica.Over 90 percents of the person surveyed, Over 90 percents of the person surveyed, agreed that Legal rights for the deaf in agreed that Legal rights for the deaf in Jamaica need to be changed. Jamaica need to be changed. The legal right is out-of-date and reflects The legal right is out-of-date and reflects the needs of persons with Disabilities as a the needs of persons with Disabilities as a whole, and not Deaf, some important deaf whole, and not Deaf, some important deaf needs are not emphasized in the Rights.needs are not emphasized in the Rights.

Results Cont’dResults Cont’d

Over 80 percents believed that gaining more Over 80 percents believed that gaining more advanced education, will be the solution to advanced education, will be the solution to unemployment. They believed they are not unemployment. They believed they are not employed because the boss have little faith in employed because the boss have little faith in their education or ability to do the job, Which their education or ability to do the job, Which could be look at, as discrimination also. could be look at, as discrimination also.

Another pressing problem is that, there is not Another pressing problem is that, there is not enough well-trained interpreters and its too enough well-trained interpreters and its too expensive to get one.expensive to get one.

What the Results mean?What the Results mean?

The results mean we would have to draft a The results mean we would have to draft a proper right for the deaf community and proper right for the deaf community and pressure the Government to make it Legal.pressure the Government to make it Legal.Train more interpreters through community Train more interpreters through community involvement, involvement, Raise enough funds to provide the proper Raise enough funds to provide the proper education for the deaf which would education for the deaf which would enabled them to find better jobs and the enabled them to find better jobs and the bosses to have confidence in them.bosses to have confidence in them.

Impact of InternshipImpact of Internship

Welcomed by the Deaf community.Welcomed by the Deaf community.

Deaf look forward to implementation.Deaf look forward to implementation.

Deaf community vowed support.Deaf community vowed support.

Disseminated information about Disseminated information about

Helped the deaf community with a project of Helped the deaf community with a project of their own to promote HIV/AIDS and hygiene their own to promote HIV/AIDS and hygiene awareness.awareness.

My sincere appreciationMy sincere appreciation

Dr. I. King JordanDr. I. King Jordan

Dr. Jane FernandesDr. Jane Fernandes

Catherine Sweet-WindhamCatherine Sweet-Windham

Nippon FoundationNippon Foundation

Associate Dean Eileen MatthewsAssociate Dean Eileen Matthews

WDL Committee MembersWDL Committee Members

Dr. Howard Francis, MentorDr. Howard Francis, Mentor

Dr. Isaac Agboola, MentorDr. Isaac Agboola, Mentor

Any Questions?Any Questions?