The disability movement is continuing with its work to make a paradigm shift in the perception of persons living with disabilities.

To this end, the movement recently saw 10 deaf persons completing a computer assembly training project in an effort to promote the potential of persons with disabilities.

The programme was a novel USAID-funded Computer Assembly Training Project at the Guyana Deaf Mission Church at D’Andrade Street and Vlissengen Road.

These 10 joined another eight deaf persons, who completed their course on June 29th, and became a part of a select band of persons with disabilities possessing certain computer skills.

The training project lasted for six weeks for each batch and was implemented by the Support Group for Deaf Persons on behalf of the East Bank Community Based Rehabilitation Programme. Information

Technology specialist, Mr. Carlton Allen, conducted the training with the support of sign language interpreter, Mr. Sean Thomas, and Pastor Lawrence Hallahan of the Guyana Deaf Mission.

At the end of the course, Allen explained that measures should be put in place to ensure that the training continues, or the students would soon forget what they had learnt.

Director of the Support Group for Deaf Persons, Leon Walcott, stated that in today’s technological world, it is important that everyone becomes computer literate and the just-completed project represents part of a series of activities to improve the educational levels of deaf persons in Guyana.

Walcott noted that with more exposure to computer assembly, deaf persons may be able access computer related jobs.

“Over the years, many deaf persons have come into contact with computers; however, very few have been able to access the required training,” he said.

The Director pointed out that research has shown that there is a high rate of unemployment among young deaf people in Guyana due to generally low skill levels.

“Those who are employed are stuck in low wage situations with poor prospects for promotion, a situation that needs to change,” Walcott asserted.

The computer assembly project is part of a series of initiatives which began with USAID funding in April, 2008.

The first initiative was implemented by the East Bank Community Based Rehabilitation Programme in April, 2008, with USAID funding through a U.S based social science research organisation, RTI International.

This Project saw seven school teachers and 14 other persons being trained in American Sign Language.

In June, the project dovetailed into a Train the Sign Language Trainers Project funded by UNICEF, through the Ministry of Education, resulting in 30 school teachers being trained.

Assistant Professor of Deaf Education at California State University, Dr. William Vicars, responded to an invitation from the support group and held a two-week workshop for the sign language teachers at National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD).

The Support Group for Deaf Persons is hoping to establish a computer resource centre exclusively for the academic, vocational and social/recreational needs of deaf persons, as it is felt that such a centre would contribute to raising self esteem and self reliance, promote leadership and empower deaf persons to deal with issues affecting them.

Since its formation in 2005, the Support Group for Deaf Persons of the Guyana Community Based Rehabilitation Programme has initiated a number of projects aimed at fostering capacity building among deaf persons, as well as promoting awareness and parent education at the community level.