To ensure that people with hearing disabilities can keep up with news on the coronavirus outbreak, several sign language interpreters and people who are deaf have come up with a short video containing vital information, reports Bernama.
Deputy president of the Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies Association, Amir Hamidi Abdul Manan, said among others, the sign language video includes advice to stay at home as well as measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
He said compared with text messages, the video in sign language was a more effective and faster medium of delivery to the deaf community.
“The majority of deaf people are not proficient in verbal and written languages like Bahasa Malaysia (BM) or English, so they find difficulty understanding text messages that are complex.
“So, to them, sign language is their first language, followed by a second language like BM, English or others. They are very dependent on visuals like sign language, for faster and clearer understanding, ” he told Bernama.
He said since the movement control order (MCO) period began on March 18, sign language interpreters and deaf persons had voluntarily produced a video containing important information and shared it on social media platforms like Facebook and via messaging apps like WhatsApp.
On the sign language service on Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), which delivers latest information on the daily press conference on Covid-19, he said it was useful to deaf persons who are able to follow the developments on the situation “live”.
