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As printed in Hearing Health, volume 20:2,
Summer 2004
Story by Charles Dittmeier
Maryknoll, a U.S.-based Catholic mission movement,
sponsors Maryknoll Deaf Development Program (MDDP) which
offers a two-year educational course for deaf people
in Cambodia. Our teachers provide instruction primarily
for students ages 15 and older in basic literacy, mathematics
and sign language. Because the Cambodian government
supports no schools for deaf people, our program is
often their first and only opportunity to learn to read,
write, do basic math and communicate.
MDDP often holds classes in government schools, mainly
to emphasize that educating these students is the government’s
responsibility. While recognizing that it currently
lacks the expertise, resources or trained teachers to
adequately fulfill that duty, we continue to work to
increase awareness of their needs.
Not only are there few educational opportunities,
there are no organizations, clubs or other opportunities
for deaf Cambodians to interact. Since most never meet
anyone else who is deaf, sign language is used very
little.
MDDP is researching a Cambodian sign language. Workers
record signs being used in various parts of the country
but, despite our diligent search, we have not found
many similar signs. As a result, we have a sign language
development group to create signs for concepts that
now have none.
Charles Dittmeier is director of MDDP
which has a teaching staff of 12, including six deaf
instructors. He is an advisor with the Disability Action
Council that coordinates services for Cambodians with
disabilities, an ordained priest originally from Kentucky
and a Maryknoll missionary. Learn more at www.parish-without-borders.net/cditt/
index.html and www.Maryknoll.org.
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