Officials do a sign of applause during a photo-op for the Cebu Association of the Deaf (CDN Photo/ Joana Belsonda)
THE Deaf Disaster Awareness Team for Disaster Risk Reduction (DDAT-DRR) was recently formed to increase disaster awareness among the Cebuano deaf community.
“A deaf person has four times the chance of dying during disasters compared to hearing persons.
With little to no government support, how do we help them understand what to do?” said Mark Signe, project manager of DDAT-DRR said in sign language during the launching of the Persons with Disability (PWD) Month last July 4.
A majority in the deaf community use FSL to communicate with one another.
However, broadcast media and social media do not use FSL in disaster reporting, making it inaccessible to deaf people.
John Paul Maunes, founder of Philippine Accessible Deaf Services Inc., said that with the support they got from the Cebu City Council for the passage of House Bill 450, the newly formed team can work towards the implementation of its cause.
Maunes said the disaster team can now push for the use of FSL in broadcast news reporting of weather updates and disaster information.
According to Signe, they can deploy FSL experts during disaster operations to communicate with deaf people in evacuation centers about their needs. /UP CEBU INTERN JULI ANN SIBI