ALL HANDS ON DECK

Being able to communicate with members of the deaf community in Barbados via sign language is of great necessity, especially during a disaster.

Director of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Kerry Hinds, stressed the above yesterday, as she delivered remarks during the closing ceremony of the “All Hands on Deck” Sign Language Course, at DEM Headquarters, Warrens, St. Michael.

“The deaf community is one of the most vulnerable groups in society, because of the inability of the wider community to communicate with them effectively,” Hinds pointed out.

“Having emergency responders and community volunteers trained in this area, would ensure that should the occasion arise where they have to lend assistance to a deaf individual, emergency responders and community volunteers would be equipped with the knowledge and training to carry out the task at hand,” she meanwhile stated.

Hinds noted that after the passage of Tropical Storm Matthew in September 2016, the DEM was chided by the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) for neglecting to reach the deaf community, during the national coverage of the two-day tropical storm.

Therefore, the DEM made an agreement with the Council to collaborate on initiatives, going forward.

“This started Phase 1, where the DEM held numerous press briefings such as the Tsunami and Earthquake Smart Month briefing, as well as the launch of Exercise TRADEWINDS 2017, which the DEM co-hosted and was accompanied by Ms. Bonnie Leonce, who interpreted these briefings through Facebook live videos, giving the deaf community a chance to be included,” Hinds said.

“In attendance via virtual media was the Caribbean Deaf News, who also shared this briefing to their peers. Not only did the DEM include an interpreter at the press conferences, they have gone one step further and released the first public service announcement, which caters to the deaf,” she added.

Stating that the DEM continues to seek ways to ensure that the needs of the deaf community are adequately met, she noted that it has gone ahead with Phase 2 – “All Hands on Deck” – a pro-active training solution for emergency and community responders.

This training was conducted twice this year, in September and October and each of the bi-annual training sessions hosted 15 participants.

DEM project co-ordinators were Danielle Skeet and Danielle Howell, whilst donor support came via CDEMA Country Directed funds.

Participants were drawn from the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Barbados Fire Service, Barbados Defence Force, District Emergency Organisations and staff of the DEM. Bonnie Leonce served as the main course facilitator.

(RSM)