The deafblind in Romania are a vulnerable, marginalized, isolated group suffering from inequality and social exclusion. The combination of two visual and hearing impairments creates serious obstacles to access to services, given the serious difficulties in communication, orientation and mobility, access to information, to which is added the lack of trained interpreters on the ground.
In this context, the Sense International Foundation Romania organized, from September 4 to October 16, 2023, the first initial course on deafness for Romanian sign language translators, which was attended by 17 experienced translators from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Craiova, Slatina, Byrlada. and Brasov.
The course lasted 44 hours of theoretical and practical training and included as an online component on the organization's e-learning platform www.cursuri.surdocecitate.ro , and the full-time component.
So, during 4 online classes, students learned about the features of deafness, the main types and causes of its occurrence, basic concepts about the anatomy and physiology of the sensory organs, as well as legislative elements concerning deafness.
Of particular note is the presence of Viorel Micu, translator Professor Vasile Adamescu, as well as guests from Sense International India and Sense UK, who shared their experience of translating for deaf-blind people.
Participants practiced communication methods and adaptations necessary for deafblind people, as well as aspects of orientation and movement, using a red and white cane, a symbol of deafness around the world.
Source: greatnews.ro