Due to high public demand, Benilde School of Deaf and Applied Studies (SDEAS) announced an upcoming launch of a learning session series on basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL) via Facebook live for the benefit of the #SignForSigns Fundraising Campaign.

In a collective effort to raise funds for Deaf scholars, freelance interpreters, and part-time teachers on a no-work-no-pay scheme, who are all in need of financial support during the community quarantine, SDEAS will be launching a free Filipino Sign Language Crash Course Series and encourage participants to donate.

Jaila Guillermo, SDEAS Administrator, elaborated that all sessions of the course will be facilitated by Deaf teachers. “This way, hearing learners can experience relating with, and hopefully empathizing with Deaf persons,” she said in an exclusive interview with The Benildean.

As a token to donors, SDEAS community will provide a FSL Learning Kit inclusive of a Deaf Awareness video which serves as a primer on Deaf culture, language, and identity.

“This can be considered as the SDEAS community’s way of welcoming hearing people into the Deaf world,” Guillermo added.

The campaign also aims to raise awareness regarding Deafness and the needs of the community, especially in this time of global pandemic.

Furthermore, Deaf Advocacy Coordinator Raymond Manding emphasized on FSL as the native language of the Deaf community. “It is, therefore, important for hearing people to learn Filipino Sign Language to provide communication access to deaf and hard of hearing people,” he stated in an interview with The Benildean.

Aside from FSL being a form of communication access, Manding suggests that hearing people can also use it as an opportunity for personal growth and interpersonal relation.

He stated “Through FSL, hearing people in the service industry can effectively communicate with Deaf clients or patients and better understand their needs and wants.”

With this, hearing people can also develop an appreciation for Deaf culture.

FSL in the time of COVID-19

During this time of a global pandemic, it’s important for hearing people to learn tips on communicating with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

“First, they can use visual aids. Medical professionals can use illustrations showing body parts and other visual icons,” Manding said.

Other ways of communicating can easily be done through writing on a notepad or whiteboard, usage of basic gestures and facial expressions reading by hearing people.

Manding gave emphasis on the importance of Deaf access to broadcast news, while he stressed “FSL interpreting insets and subtitles must be provided in order for the Deaf community to be aware of current events.”

The said crash course series will launch its first session on May 30, 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM via Facebook Live and will be facilitated by SDEAS Faculty and Philippine National Association of Sign Language Interpreters (PNASLI) Deaf Relay Interpreter Bernadette Infanta.