The Deaf People Association stood up on Wednesday and spoke out against the fact that they are being excluded from our society because the services they need to be part of our community are non existent.

To put things into perspective, the mother of a deaf adolescent said that, despite the fact that her child was of above average intelligence, she will probably not progress to beyond school-leaving levels because the structures are not available to allow her to further her studies. This is totally unfair and, for lack of better words, discriminatory and wrong.

It is obvious that the authorities have not created this disparity intentionally, but it has become very clear that there are not enough facilities in place for deaf people to develop as fully as their potential might allow.

We have improved matters; being deaf no longer carries a stigma and neither does the speech impediment that comes with severe cases of deafness, but there is still a lot left to be done.

At least PBS is now offering a service whereby a news bulletin is broadcast accompanied by a person using sign language.

Yet if we look at the issues highlighted by the above-mentioned association’s secretary Karl Borg, the shortcomings are many. The facts, especially when it comes to education, speak for themselves. Mr Borg pointed out that the highest level any deaf student has reached in Malta is ‘A’ level standard. Yet abroad, deaf people have obtained PhDs.

We need to look at the everyday challenges faced by deaf people before we can even begin to understand just how limited their opportunities are. Mr Borg explained that some deaf people, who cannot speak clearly, need an interpreter in situations that we take for granted. For example, a person with such difficulties would need an interpreter simply to go to the doctor or even to make a court appearance.

There are about 80 deaf students in secondary and post secondary education who are being taught by a paltry six teachers who are able to communicate effectively with them.

One must also realise the full impact of the challenge that these youngsters face. Not only must they understand the lesson, but they must also read the teacher’s sign language – can you possibly imagine trying to take notes while looking at the teacher and at the same time trying to understand what is being taught?

People with a hearing disability do not need pity – a great many of them are very intelligent people. But what they do need is the necessary structures that will allow them to learn and to further their education to the levels that a person without disability would reach.

There is a need for more specialised teachers and, as Mr Borg suggested, they need help with, for example, people taking notes for them during lessons.

Mr Borg said that students should receive mentored sessions by specially trained teachers at least four times a week. However, in practice this is reduced to twice a week. The association has also had reports of students receiving such help once a month. Something must be done. Malta has improved vastly regarding accessibility for disabled people, and we have also improved with regard to offering equal opportunities. Yet, this section of society seems to have been overlooked and it is high time that the situation is addressed.