Deaf Students in Thailand

Deaf Students in Thailand
Deaf Students in Thailand

DEAF STUDENTS IN THAILAND USE ICT TO LEARN GRAPHIC DESIGN SKILLS AND PRODUCE THEIR OWN MEDIA PRESENTATIONS

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 5% of the world’s population, 360 million people have some form of hearing loss. Majority of these people live in developing countries and have never been to school. The deaf, just like other people with disabilities, are constantly exposed to challenges when seeking to access education and professional careers. For example, in many countries in Asia-Pacific, sign language programmes are still not included in schools. Their disabilities marginalize them and prevent them from accessing information, communicating with others and exercising their fundamental human rights.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has indeed the potential of opening up unprecedented opportunities for deaf people by facilitating their active participation in social, cultural, economic and political life especially when deaf people are among the highest number who run all kinds of business either online and offline platforms.  Besides, they are  also the most active in all kinds of capacity building activities as they really want to prove to others that they have the same capability as them.  From the statistics of all disabled groups which use ICT, the deaf group is the one who access the most and gain the most benefits from ICT.   They use ICT to empower themselves as well as helping the others.  They carry out their life in various roles such as being entrepreneurs, professional sportsmen and sportswomen, entertainers, teachers, trainers, etc.

“I would like to confirm that ICT really fulfill all my needs and demands, I can learn whatever I want to learn round the clock.  I can practice on my own in any particular issue which I want. I can seek more information about my future, my study, my next college and university, etc.  ICT is like the wind under my wings which made me fly wherever I want to go and it doesn’t stop!  I would like to confirm that main factor of my life’s success is from ICT”, said Mam, the PhD candidate student, Bangkok, Thailand.

“ My family opens a small grocery shop in the small province of Thailand, I am the only child of the family.   My parent used to feel very hopeless about my future because they don’t know what to do with me. Once I got trained in how to use ICT to run the online business, I continue to practice very hard and have been consulting my trainers or even any famous trainers who are very kind to answer me.   Then I started a cute and simple e- shop for my parents.  It sells not only the products inside my parent’s shop but also some OTOP products from my province, my community and even from the other nearby communities.  I got a very interesting order form online which can sell and create tangible income into the family.  Besides I also use ICT to do more PR for my family’s business. People know more about our shop so our income has been increasing.

Currently, my parent are very happy and relax about how I carry on my life.   I can even earn more than them with less investment too.  My parents are very proud of me and I am also proud of myself”, Sawad, from Burirum, Northeastern region of Thailand.

This year, with the support of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of Thailand and in collaboration with APTN and New Media4D, CCDKM has organized and delivered a series of trainings on Graphic Design and media presentation skills. 76 deaf students from Chiang Mai, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat have been trained on how to use Graphic Design Software such as GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) to create their own media presentations.

“During school hours, we are many in the classroom and teachers do not often have the time to slow down and explain topics in depth. I sometimes find it difficult to catch up with lessons. This extra curriculum training, however, taught me the practical design skills that I can apply to my future career. I will use my new Graphic Design skills to produce creative leaflets and media presentations to promote my family business”, said Kwan from Nakhon Nayok.

Students have been exposed to the Computer Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007) and the implications of freely expressing their views and opinions online. The skills gained during this training and the ability to create multimedia presentations by combining text, signs, and pictures have empowered them to extend their knowledge and use of language without being bounded to the spoken word.

“Life is more meaningful to us all after we access and become literate in ICT”, said Jutarat, Trang, South of Thailand.

 

By: Sara Gabai and Kamolrat Intaratat