RSESA-Regional-Survey-Report-No-5-English - World Federation of ...

The Project is under the auspices of the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Page No 1 

and funded by the Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation (Sida) and Swedish Organisations’ of Disabled Persons 

International Aid Association (Shia).

Global Survey Report 

WFD Regional Secretariat for Southern and Eastern Africa (WFD RSESA) 

Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People 

Compiled by Mr Colin Allen 

Project Co-ordinator 

World Federation of the Deaf and Swedish National Association of the Deaf 

Published in July 2008 

Front Page Cover Designer: Mr Dušan Nikolič 

Please contact: 

General Secretariat 

World Federation of the Deaf 

PO Box 65 

FIN-00401 

Helsinki, Finland 

Email: info@wfdeaf.org 

Website: www.wfdeaf.org 

Funded by the Swedish Agency for International Development Co-operation (Sida) and Swedish Organisations of 

Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia). 

Co-partnered by the Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), Norwegian Association of 

the Deaf (NDF) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR). 

© Copyright by the World Federation of the Deaf and Swedish National Association of the Deaf 

All rights reserved. When referring to or quoting any part of the report it is required that the publisher and the original 

publication be mentioned in the following form: ‘Global Survey Report WFD Regional Secretariat for Southern and 

Eastern Africa (WFD RSESA) by the World Federation of the Deaf and the Swedish National Association of the Deaf, 

2008’. 

ISBN 978-952-9648-10-8 




Table of Contents 

1.0 Appreciation 7 

2.0 Introduction 8 

3.0 Methodology 

10 

3.1 Development of Survey Questionnaire 

10 

3.2 Implementation of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the 

Human Rights of Deaf People in WFD RSESA 

10 

3.3 Reporting 

11 

3.4 Regional Working Group Meeting 

11 

4.0 Executive Summary of Survey Results 

12 

4.1 Background of the Country Respondents 

13 

4.1.1 Classification of the Developing Countries/Developed 

Countries 

13 

4.1.2 Contact Details of Country Respondents 

13 

4.1.3 Country Respondent Memberships 

13 

4.1.4 Background of the Country Respondents 

14 

4.2 Population of Deaf People 

16 

4.3 Legislation and Policies 

18 

4.4 Access to Government Services 

19 

4.5 Access to the Media 

19 

4.6 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

20 

4.7 Access to Education 

20 

4.8 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

22 

4.9 Employment 

23 

4.10 General Comments 

25 

5.0 Recommendations 

26 

5.1 Increase Knowledge of the United Nations Conventions 

26 

5.2 Training on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons 

with Disabilities (CRPD) 

26 

5.3 Organisational Review 

26 

5.4 Organisational Development Training 

26 

5.5 Training for the National Association of the Deaf and Deaf 

Groups/Organisations 

27 

5.6 Advocacy for the Improvement of the Standard of Living for Deaf 

People 

27 

6.0 Geography and Population 

28 

6.1 Botswana 

28 

6.2 Burundi 

28 

6.3 Eritrea 

28 

6.4 Ethiopia 

29 

6.5 Kenya 

29 

6.6 Lesotho 

29 

6.7 Madagascar 

30 

6.8 Malawi 

30 

6.9 Mozambique 

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6.10 Namibia 

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6.11 Rwanda 

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6.12 Seychelles 

32 

6.13 South Africa 

32 

6.14 Sudan 

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6.15 Swaziland 

33 

6.16 Tanzania 

33 

6.17 Uganda 

34 

6.18 Zambia 

34 

6.19 Zimbabwe 

34 

7.0 Survey Results 

35 

7.1.0 Contact Details 

35 

7.2.0 National Association of the Deaf 

42 

7.2.1 Please provide the number of members your National Association of the 

Deaf/Deaf Group has in your country. 

42 

7.2.1.1 Deaf Members 

42 

7.2.1.2 Hard of Hearing Members 

42 

7.2.1.3 Hearing Members 

43 

7.2.1.4 Summary Status of the Associations’/Groups’ Memberships 

43 

7.2.2 In what year was your National Association/Deaf Group established? 

44 

7.2.3 Does your Deaf Association/Deaf Group have Statutes/a Constitution? 44 

7.2.4 Does your government recognise your national organisation as the 

representative of Deaf people in your country? 

44 

7.2.5 Please list some of the areas in which your association/group has 

adopted a policy statement. 

44 




7.2.6 Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action 

plan. 

7.2.7 Please describe the structure of your National Association of the Deaf/ 

Deaf Group (e.g. Congress/annual meeting/board/executive/districts 

/local associations and so forth). 

7.2.7.1 How many affiliated regional and/or local Deaf Associations 

are part of your National Association of the Deaf? 

7.2.8 How many of your board members are Deaf? 

7.2.9 How many members of the board are Deaf women and how many are 

Deaf men? 

7.2.10 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have 

committees for specific areas of interest or affiliation with any other 

relevant independent groups in your country? 

7.2.11 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have any paid 

staff members? 

7.2.11.1 How many of the paid staff members are women and how 

many are men? 

7.2.11.2 How many of the paid staff members are Deaf? 

7.2.12 Is your Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director/Person-In-Charge 

Deaf? 

7.3.0 Population of Deaf People 

7.3.1 Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf 

people in your country? 

7.3.2 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures 

of the number of Deaf people living in your country? 

7.3.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate 

numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary 

language? 

7.3.4 Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men 

and children? 

7.4.0 Legislation and Policies 

7.4.1 Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on 

an equal basis as other citizens in your country? 

7.4.2 Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services 

for People with Disabilities? 

7.4.2.1 If yes, what is the name, address and website of the 

government office that is responsible for services for People 

with Disabilities in your country? 

7.4.3 Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for 

Deaf people (or People with Disabilities in general)? 

7.4.3.1 If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that 

relate to Deaf people (or People with Disabilities). 

7.4.4 Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for 

Deaf people (or People with Disabilities)? 

7.4.5 Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for 

the Deaf Community through its government departments? 

7.4.5.1 If yes, what types of service are provided specifically for the 

Deaf Community by your country’s government? 

7.4.5.2 What is the general opinion of the current service(s) 

specifically provided for the Deaf Community by your 

country’s government? 

7.4.5.3 If no, why does your country’s government not provide any 

service specifically for the Deaf Community? 

7.4.6 Does your Association/Group have any contact with your current 


7.4.6.1 What type of contact does your Association/Group have with 

your country’s current government? 

7.4.7 Does your Association/Group receive any financial support from your 

country’s current government? 

7.4.7.1 What is the amount of annual financial support from your 


7.4.7.2 What is the purpose of the financial support from your 

country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

7.4.8 Do Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local 

elections? 

7.4.9 Are Deaf people allowed to obtain a driver’s licence? 

7.4.10 Are Deaf people allowed to marry Deaf or other partners? 

7.4.11 Are Deaf people allowed to have children? 

7.4.12 Are Deaf people allowed to adopt children? 

7.4.12.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the 

Government legislation or policy that stops them from being 

allowed to drive. 



International Aid Association (Shia). 

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7.4.12.2 If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list 

any specific Government legislation or policy that stops Deaf 

people from being allowed to adopt children. 

7.5.0 Access to Government Services 

7.5.1 Do Deaf people have access to government services such as education, 

health care, employment, social welfare and any general government 

services? 

7.5.1.1 If yes, how do Deaf people access these government services? 

7.5.1.2 Are Deaf people satisfied with the level of access they have to 

the government services? 

7.5.2 Are Deaf people entitled to any financial assistance from your country’s 

government? 

7.5.2.1 What type of financial assistance are Deaf people entitled to 

receive from your country’s government? 

7.6.0 Access to the Media 

7.6.1 Does your country’s government provide sign language services for 

news and/or current affairs programmes on public television? 

7.6.2 Does your country’s government provide subtitles/captions for news 

and/or current affairs programmes? 

7.6.3 Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your 

country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.0 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

7.7.1 Does your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign 

language(s)? 

7.7.1.1 What legislation/regulation formally recognises your country’s 

sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.2 When did your country’s government formally recognise your 

country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.3 Does your Deaf Association lobby your government for the 

recognition of your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.4 If no, please explain the reason your Association does not 

lobby your current government for the recognition of your 

country’s sign language(s). 

7.7.2 Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 

7.8.0 Access to Education 

7.8.1 Does your country’s government recognise that Deaf children and Deaf 

students have the right to receive an education? 

7.8.2 Does your country’s government have any legislation or policies on Deaf 

Education? 

7.8.2.1 If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or 

policies relating to Deaf Education. 

7.8.3 Does your country’s government provide any of the following 

educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf students? 

7.8.4 Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your 

country’s sign language(s) for Deaf children and Deaf students in your 

country? 

7.8.4.1 If yes, in which educational setting is bilingual education 

offered in your country using your sign language(s)? 

7.8.5 Does your country have any schools specifically for Deaf children and 

Deaf students? 

7.8.5.1 If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

7.8.5.2 If no, where do Deaf children and students receive an 

education in your country? 

7.8.5.3 What is the educational approach for communicating with 

Deaf children and students at the Deaf School in your country? 

7.8.6 What is the general opinion of the level of education received 

by Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

7.8.7 What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf 

children and Deaf students in your country? 

7.8.8 Do Deaf people have access to a University education in your country? 

7.8.8.1 If yes, how many Universities provide access to studies for 

Deaf people in your country? 

7.8.8.2 If no, why do Deaf people not have access to a University 

education in your country? 

7.8.9 Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services 

at University? 

7.9.0 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

7.9.1 Does your country have any sign language interpreters? 

7.9.1.1 How many sign language interpreters does your country have? 

7.9.1.2 Are there any sign language interpreting qualifications 

available in your country? 




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7.9.1.3 Who provides the training for people who want to become 

qualified sign language interpreters? 

7.9.1.4 How many years of training are available to someone who 

wants to become a sign language interpreter? 

7.9.1.5 How many sign language interpreters in your country have 

formal interpreting qualifications? 

7.9.1.6 How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 

7.9.2 Does your country have sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.2.1 If yes, who provides these sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.2.2 In what areas of life are sign language interpreting services 

available in your country? 

7.9.2.3 What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting 

services? 

7.9.3 Do sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services 

in your country? 

7.9.3.1 Who is responsible for paying for a sign language interpreter? 

7.9.3.2 What is the average hourly rate of payment for sign language 

interpreters in your country? 

7.9.3.3 Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service 

for all sign language interpreting assignments? 

7.9.4 Does your country have a National Association of Sign Language 

Interpreters? 

7.9.4.1 Is your National Association of Sign Language Interpreters 

independent from your National Association of the Deaf? 

7.9.5 Is there a national Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters 


7.9.6 Is there any legislation or policy in your country which states that the 

government has a responsibility for the provision of sign language 

interpreting services? 

7.9.6.1 If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically 

state the government has a responsibility for the provision of 

sign language interpreting services. 

7.10.0 Employment 

7.10.1 Does your country’s government consider that Deaf people have a right 

to be employed and earn a standard salary? 

7.10.2 Does your country’s government have any anti-discrimination laws in 

the area of employment, especially for Deaf people or People with 

Disabilities? 

7.10.2.1 If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or 

policy that relates to anti-discrimination in employment. 

7.10.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures 

on the number of Deaf people who are in paid employment in your 

country? 

7.10.3.1 If yes, how many Deaf people are in employment? 

7.10.3.2 What are the most common areas of work for Deaf people in 

your country? 

7.10.4 Does your country have any figures on the percentage of Deaf people 

who are unemployed? 

7.10.4.1 Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

7.10.5 Does your country provide employment services to assist unemployed 

Deaf people to look for employment? 

7.10.5.1 Who is responsible for providing employment services for 

unemployed Deaf people in your country? 

7.11.0 General 

7.11.1 Which of the following does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf 

Group consider to be the highest priority for your Deaf Community? 

7.11.2 Does your Association/Group have any other concerns about the 

standard of living of Deaf people in your country? 

8.0 Appendices: 

Appendix No 1 Cover Letter 

Appendix No 2 Global Human Rights Survey 




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1.0 Appreciation 

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) wish to recognise the cooperation 

and support from organisations and individuals who contributed their valuable time to the second phase of the sevenregion 

Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People. This fifth phase took place in the WFD 

Regional Secretariat for Eastern and Southern Africa (WFD RSESA). 

The funding organisations: 

• Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia) 

• Co-partners Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), Norwegian Association of the Deaf 

(NDF) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) 

The members of the Project Steering Committee: 

• Mr Tomas Hedberg, Sign Language Policy Co-ordinator, Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) 

• Mr Feliciano Sola Limia, Vice President, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Meri Hyrske-Fischer, Project Manager, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Anneli Joneken, Project Co-ordinator, Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia) 

The members of WFD RSESA, who co-operated so efficiently: 

• Mr Bruno Druchen, Contact Person, WFD RSESA 

• Ms Susan Kirima, Regional Co-ordinator, WFD RSESA Global Human Rights Project 

• Deaf Federation of South Africa:- 

o Mrs Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen, President 

o Mr Francois Deysel, Personal Assistant to National Director 

o Mr William Mashabela, Driver 

The members of Regional Working Group of the Global Human Rights Pre-Planning Project in WFD RSESA: 

• Mr Bruno Druchen, South Africa 

• Mr Peter Makhubu, Swaziland 

• Ms Deborah Oyuu Iyute, Uganda 

The seventeen Ordinary Members of WFD RSESA who responded to the survey: 

1. Botswana Association of the Deaf 

2. Burundi National Association of the Deaf 

3. Eritrean National Association of the Deaf 

4. Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf 

5. Kenya National Association of the Deaf 

6. National Association of the Deaf – Lesotho 

7. Federation of the Deaf in Madagascar 

8. Malawi National Association of the Deaf 

9. Association of the Deaf in Mozambique 

10. Namibian National Association of the Deaf 

11. Rwanda National Association of the Deaf 

12. Deaf Federation of South Africa 

13. Swaziland National Association of the Deaf 

14. Tanzania Association of the Deaf 

15. Uganda National Association of the Deaf 

16. Zambia National Association of the Deaf 

17. Zimbabwe National Association of the Deaf 

The two countries in Southern and Eastern Africa who are not WFD Ordinary Members, who also responded to the survey: 

1. Association of People with Hearing Impairment (Seychelles) 

2. Sudanese National Union of the Deaf 

Not least, others who have supported the project: 

• Mr Markku Jokinen, President, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Liz Scott Gibson, President, World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) 

• Mr Knud Søndergaard, Finance Officer, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Staff members of the Albanian National Association of the Deaf (ANAD) 

• Ms Phillipa Sandholm, Administrative Assistant, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Carol-lee Aquiline, English Grammar Editor for the Project Reports 

• Ms Corrie Tijsseling, WFD Expert in Deaf Education 

• Ms Vera Jovanović, Ms Desanka Žižić and Mr Boba Milošević, Film Production Team for the DVD in International Sign 

• Everyone who contributed time to the Global Human Rights Pre-Planning Project 




2.0 Introduction 

The Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) is the national organisation of Deaf people in Sweden and an Ordinary 

Member of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). SDR has been involved in 20 international projects with Deaf people in 

Africa, Asia, Central America and the Russian Federation, with expertise in the fields of Deaf Education, Sign Language, Deaf 

Women and Children, Sign Language Interpreters, Organisational Development and Income Generating Activities. SDR is a 

member of Shia (Swedish Organisations of Handicapped International Aid Association) an umbrella organisation for 

developmental co-operation of Disability Organisations. Shia was founded in 1981 in connection with “The UN Year of People 

with Disabilities” and when the Disability Decade began. Today there are 28 member organisations affiliated with Shia. 

SDR has had contact with many Deaf organisations in developing countries and recognises that approximately 90% of the world's 

Deaf people have never been to school and are thus more or less illiterate. Sign language is repressed in many countries and its 

use is not permitted in education. The consequence is that Deaf people are not aware of the rights they have in society, but live 

as a highly marginalised group in most developing countries. There is usually no access to information for Deaf people, which 

means that they do not even know what is happening in their immediate society and even less so in the world. Of the world's 

Deaf people only about five percent (5%) can read and write. This is due to the fact that Deaf people have not been educated in 

sign language. Improving the status of sign language has consequences for all areas of life for Deaf people; it opens up 

possibilities for participation, information and influence, and reduction of poverty. 

SDR approached WFD to become a partner organisation because WFD is an international organisation with global coverage 

although not all countries in the world are members. In order to reach as many Deaf people as possible in this project, WFD is a 

natural choice for SDR, as it is one of WFD's member organisations. 

WFD was established in 1951 and acts as an interest group representing Deaf people who use sign language. WFD works in 

partnership with the United Nations (UN) and its agencies and member states, other international organisations, national 

organisations of Deaf people, Regional Secretariats and experts. With these partners WFD pursues the rights of Deaf people to 

participate in society, the State and other areas of life as equal citizens. 

WFD has a large network with seven Regional Secretariats, national organisations of Deaf people in 130 member countries and 

experts within different areas: training, sign language, technology and accessibility, women's issues, human rights, health, 

employment and developing countries. 

SDR approached the Nordic Council of the Deaf to request that the four Nordic Ordinary Members of WFD become involved as 

co-partners in the project; these four members are the Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), 

Norwegian Association of the Deaf (NDF) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR). SDR forwarded a project proposal 

to Shia to carry out pre-planning survey work in conjunction with seven of WFD's regions; the proposal was granted funding for a 

pre-planning survey in the 

• Eastern Europe and Middle Asia Regional Secretariat of the WFD (WFD EEMARS) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific (WFD RSA/P) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for South America (WFD RSSA) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (WFD MCAC) 

• WFD Regional Secretariat for Eastern and Southern Africa (WFD RSESA) 

• WFD Interim Regional Secretariat for Western and Central Africa Region (WFD WCAR) 

• WFD Interim Regional Secretariat for the Arab Region (WFD RSAR) 

Goals of the pre-planning survey 

• Compilation of an analysis of the situation for Deaf people in each of the seven regions according to a common 

questionnaire. Data is to be produced from three of the regions during the first year of pre-planning and from four of 

the regions during the second year of pre-planning. 

• Production of documentation of assessment of the capacity of the national organisations and the regional structure in 

each region. 

• Production of an education plan for three of the regions during the first year of pre-planning and for four of the regions 

during the second year of pre-planning. 

• Development of training materials, methodologies and pre-planning organisational work to be used in the project. 

• Compilation of a global training plan on human rights for the WFD organisations to use as the basis for a complete 

project application to be submitted to Shia during autumn 2008 for consideration for budget 2009. 

Project Steering Committee 

A Project Steering Committee was formed to overview the survey work carried out by the Project Co-ordinator. The members of 

the Steering Committee are: 

• Mr Tomas Hedberg, Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) 

• Mr Feliciano Sola Limia, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Meri Hyrske-Fischer, World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) 

• Ms Anneli Joneken, Swedish Organisations of Disabled Persons International Aid Association (Shia) 





SDR and WFD approached the Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD) to manage the project; and FAD appointed Mr Colin Allen to 

take on the role of Project Co-ordinator and oversee project management within the seven regions between July 2007 and 

December 2008. Mr Allen is based in Belgrade, Serbia where he has been associated with other FAD projects within the Balkan 

Region. 

WFD RSESA Regional Co-ordinator and Regional Working Group 

The position of a Regional Co-ordinator is established for each survey region. The Steering Committee agreed to appoint Ms 

Susan Kirima as Regional Co-ordinator for the WFD RSESA region. Ms Kirima, who is based in Nairobi, Kenya, was responsible to 

establish a communication network with the members of WFD RSESA as well as to co-ordinate the meeting for the Regional 

Working Group in Johannesburg, South Africa with assistance from Mr Bruno Druchen, National Director, Deaf Federation of 

South Africa. 

Each survey region also had their own Regional Working Group and the WFD RSESA Regional Working Group had three members: 

• Mr Bruno Druchen, South Africa 

• Mr Peter Makhubu, Swaziland 

• Ms Deborah Ouute Iyute, Uganda 

The members of the Regional Working Group were responsible to acknowledge the Survey Results as they were received from 18 

country members and non-members of WFD RSESA. They had a pivotal role in preparing a list of recommendations for the 

training project work to be carried out for their region in the next stage of the project. 

Please note: 

Mr Bruno Druchen Ms Deborah Oyuu Iyute Ms Susan Kirima Mr Peter Makhubu 

The pre-planning survey is a basic situational analysis that aims to collect information from relevant representatives and is not 

intended to be a complete in-depth analysis of the situation of Deaf persons in WFD RSESA. The data and issues presented in 

this report are based on the information received from these representatives and members of WFD RSESA. 

Additional notes: 

Terminology used in this report is taken from the survey. 

Each country’s exchange rate into Euro Currency is based on the rate given on 31 st May 2008 on the website 

www.oanda.com/convert/classic. 




3.0 Methodology 

3.1 Development of Survey Questionnaire 

According to the framework of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People, the Project Coordinator 

developed a survey questionnaire to collect information on the standard of living of Deaf people in all of the seven 

WFD Regional Secretariats, focussing on the areas of: 

1. Status of the National Deaf Association 

2. Population of Deaf People 

3. Legislation and Policies 

4. Access to Government Services 

5. Access to the Media 

6. Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

7. Access to Education 

8. Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

9. Employment Status of Deaf People 

The Project Co-ordinator had prior experience in survey work with Deaf people in developing countries, having conducted the 

FAD – Balkan Survey Project in the countries of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey between 

2004 and 2006. Therefore, some of the Balkan Survey Questions were simply modified for this Global Survey work. The Project 

Co-ordinator also liaised with the President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI) for her guidance on 

relevant questions regarding the Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services. 

The questionnaire was intended to ensure that all appropriate data was received from each member within the Regional 

Secretariat. The survey questions were approved by the Project Steering Committee prior to commencement of the Global 

Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People. The questionnaire is available at the end of this report – 

Appendix No 2. 

3.2 Implementation of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People in WFD RSESA 

Subsequent to the appointment of the Regional Co-ordinator for WFD RSESA, the Project Co-ordinator and Regional Co-ordinator 

co-operated in confirming contact addresses for the 18 country members of WFD RSESA, and four countries that are not 

members of WFD RSESA. The Project Co-ordinator filmed the survey questions in International Sign on a DVD that was 

disseminated along with the survey questionnaire in written English. The Regional Co-ordinator prepared the survey package 

and arranged for it to be mailed from Nairobi, Kenya, to 

Seventeen (18) WFD Ordinary (Country) Members in Southern and Eastern Africa: 












12. Somali National Association of the Deaf 







And four (4) Countries in Southern and Eastern Africa that are not WFD Ordinary Members: 

1. National Association of the Deaf of Angola 



4. Society for the Welfare of the Deaf (Mauritius) 

At the end of May 2008, the Project Co-ordinator arranged to email the survey package to Seychelles. 




3.3 Reporting 

The Regional Co-ordinator was the central contact point for collection of the survey. The Project Co-ordinator designed a basic 

data programme with Excel software to record respondent country answers for all surveys received from the Regional Coordinator, 

i.e. 19 respondent countries. He was then responsible for summarising the results into categorised sections of the 

report, available under “Survey Results” on page 35. The Project Co-ordinator also prepared the “Executive Summary”, found 

on page 12. 

Once the report was drafted the Regional Working Group gave comments and feedback, which were then taken into 

consideration in the editing phase of the report. 

A copy will be sent to all members of WFD RSESA, WFD, Danish Deaf Association (DDL), Finnish Association of the Deaf (FAD), 

Norwegian Association of the Deaf (NDF), Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR), World Association of Sign Language 

Interpreters (WASLI), Shia and other interested organisations. A compilation of the most relevant information from all reports 

will be available at the end of the project. 

3.4 Regional Working Group Meeting 

The members of the Regional Working Group and the Regional Co-ordinator met with the Project Co-ordinator in Johannesburg, 

South Africa, on 3 rd – 5 th June 2008. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the major findings from the Survey Results and 

enable the Regional Working Group to identify priority issues to be acknowledged. The members of the Regional Working Group 

also had training on issues such as: 

a) Background of the World Federation of the Deaf 

b) Human Rights through Sign Languages 

c) Introduction of the Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People 

d) Brief Introduction to International Human Rights Instruments: 

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

2. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 

3. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 

4. Convention on the Rights of the Child 

5. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women 

e) Periodic reporting, the new system of Universal Periodic Reviews and also shadow/alternative reports from NGOs 

f) UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

The Regional Working Group summarised the high priority issues to be addressed for further training for the members of WFD 

RSESA. These can be found under “Recommendations” on page 26. 




4.0 Executive Summary of Survey Results 

The Executive Summary of Survey Results is categorised into ten sections and is based on the detailed data results found later in 

the report: 

1. National Associations of the Deaf 

2. Population of Deaf People 

3. Legislation and Policies 

4. Access to Government Services 

5. Access to the Media 

6. Status of the Country Sign Language(s) 

7. Access to Education 

8. Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

9. Employment 

10. General Comments 

The target members of WFD RSESA who returned completed surveys were: 


















And non-members who returned surveys were: 



Somali made contact with the Regional Co-ordinator to inform her that the Somali National Association of the Deaf was not able 

to submit their survey due to the current political situation in the country; because of violence all the executive members of 

the organisation have left the country. 

The Regional Working Group wished to make it known from the commencement of the Executive Summary that several answers 

to survey questions from the country of Botswana do not accurately reflect the situation there. However, although they knew 

the correct information, they decided that they did not wish to change these answers for the most part. 




4.1 Background of the Country Respondents 

4.1.1 Classification of Developing Countries/Developed Countries 

Reference: - 

(http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20420458~menuPK:64133156~pagePK:6413315 

0~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html) 

Based on the World Bank’s definition, three classifications were used for this analysis. Thirteen of the 19 country respondents in 

Southern and Eastern Africa are classified as Low Income (Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, 

Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe); three are classified under Low Middle Income (Lesotho, Namibia 

and Swaziland), and three as Upper Middle Income (Botswana, Seychelles and South Africa). 

Country Low Income Low Middle Income Upper Middle Income 

Botswana � 

Burundi � 

Eritrea � 

Ethiopia � 

Kenya � 

Lesotho � 

Madagascar � 

Malawi � 

Mozambique � 

Namibia � 

Rwanda � 

Seychelles � 

South Africa � 

Sudan � 

Swaziland � 

Tanzania � 

Uganda � 

Zambia � 

Zimbabwe � 

Total 13 (68%) 3 (16%) 3 (16%) 

4.1.2 Contact Details of Country Respondents 

Based on 19 respondents 

Nineteen country respondents supplied their contact details. It was interesting to note that only four have websites (Eritrea, 

South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda). Only one country (Botswana) does not have email. 

4.1.3 Country Respondent Memberships 

Fifteen country respondents provided the number of Deaf members; the largest number of Deaf members is from Tanzania, with 

281,000 out of a total of 728,176 Deaf members in the entire WFD RSESA region. The lowest number of Deaf members provided 

was 18 in Seychelles. Four country respondents (Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Namibia) did not supply the number of 

Deaf members. 

Nine country respondents (Burundi, Eritrea, Lesotho, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) supplied 

numbers of hard of hearing members and five country respondents (Burundi, Madagascar, Malawi, Seychelles and Zimbabwe) 

provided the number of hearing people who are members. 




Country Total Deaf Members Total Hard of Hearing Members Total Hearing Members Total Members 

Botswana N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Burundi 815 (88%) 107 (11.5%) 5 (0.5%) 927 

Eritrea 2,200 (97%) 58 (3%) 0 2,258 

Ethiopia 5,000 (100%) 0 0 5,000 

Kenya N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Lesotho 1,998 (68%) 923 (32%) 0 2,921 

Madagascar 192 (88%) 2 (1%) 24 (11%) 218 

Malawi 1,200 (99%) 0 18 (1%) 1,218 

Mozambique N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Namibia N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Rwanda 100,000 (98%) 1,700 (2%) 0 101,700 

Seychelles 18 (50%) 6 (17%) 12 (33%) 36 

South Africa 20,497 (100%) 0 0 20,497 

Sudan 15,000 (99.5%) 50 (0.5%) 0 15,050 

Swaziland 1,120 (100%) 0 0 1,120 

Tanzania 281,000 (83%) 57,000 (17%) 0 338,000 

Uganda 4,700 (100%) 0 0 4,700 

Zambia 14,436 (100%) 0 0 14,436 

Zimbabwe 280,000 (99.5%) 750 (0.49%) 23 (0.01%) 280,773 

Total 728,176 60,596 82 788,854 

4.1.4 Background of the Country Respondents 

Seventeen out of 19 country respondents (Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, 

Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) are Ordinary Members 

(OMs) of WFD and were established between 1929 to 2002; the oldest National Association in WFD RSESA is the one in South 

Africa, which was established in 1929, with the most recently-established being those in Botswana and Burundi (2002). 

Two country respondents, (Seychelles and Sudan) are not Ordinary Members of WFD. Regarding Sudan, the survey was sent to 

the Sudanese National Society for the Deaf as they are currently listed as the Ordinary Member of WFD; however the Project 

Co-ordinator received the survey back from the Sudanese National Union of the Deaf. The WFD Board is currently investigating 

which organisation should be the Ordinary Member, as the proper representative body for Deaf people in Sudan. Seychelles is an 

organisation for People with Hearing Impairment. 

All 19 country respondents have their own organisational statutes/constitutions. Seventeen are recognised by their country’s 

government as the association representing Deaf people; the two not recognised by their government are Botswana and 

Seychelles. 

Eighteen of 19 country respondents described their organisational charts; a brief overview of their structures is: 

• Most of the Associations hold a General Assembly or General Meeting every year, with the exception of two countries 

that hold meetings to elect their National Executive Board every three years 

• A large number of the Associations handle their own affairs and run annual meetings with their local regional members 

A full explanation of the organisational structures is provided on page 47. 

Fourteen of the 19 country respondents (Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, 

South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda) outlined clear policy statements in the areas of: 

• Education 

• Employment 

• Human Rights for Deaf People 

• Sports for Deaf People 

• Sign Language 

• Sign Language Interpreters 

Other country respondents have not developed policy statements or did not provide this information. 




Seventeen of the country respondents outlined the six highest priority issues or actions in their strategy action plans; the most 

common issues being: 


• Sign Language Interpreters 

• Deaf Education 

• Prevention of HIV/AIDS 

• Employment and Equal Opportunity 

• Eradication of Poverty 

• Advocacy 

• Youth 

• Women 

• Health Care Service 

• Organisational Development 

The questions then focused on numbers of Regional and Local Deaf Associations in each country. The largest number of Regional 

Deaf Associations is in Tanzania (17) and the largest number of Local Deaf Associations is in South Africa (119). Botswana and 

Lesotho do not have either Regional or Local Associations. 

All 19 country respondents supplied information about the number of board members of their Association. The number of board 

members is between seven and 20; Zambia has the largest number with 20 members on the board. One question specifically 

asked for the number of Deaf people serving as a member on the national board. Thirteen of 19 country respondents (Botswana, 

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda) have 

100% Deaf people on the board. The general average of Deaf people serving as a board member in countries in WFD RSESA is 

91%. 

Another question queried the number of Deaf women serving on boards. Botswana and Lesotho both have seven Deaf women out 

of a total of 10 board members (70%); Sudan has the smallest female representation with three out of 12 members being women 

(20%). Four countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Rwanda and South Africa) have more Deaf female board members than Deaf male 

members. The approximate average of Deaf women serving on Deaf Association Boards in WFD RSESA is 66%. 

Sixteen of 18 country respondents have committees for specific areas of interest or affiliation with other relevant independent 

groups as follows: 

• 15 (94%) Countries have a committee for Deaf Women’s Groups 

• 14 (88%) Countries have committee for Sign Language Interpreting 

• 12 (75%) Countries have committees on Deaf Youth and Sign Language Research, and Sports Groups 

• 11 (69%) Countries have committees for Deaf Education and Parents of Deaf Children 

• Eight (50%) Countries have a committee for Cultural Groups of Deaf People 

• Three (19%) Countries have a committee for Children of Deaf Adults, Deafblind, and Deaf People with Other Disabilities 

• One (6%) Country has one other committee not on the general list 

None of the National Associations of the Deaf in WFD RSESA has a group or committee for Deaf Seniors or Lesbian, Gay, 

Transgender and Bisexual Deaf People. 

In reference to the employment of staff members, eleven countries (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, 

Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) supplied this information while eight countries (Botswana, 

Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan and Swaziland) do not have any staff members. South Africa has the 

largest number of staff members, both Deaf and hearing, at 64. Eritrea and Tanzania both have 100% Deaf employees within 

their organisations. 

The final question in this section queried whether any of the countries had a Deaf Chief Executive, Executive Director or Deaf 

Person-In-Charge of the National Association of the Deaf. Eight countries reported in the affirmative: Eritrea, Ethiopia, 

Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan and 

Swaziland have Deaf volunteers in charge. 




4.2 Population of Deaf People 

Nine of the 19 country respondents (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda and 

Zambia) stated that their government has an official number of Deaf people in their country as shown below: 

Country 

Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf people in your 

country? 

Total Deaf people 

Eritrea Yes 20,000 

Ethiopia Yes 250,000 approx 

Madagascar Yes 219 

Namibia Yes 8,314 

South Africa Yes 402,847 

Sudan Yes 48,862 

Swaziland Yes 6,000 

Uganda Yes 160,316 

Zambia Yes 16,000 

Total 9 Yes (47%) 912,558 


Only four governments (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Sudan) stated the number of Deaf women and men: 

Country Deaf Women Deaf Men 

Eritrea approx 7,000 approx 13,000 

Ethiopia 125,000 125,000 

Madagascar 100 119 

Sudan 20,643 28,219 

Total 152,743 166,338 

The following shows the number of Deaf people as recorded by nine country respondents themselves (Eritrea, Lesotho, Namibia, 

Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe): 

Country 

Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures of the number 

of Deaf people living in your country? 



Lesotho Yes 1,998 


Seychelles Yes 600 

South Africa Yes approx 500,000 




Zimbabwe Yes approx 1,500,000 

Total 9 Yes (47%) 2,893,212 





It was interesting to note that three countries (Eritrea, Namibia and Zambia) stated that the National Government and the 

Association of the Deaf have the same numbers; while there is a discrepancy in numbers of Deaf people provided by the 

Association and Government in South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda: 

Country 

The National Government’s official number of Deaf 

people: 

The Association’s/Group’s number of Deaf people: 

Eritrea 20,000 20,000 

Namibia 8,314 8,314 

South Africa 402,847 approx 500,000 

Swaziland 6,000 6,300 

Uganda 160,316 840,000 

Zambia 16,000 16,000 

Total 613,477 1,390,614 

The next question in the survey provides an essential record of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary language. 

Seven out of 19 countries reported their number of Sign Language Users as below: 

Country 

Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate numbers of Deaf 

people who use sign language as their primary language? 

Total Sign Language Users 

Burundi Yes 304 




Tanzania Yes 278,000 



Total 7 Yes (37%) 1,508,104 


It was interesting to compare official numbers of Deaf people with the number of Deaf people who use sign language as their 

native language: 

Country 

The National Government’s 

official number of Deaf people 

The Association’s/Group’s official 

or approximate number of Deaf 

people 

Total of Sign Language Users as 

stated by the Deaf 

Association/Group 

Eritrea 20,000 20,000 5,000 

Namibia 8,314 8,314 0 

South Africa 402,847 approx 500,000 0 

Swaziland 6,000 6,300 0 

Uganda 160,316 840,000 0 

Zambia 16,000 16,000 14,400 

Total 613,477 1,390,614 19,400 

An analysis of the survey data indicates that the average percentage of Deaf people who use sign language as reported by two 

countries in Southern and Eastern Africa is 54%. 

Country Total Deaf people (Associations’ estimates) Total Sign Language Users Average 

Eritrea 20,000 5,000 25% 

Zambia 16,000 14,400 90% 

Total 36,000 19,400 54% 

The survey approached all 19 countries with a clear question as to whether HIV/AIDS affected the Deaf women, men and 

children in their country. Sixteen country respondents stated “Yes”; further explanation of the situation of HIV/AIDS in the Deaf 

Communities in these countries can be found on page 57. Two countries (Seychelles and Sudan) stated they do not have any 

information about this and only one country (Madagascar) answered “No”. 




There are a number of significant concerns as follows: 

• Ten country respondents stated the National Association of the Deaf does not have any official statistics about Deaf 

people being affected with HIV/AIDS or any report of death rates within the Deaf community 

• Most of the respondents believe there are a high number of Deaf people living with the HIV virus 

• Many Deaf women become prostitutes in attempt to earn a daily living 

• Due to the high number of Deaf people who are illiterate, access to written information on the prevention of HIV/AIDS 

is not possible 

A small number of country respondents provide workshops designed specifically for the Deaf Community to raise awareness 

about HIV/AIDS; they also provide informational materials in their country’s sign language. 

4.3 Legislation and Policies 

On the first day of the Regional Working Group Meeting, the Project Co-ordinator introduced the United Nations Convention on 

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) concentrating on the key articles relating to the Deaf Community as follows: 

Article 2: Definition 

Article 9: Accessibility 

Article 21: Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information 

Article 24: Education 

Article 30: Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport 

At the time of the meeting, 14 countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, 

South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) out of 19 survey respondents had signed the convention and only 

seven countries (Burundi, Madagascar, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda) had signed the protocol. 

The total number of countries targeted by the survey was 21; from all of these, 15 countries (those on the list above and 

Mauritius) have signed the convention. Only three of 28 (Kenya, Namibia and South Africa) have ratified the convention. 

This section focussed on essential data collection about any legislation or policy relating to Deaf people in each country. The 

first question asked whether each country’s government recognised Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens; 

14 of 19 countries (74%) responded ‘Yes’ with a ‘No’ from Eritrea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles and Swaziland. 

The Regional Working Group, during its meeting in Johannesburg, debated whether the question was clear as to the meaning of 

the phrase “equal basis as other citizens”. Most countries in Southern and Eastern Africa have legislation for People with 

Disabilities but implementation of these laws has not happened. The question should have been clearer as to what is meant by 

“equal basis as other citizens”. 

The next question asked whether each country has an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities, to which 15 of 

19 countries answered ‘Yes’; Burundi, Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe ticked ‘No’. Part of this question asked each 

country to provide contact details for this government office, which can be found on page 60. 

Ten of 19 countries confirmed their government has legislation or policy for Deaf People or People with Disabilities in general, 

and supplied a list of the laws or policies (see page 62). All of these laws or policies classified Deaf people under the larger 

group of People with Disabilities, and none of them addressed the needs of Deaf people as a group in itself. Botswana, Eritrea, 

Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe stated their current government does not 

have legislation covering Deaf people or People with Disabilities. 

Only eight of 19 countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan and Uganda) have antidiscrimination 

legislation for People with Disabilities (including Deaf people). 

Twelve of 19 countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, 

Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe) stated their national governments provide services specifically for the Deaf Community 

through government departments; seven countries (Burundi, Eritrea, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan and Zambia) said 

their government does not provide any services for the Deaf community. For those countries where the government does 

provide services, the types of services are: 

• Education System 

• Health Service 

• Audiology 

• Sign Language Interpreting Service 

The general opinion of current services offered by national governments includes ‘not adequate provision of sign language 

interpreting service’ and ‘limited services offered for Deaf people’; all respondents made the comment that access to 

government services needs to be improved. 

Fifteen of 19 country respondents (Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Seychelles, South 

Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) have contact with their country’s current government. The type of 

contact is through meetings or conferences with governmental bodies and contact with Ministries and/or Government Agencies 

concerning Deaf people’s welfare needs. Three countries (South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda) have membership status within 




the governmental committee on issues for People with Disabilities. Two Deaf people, one in South Africa and one in Uganda, are 

Members of Parliament; both are active members of their National Association of the Deaf as well. 

Eight of 19 country respondents (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland and Tanzania,) receive 

funding from their national government with 11 (Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, 

Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) not receiving any government financial support at all. Those countries receiving government 

funding provided the annual amount they received (see page 66) and explained the purpose of the financial support. 

The last five questions of this section were to ascertain whether Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local 

elections; are permitted to obtain a driver’s licence; can marry Deaf or other partners; are allowed to have children; and can 

adopt children. The results are as follows: 

Right to vote in 

national, regional 

and local elections? 

Allowed to obtain a 

driver’s licence? 

Allowed to marry 

Deaf or other 

partners? 

Allowed to have 

children? 

Allowed to adopt 

children? 

Yes 19 Countries (100%) 11 Countries (58%) 19 Countries (100%) 19 Countries (100%) 16 Countries (84%) 

No 0 8 Countries (42%) 0 0 1 Country (5%) 

Unknown/ 

Not sure 

0 0 0 0 2 Countries (11%) 



When asked whether Deaf people have access to government services such as education, health care, employment, social 

welfare and other general government services, all 19 country respondents ticked ‘Yes’. To the question how Deaf people 

access these government services, some country respondents did not answer the question correctly while others gave various 

replies: Deaf people do it themselves through written communication; each Deaf person makes their own personal contacts; a 

sign language interpreter is provided by the government and/or through the Deaf Association. 

Another aspect of access to government services was whether Deaf people were entitled to any financial assistance from the 

government, to which only three of 19 country respondents (Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa) answered ‘Yes’. 

The types of financial assistance offered to Deaf people are shown in the table below: 


Disability Allowance Disability-Specific Pension 

2 Countries (11%) 1 Country (5%) 


Following are the results of access to the media for Deaf people in these 19 countries, based on three main questions: 

1) Does the government provide sign language services for news and/or current affairs programmes on public television? 

Eleven countries (Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, 

Uganda and Zimbabwe) stated their government provides sign language services for News Programmes on television. 

The length of time for sign language programmes on television ranged between a half hour news bulletin once a week, 

to a daily thirty-minute news programme from Monday to Friday. 

2) Does the government provide subtitles/captions for news and/or current affairs programmes? 

Only one country (Zambia) has access to subtitles/captions for news bulletins. 

3) Does the government offer any governmental documents in sign language? 

None of the governments provides access for Deaf people to receive governmental documents in their sign language. 




4.6 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

These questions aimed to gather vital data on the status of national sign language(s) with findings as follows: 

• Ten of 19 countries (Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and 

Zambia) stated their national sign language is formally recognised by their government 

• Nine of 19 countries (Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland and Zimbabwe) 

stated their sign language is not recognised by their government 

• For the ten countries whose sign languages are recognised, recognition falls under the following categories: 

Country Constitution Legislation Policy Guideline 

Kenya � � 

Lesotho � 

Malawi � 

Mozambique � 

Namibia � 

South Africa � � � 

Sudan � 

Tanzania � � 

Uganda � � � 

Zambia � � 

• Seventeen countries (Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, 

South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) continue to actively lobby their national 

government to recognise their sign languages 

• Two countries (Botswana and Madagascar) do not lobby for recognition of their sign language due to internal problems 

in the Association or because of the need for a sign language dictionary to enable the Association to advocate 

recognition of sign language 

Nine of 19 countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) have a 

dictionary of their national sign language. 


The most important part of this survey was to ascertain whether every Deaf person was entitled to and had access to good 

quality education. There were eight questions, the first of which asked whether governments recognised that Deaf children and 

Deaf students have the right to receive an education. Seventeen of 19 countries stated ‘Yes’ with two countries (Eritrea and 

Seychelles) saying ‘No’. 

Only ten out of 19 countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) 

responded ‘Yes’ to the question asking if the government has legislation or a policy on Deaf Education. All ten countries were 

able to provide the specific name of the legislation or policy relating to Deaf Education, the list of which is available on page 

78. 

The next aim was to collect information on educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf students in each country (19 

countries) as shown below: 

Early intervention Kindergarten 

Primary 

Education 

Secondary 

Education 

University 

Education 

Vocational Education/Training 

8 Yes (42%) 10 Yes (53%) 16 Yes (84%) 13 Yes (68%) 8 Yes (42%) 14 Yes (74%) 


Please note: The Regional Working Group queried whether the information received about educational settings was true and 

correct. 

Four countries (Burundi, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa) have educational settings from Early Intervention right up to 

University Education, as well as Vocational Education and Training. Two countries where education for Deaf children is limited 

to primary education are Mozambique and Rwanda. Three countries (Eritrea, Madagascar and Seychelles) stated there are no 

educational settings for Deaf students except for Vocational Education and Training in Madagascar. The range of educational 

settings available for Deaf children and Deaf students in each country is outlined on page 80. 




Another question addressed Bilingual Education offered by the government, and use of the national sign language(s) for Deaf 

children and Deaf students. Six out of 19 countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia and Uganda) provided 

information about which levels of education are provided bilingually: 

Early intervention Kindergarten 

Primary 

Education 

Secondary 

Education 

University 

Education 

Vocational Education/Training 

2 Yes (33%) 4 Yes (67%) 6 Yes (100%) 6 Yes (100%) 0 Yes (0%) 4 Yes (67%) 

Based on six respondents 

However the Regional Working Group believed that actually only Uganda and Kenya have bilingual education programmes. 

The next question had the aim of recording the number of schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students; all countries 

except Seychelles provided replies. The largest number of Deaf schools is in South Africa, which has 47; and the smallest 

number is in Swaziland, which has only one. Full information about Deaf schools, schools with mainstream programmes and 

schools provided by non-governmental organisations can be found on page 79. To previous questions about educational settings 

for Deaf children and Deaf students, Eritrea, and Madagascar stated that there were no Deaf schools in their countries; however 

both countries do have a School for the Deaf run by a non-governmental organisation or church. Seychelles reaffirmed that 

there is no Deaf school in their country; all Deaf children and students attended a school for the handicapped. 

Another question approached the type of educational communication methods for Deaf children and Deaf students at the Deaf 

schools. Seventeen countries provided this information; the summarised results are: 

Bilingual Education 1 Oral Method 2 Cued Speech 3 Oral and Sign Language 

(Total Communication) 4 Auditory Verbal 5 

3 Countries (18%) 6 Countries (35%) 0 16 Countries (94%) 1 Country (6%) 


Overall, the dominant educational communication method in the WFD RSESA region is Oral Education, indicated by the averages 

between 35% and 94% for the Oral Method or Oral and Sign Language. 

There is a clear contradiction in replies to this question which state that only three countries (Kenya, Namibia and Uganda) have 

bilingual education, and replies to the previous question which state that six countries do. The Regional Working Group 

considers it necessary to have a training seminar about Deaf Education for Southern and Eastern Africa. 

The following questions were asked: ‘What is the general opinion of the level of education level received by Deaf children and 

Deaf students?’ and ‘What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf students?’ Full details as 

provided by all countries can be found on page 82. 

Most notably, there are several comments stating that: 

• Deaf students’ education is below the standard of education for hearing students 

• Most Deaf students complete their education at the fifth grade level 

• Teachers are not fluent in sign language 

• It is believed that Deaf students are not able to complete secondary education 

Almost all of the country respondents stated that education is not satisfactory or is of a very low level, and provided various 

opinions on the current level of literacy; the common opinion is that most Deaf children and Deaf students are illiterate when 

they have completed their education. Details about the current state of literacy can be found on page 82. 

1 Bilingual Education: Sign language is considered to be the natural language (‘mother tongue’) that will be acquired as a first 

language. Spoken language, which is not acquired naturally by Deaf children, will be learned as a second language as the child 

becomes cognitively/developmentally ready. Both languages are used throughout the child’s entire education. 

2 Oral Education: Spoken language is assumed to be the basis for standard social and academic communication, and the human 

system is assumed to be designed (pre-wired) to learn language expressed in speech. Children learn about and from spoken 

language. Also known as auditory-oral, aural/oral education. Emphasis on speech. 

3 Cued Speech: A visual mode of communication that uses hand shapes and placements in combination with the mouth 

movements of speech to make the phonemes of a spoken language look different from each other, resulting in a visual 

counterpart of a spoken language. 

4 Total Communication: All forms and modes of communications are used. This includes natural gestures, sign language, 

manually-coded spoken languages, sign systems, mime, audition and speech. 

5 Auditory Verbal Education: Supposes that even minimal amounts of residual hearing can lead to the development of 

spontaneous speech and language, if that residual hearing is stimulated. Children learn to process language through amplified 

hearing. A method of oral education with an emphasis on listening. 




At the higher level of education, the survey questions sought information as to whether Deaf people have access to University 

education and also asked each country to supply information about the number of Universities which offer study placements for 

Deaf people. Only ten of 19 country respondents (Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, 

Tanzania and Uganda) have places for Deaf people to access University education. The number of Universities that are 

accessible for Deaf people in countries in the WFD RSESA Region range widely from only one University each in Eritrea, Namibia 

and Tanzania to all Universities in Rwanda and Sudan; full details can be found on page 84. 

In those countries (Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) where 

Deaf people do not have access to University education, four different reasons were provided: 

1. Literacy problems 

2. No Deaf students have completed secondary education 

3. Unavailability of sign language interpreting services for Deaf students 

The last question of the Education part of the survey asked about Sign Language Interpreting Services offered for Deaf students 

in University. Only five countries (Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) stated that Deaf people have full access 

to sign language interpreting services for University. 

4.8 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

To questions focusing on the status of sign language interpreting services, 17 out of 19 countries reported that they have sign 

language interpreters. The next question asked them to provide the number of sign language interpreters, to which the 

response ranged from three in Rwanda and Swaziland to 102 in Uganda. Only one country, Seychelles, does not have any sign 

language Interpreters; they use hearing people who have signing skills to act as interpreters for Deaf people. 

The survey next aimed to gain specific information as to whether any of these sign language interpreters are appropriately 

qualified, to which 10 out of 19 countries responded (Eritrea, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, 

Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). When asked where people go to obtain training to become a qualified sign language 

interpreter the answers were: 

University National Association of the Deaf Others 

3 Countries (30%) 10 Countries (100%) 

Based on ten respondents 

4 Countries (40%) 

The length of training ranges from one and half years up to four years (further details on page 85). 

The current number of sign language interpreters with formal interpreting qualifications starts with none in Zambia and Lesotho 

up to 77 in Uganda. 

When queried about how Deaf people access sign language interpreting, 13 countries stated such services are accessed through 

the National Deaf Association or Local Deaf Association, family members and the National Association of Sign Language 

Interpreters. Another question designed to collect information about who is responsible for providing sign language interpreting 

services for the Deaf Community, answered by 12 countries (Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, 

Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) resulted in the following findings: 

Government National Association of the Deaf Private Sector Others 

3 Countries 

(25%) 

12 Countries 

(100%) 


1 Country 

(8%) 

4 Countries 

(33%) 

The types of sign language interpreting services offered to the Deaf community in 12 countries (Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, 

Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) are: 

Sign Language Interpreting Services Country/Average Percentage 

Social Services 11 (92%) 

Health/Medical Services 11 (92%) 

Court Services 10 (83%) 

Funerals/Weddings 10 (83%) 

Counselling Services 9 (75%) 

Educational Services 8 (67%) 

Entertainment 8 (67%) 

Employment Services 6 (50%) 

Financial Institutions 6 (50%) 





The same 12 respondents provided their general opinion of these sign language interpreting services. The broad opinion is that 

there is a lack of quality in formal training and qualifications; interpreting services are not available all the time; there are not 

enough interpreters so supply cannot meet demand; and there is a lack of funding for these services. 

Fourteen out of 18 respondents stated that sign language interpreters receive payment for their interpreting assignments, with 

the responsibility for remitting payment as follows: 

Government National Association of the Deaf Deaf People Others 

8 Countries (57%) 11 Countries (79%) 4 Countries (29%) 5 Countries (36%) 


• Eight countries’ governments, in Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, are 

responsible for payment of interpreting services 

• In 11 countries (Eritrea, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and 

Zimbabwe) the National Association of the Deaf provides funding for the service 

• Four countries (Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe) stated that Deaf people themselves pay for the service 

The National Associations of the Deaf in Burundi, Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique stated that sign language interpreters do 

not receive any payment for their interpreting services. 

Five countries detailed the provision of funding for interpreting services from other sources; this information can be found on 

page 89. 

Fourteen out of 19 countries (Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, 

Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) responded to the question asking the average rate for sign language interpreters. The 

lowest payment is 12.88€ for a full day of service in Zambia; and the highest payment is 158.92€ for a full day in South Africa. 

(Payment scales can be found on page 91). 

Five out of 18 countries (Eritrea, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) stated their sign language interpreters provide 

voluntary services for all assignments and 11 other countries (Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, 

Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia) stated that their interpreters do voluntary services sometimes; two 

countries (Rwanda and Swaziland) stated that their sign language interpreters never provide voluntary services for interpreting 

assignments. 

The question seeking whether each country has a National Association of Sign Language Interpreters brought to light that only 

seven countries (Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) have a national organisation for 

Sign Language Interpreters. Six of 19 countries (Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) have their 

own national Code of Ethics for Sign Language Interpreters. 

The last question for this section sought information about legislation or policies which state the government has a 

responsibility for the provision of sign language interpreting services. Four out of 19 countries (Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and 

Uganda) reported in the affirmative and provided the title of their legislation, which can be found on page 93. 


This survey sought to gather information on employment settings for Deaf people in the region of WFD RSESA. The first question 

was to confirm whether the government considers that Deaf people have a right to be employed and earn a standard salary. 

Five out of 19 countries (Eritrea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe) stated ‘No’. The next question was 

whether any of the national governments have anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, especially for Deaf people or 

People with Disabilities. Eleven countries (Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, 

Seychelles, Swaziland, and Zambia) do not have laws against discrimination of Deaf people or People with Disabilities. Six 

countries (Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) provided a list of the legislation or policies relating to 

anti-discrimination in employment (found on page 95); two countries (Ethiopia and Namibia) stated they do have legislation but 

did not supply the name of their anti-discrimination legislation or policy. 

To the question about official figures about the number of Deaf people who are in paid employment, only three out of 19 

country respondents (Eritrea, South Africa and Zimbabwe) provided this information: 

Country Total Number of Deaf people employed 

Eritrea 10,000 

Sudan 14,000 

Zimbabwe 74 

Total 24,074 

Another question asked for information on the number of Deaf people who are unemployed, and none of the 19 country 

respondents provided this information. 




Fourteen countries (Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, 

Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) ticked the most common areas of work for Deaf people in their country with the 

results being: 

Most Common areas of work for Deaf people in WFD RSESA 

Country/Average Percentage 


Tailoring 14 Countries (100%) 

Carpentry 13 Countries (93%) 

Cleaning 11 Countries (79%) 

Farm Work 11 Countries (79%) 

Sign Language Work 11 Countries (79%) 

Hairdresser 10 Countries (71%) 

Welding 10 Countries (71%) 

Building 9 Countries (64%) 

Painter 9 Countries (64%) 

Catering 9 Countries (64%) 

Shoe Repairing 9 Countries (64%) 

Education 8 Countries (57%) 

Car Mechanic 7 Countries (50%) 

Management 6 Countries (43%) 

Bakery 5 Countries (36%) 

Social Services 5 Countries (36%) 

Printer 5 Countries (36%) 

Financial Industry 4 Countries (29%) 

Jeweller 4 Countries (29%) 

Office Administration 3 Countries (21%) 

Panel Beating 3 Countries (21%) 

Research Projects 3 Countries (21%) 

Theatre/Arts 3 Countries (21%) 

Engineering 2 Countries (14%) 

Other 5 Countries (36%) 

One question aimed to find out reasons for Deaf people’s unemployment; 15 countries (Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, 

Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) 

provided justifications as follows: 

• Barriers in communication 

• Low literacy skills 

• Lack of education and job training for Deaf people 

• Discrimination towards Deaf by hearing people 

• Bad national economy 

• Lack of Deaf Awareness 

The final question asked if there were any employment services to assist unemployed Deaf people to find positions and also 

asked who is responsible for this service. Eight out of 19 countries (Eritrea, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, 

Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) have specialised services offered by both the Government Employment Service and the National 

Association of the Deaf to assist Deaf people to gain employment. 




4.10 General Comments 

Five issues of common concern faced by every National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group globally were listed, and 18 

countries (Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South 

Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) prioritised these issues for the Deaf community in their 

country. Please note: the majority of the countries ticked more than one ‘highest priority’. The results are: 

Highest Priority Issues 

Recognition of your country’s Sign Language(s) by your country’s Government 

Country/Average Percentage 


14 Countries (78%) 

Better quality of Deaf Education 13 Countries (72%) 

Better Sign Language Interpreting quality and services 12 Countries (67%) 

Improved quality and access to Government and Community Services 12 Countries (67%) 

Equal Opportunity in Employment 11 Countries (61%) 

Others 6 Countries (33%) 

The final part of the survey provided the opportunity for each country to list any other concerns about the standard of living of 

Deaf people. Eighteen countries (Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, 

Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) took the opportunity and expressed 

the following common areas of concern: 

Government 

• Lack of involvement with the government programmes 

• Eradication of poverty for Deaf people 

• Decentralised service delivery for Deaf people to access easily 

• Funding for the National Association of the Deaf 

• Existing Legislation not being implemented 

Education 

• A large number of Deaf people are illiterate 

• Quality of Education needs to be improved 

• Need more schools for Deaf children and students 

Sign Language Interpreters 

• Training for sign language interpreters 

• Lack of sign language interpreters or interpreting services in rural areas 

• Not enough sign language interpreting services in general 

Employment 

Other 

• Professional training for Deaf people 

• Opportunities for employment 

• High percentage of Deaf people is unemployed because of lack of education and skills 

• Deaf people are not seen as a equal citizens by hearing society 

• Training for Deaf people to improve health and social skills 

• Deaf Association needs to be trained in organisation and project management 

• Deaf people need a Leadership Training Programme 

• Pro-active programmes for Deaf women are needed 

• Dire lack of information about HIV/AIDS available in sign language for Deaf people 

• Ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

• Gender equality in the Deaf Community 




5.0 Recommendations 

This section is based on the recommendations prepared by the members of the Regional Working Group that met in 

Johannesburg, South Africa, on 3 rd - 5 th June, 2008 to pursue the issues highlighted in the report. The current economic 

situation in the WFD RSESA region, especially in the countries categorised under the World Bank Classification as Low Income 

(Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) or Low 

Middle Income (Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland), has an impact on any of their governments’ abilities to fund programmes to 

support these initiatives. 

It may be necessary for the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) to seek 

external support for the region, i.e. to seek project support and funding via partnerships with Shia and other relevant 

organisations. 

The Regional Working Group brainstormed about issues brought to light by the survey as urgent needs for the members in the 

Southern and Eastern Africa Region. From this they identified training needs for the region. 

The Regional Working Group recommended that any and all training should be available in sign language and conducted by Deaf 

Trainers and Experts. The Regional Working Group has identified the major needs as being: 

5.1 Increase Knowledge of the United Nations Conventions 

After receiving training on the various conventions of the United Nations, the Regional Working Group considered knowledge of 

current conventions a powerful tool for each country’s Deaf Community. Training should be provided about the: 

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 

• Convention on the Rights of the Child 

• Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women 

• Periodic reporting, the new system of Universal Periodic Reviews and also shadow/alternative reports from NGOs 

5.2 Training on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 

Ideally each member of WFD RSA/P should receive full training in understanding the CRPD in its entirety, to enable them to 

prepare for their advocacy role within areas such as: 

1. How to lobby Government to sign and ratify CRPD (who, how, what) 

2. How the National Association of the Deaf can become an expert with their national government for the five articles of 

the CRPD specifically related to the Deaf Community 

3. How to prepare and advise the national government about the five articles of the CRPD relating to the Deaf Community 

including budget preparation, advisory roles, and appropriate systems/appointments/procedures 

5.3 Organisational Review 

Essentially, a re-evaluation of the overall vision to provide clear direction for the organisation as a whole, in accordance with 

the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) aims. The process should focus on the following areas: 

• Political strength 

• Vision, Mission and Aims of an organisation of Deaf people 

• Clear definitions of roles and responsibilities in a structure with National, Regional and Local Deaf Associations 

• Community relationship and communication structure to be developed and put into place (including the importance of 

transparency) 

• Representation and the role of Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people within the organisation 

The Project Co-ordinator believes it is necessary to develop a blueprint of a national strategy for the Deaf community for each 

National Association of the Deaf in the region of WFD RSESA. 

5.4 Organisational Development Training 

The members of the Regional Working Group raised the strong need to provide organisational management training for all WFD 

RSESA Board Members and Senior Management Staff as follows: 

1. How to prepare Policy Statements 

2. Advocacy to and lobbying of the government for services, legislation and policy for the Deaf Community 

3. Financial Management/Fundraising/Grants and Project Funding from or by the governments 

4. Strategy Development to lobby governments to recognise national sign language(s) 

5. General Information about Sign Language Interpreters Training Programmes:- 

• Appointment of appropriate Interpreter Trainers for the training 

• How to prepare interpreter training programmes 

• How to provide interpreting services 

• How to accredit interpreters 




• General policies on Sign Language Interpreter Services 

• Code of Ethics 

6. Membership Issues regarding hearing people’s involvement with an Association of the Deaf run by Deaf people 

7. Understanding the different definitions of Deaf and Hearing Impaired 

8. Information about Health Education in the areas of: 

• HIV and AIDS 

• Breast cancer and reproductive health 

• Prevention programmes 

• Poverty eradication programmes 

9. Training for the Deaf Youth Community and Leadership Training for Deaf Youth 

10. Training for Deaf Women 

5.5 Training for the National Association of the Deaf and Deaf Groups/Organisations 

The process would ideally also include training of individual members and board members of every National Association of the 

Deaf and Deaf Group/Organisation in the region of WFD RSA/P, and include subjects such as: 

• WFD Policies 

• International Network and Roles of the United Nations, WFD, WFD Regional Secretariats 

• Global Models of Deaf Communities and Organisations, e.g. WFD, and their work 

• Human Rights 

• Gender Issues 

• Deaf Education/Bilingualism for Deaf Students 

• Review of Deaf Education 

• Sign Language Work 

• Sign Language Interpreting 

• Media for Deaf People 

• Deaf Employment/Vocational Training 

• National Legislation/Local Government Systems 

• Leadership 

• Empowerment and Democracy 

• Advocacy by the National Association of the Deaf 

• Deafhood (the Deaf collective existence; a process by which Deaf individuals come to actualise their Deaf identity) 

• Conflict Resolution 

This training will endeavour to provide empowerment and self-reliance to the National Association of the Deaf and Deaf 

Groups/Organisations as they act in accordance with their obligations to advocate and improve the status of the Deaf 

community in their country. 

The Project Co-ordinator proposes that the training outlined below is necessary to supplement the above recommendations 

from the Regional Working Group: 

5.6 Advocacy for the Improvement of the Standard of Living for Deaf People 

It can be seen that sports and cultural activities are prominent in National Association of the Deaf work, and that essential 

lobbying for the improvement of the standard of living for Deaf people is sometimes lacking or difficult to achieve. 

A recommendation on how to address this issue is to seek partnership to conduct comprehensive data collection on the living 

standards of a representative sample of individual Deaf people, including vital aspects such as: 

• Socio-economic status 

• Education 

• Literacy skills 


• Access to sign language interpreting services 

• Access to health services 

• Access to government services 

• Access to the media 

An essential part of this advocacy process is to utilise existing tools such as legal documents, reports and international human 

rights documents relevant to Deaf people, in order to make valid proposals and arguments to better equality and living 

conditions. (The WFD Fact Sheet on Human Rights can be found on http://www.wfdeaf.org/pdf/fact_humanrights.pdf) 




6.0 Geography and Population 

All of the following information was obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency – World Factbook 

(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html) 

6.1 Botswana 

6.2 Burundi 

6.3 Eritrea 

Population: 1,842,323 

note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the 

effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower 

life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, 

lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of 

population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected 

(July 2008 est.) 

Ethnic groups: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, 

including Kgalagadi and white 7% 

Religions: Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 

20.6% (2001 census) 

Languages: Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% 

(official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census) 








Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, 

Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000 

Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous 

beliefs 23%, Muslim 10% 

Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake 

Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area) 

Population: 5,028,475 (July 2008 est.) 

Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast 

dwellers) 3%, other 3% 

Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant 

Languages: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic 

languages 




6.4 Ethiopia 

6.5 Kenya 

6.6 Lesotho 








Ethnic groups: Oromo 32.1%, Amara 30.1%, Tigraway 6.2%, Somalie 5.9%, Guragie 

4.3%, Sidama 3.5%, Welaita 2.4%, other 15.4% (1994 census) 

Religions: Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim 

32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census) 

Languages: Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna 31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, 

Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%, 

English (major foreign language taught in schools) (1994 census) 




life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower 

population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of 



Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 

6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and 

Arab) 1% 

Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous 

beliefs 10%, other 2% 

note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for 

the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or 

indigenous beliefs vary widely 

Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous 

languages 








Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%, 

Religions: Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20% 

Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa 




6.7 Madagascar 

6.8 Malawi 


Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed 

African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, 

Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran) 

Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7% 

Languages: English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official) 






population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 

2008 est.) 

Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, 

Ngonde, Asian, European 

Religions: Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census) 

Languages: Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, 

Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, 

other 3.6% (1998 census) 




6.9 Mozambique 

6.10 Namibia 





lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution 

of population by age and sex than would otherwise be 

expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 

16,099,246 (July 2008 est.) 

Ethnic groups: African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), 

Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08% 

Religions: Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, other 

17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census) 

Languages: Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; 

spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 

7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 

32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 

census) 






of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected 


Ethnic groups: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5% 

note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe 

and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups include 

Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, 

Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5% 

Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 

10% to 20% 

Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the 

population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, 

indigenous languages 1% (includes Oshivambo, Herero, Nama) 




6.11 Rwanda 

6.12 Seychelles 

6.13 South Africa 








Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1% 

Religions: Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 

4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001) 

Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French 

(official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in 

commercial centers 

Population: 82,247 (July 2008 est.) 

Ethnic groups: mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab 

Religions: Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 

1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non- 

Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census) 

Languages: Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 

0.2% (2002 census) 








Ethnic groups: black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% 

(2001 census) 

Religions: Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 

7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, 

Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, 

none 15.1% (2001 census) 

Languages: IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, 

English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 

7.2% (2001 census) 




6.14 Sudan 

6.15 Swaziland 

6.16 Tanzania 


Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1% 

Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and 

Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25% 

Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, 

Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English 

note: program of "Arabization" in process 








Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3% 

Religions: Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral 

worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes 

Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30% 

Languages: English (official, government business conducted in English), 

siSwati (official) 








Ethnic groups: mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of 

more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, 

and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African 

Religions: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; 

Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim 

Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in 

Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, 

administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in 

Zanzibar), many local languages 

note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu 

people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although 

Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws 

on a variety of sources including Arabic and English; it has 

become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first 

language of most people is one of the local languages 




6.17 Uganda 

6.18 Zambia 

6.19 Zimbabwe 








Ethnic groups: Baganda 16.9%, Banyakole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 

6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, 

Bunyoro 2.7%, other 29.6% (2002 census) 

Religions: Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, 

Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, 

other 3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census) 

Languages: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used 

in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio 

broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger- 

Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in 

the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo 

languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic 








Ethnic groups: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2% 

Religions: Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous 

beliefs 1% 

Languages: English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, 

Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous 

languages 








Ethnic groups: African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and 

Asian 1%, white less than 1% 

Religions: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 

25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1% 

Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the 

Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal 

dialects 




7.0 Survey Results 

7.1.0 Contact Details 

Country Botswana (WFD Ordinary Member) 

Country Classification Upper Middle Income 

Name of Association Botswana Association of the Deaf [BOAD] 

Street Address Gaborone, Main Mall [Christ the King Cathedral Roman Catholic Church] 

Postal Address PO Box 4818 

City, Post Code Gaborone 00267 

Country Botswana 

Website N/A 

Email N/A 

Telephone Landline Number N/A 

Telephone Mobile Number N/A 

Fax Number N/A 

Country Burundi (WFD Ordinary Member) 

Country Classification Low Income 

Name of Association Burundi National Association of the Deaf 

Name of Association in National Language Association National Des Sourds du Burundi 

Street Address Avenue Buerere, Quarter Industrielle Parcelle No R 1224 


City, Post Code Bujumbura, 7027 

Country Burundi 

Website N/A 

Email bnadeaf@yahoo.com 

Telephone Landline Number +257 2955 2728 

+257 7997 8130 

Telephone Mobile Number 

+257 7997 2643 


Country Eritrea (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Eritrean National Association of the Deaf (EriNAD) 

Street Address Adi Yaekob Avenue, 179 House No 50 


City, Post Code Asmara 291-1 

Country Eritrea 

Website www.erinad.org 

Email enad@gemel.com.er 


Telephone Mobile Number +2910 716 9087 

Fax Number +291 112 4115 




Country Ethiopia (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf (ENAD) 

Address Guelle Sub City Kebele 03 

Postal Address P.O.BOX 21359 

City, Post Code Addis Ababa 

Country Ethiopia 

Website N/A 

Email enad@ethionet.et 

Telephone Landline Number +251 11 122 2517 


Fax Number +251 11 122 2516 

Country Kenya (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Kenya National Association of the Deaf (KNAD) 


City, Post Code Nairobi, 00100 

Country Kenya 

Website N/A 

knadasskenya@yhaoo.com 

Email 

opanypw@yahoo.com 



Fax Number +254 7335 74089 

Country Lesotho (WFD Ordinary Member) 

Country Classification Lower Middle Income 

Name of Association National Association of the Deaf - Lesotho 

Street Address No 22 Mabile Road, Old Europa 


City, Post Code Masery 100 

Country Lesotho 

Website N/A 

Email deafles@leo.co.ls 



Fax Number +266 2232 6196 




Country Madagascar (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Federation of the Deaf in Madagascar 

Street Address Lot 1053, Cite 67ha Nord-Quest 

Postal Address B.P. 13030 

City, Post Code Antananarivo 101 

Country Madagascar 

Website N/A 

Email f.m.m@moov.mg 




Country Malawi (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Associations Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MNAD) 

Postal Address Private Bag 14 

City, Post Code Maselema, Blantyre 8 

Country Malawai 

Website N/A 

Email fedoma@malawi.net 


+265 08 569 123 


+265 09 229 141 


Country Mozambique (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Association of the Deaf in Mozambique 

Name of Association in National Language Associacao de Surdos de Mocambique 

Street Address c/o Escola Especial 1, Av. Salvador Allende n º 1215, Polana cimento 

City, Post Code Maputo 

Country Mozambique 

Website N/A 

asumo_map@yahoo.com 

Email 

izandamela@yahoo.com 


Telephone Mobile Number +258 82 298 6540 





Country Namibia (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Namibian National Association of the Deaf 

Street Address Verbena Street 4018 Khomasdal 

Postal Address P.O. Box 21040 

City, Post Code Windhoek 9000 

Country Namibia 

Website N/A 

Email nnad@iway.na 



Fax Number +264 6124 4811 

Country Rwanda (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Rwanda National Association of the Deaf 

Name of Association in National Language Association Nationale des Sourds du Rwanda 

Street Address Avenue de l’ Umudugudu Multimedia-Sonatube 

Postal Address BP: C/O 4668 

City, Post Code Ville de KIGALI 

Country Rwanda 

Website N/A 

augumunya@yahoo.fr 

Email 

rnad8_rw2006@yahoo.fr 


+250 0843 3444 (sms) 


+250 0823 2727 


Country Seychelles (Not a WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Association of People with Hearing Impairment 

Address Market street 


City, Post Code Victoria 

Country Seychelles 

Website N/A 

Email Lizyepoutande@yahoo.com.au 







Country South Africa (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) 

Street Address 20 Napier Road, Richmond, Johannesburg, 2092 

Postal Address Private Bag X04 

City, Post Code Westhoven, 2192 

Country South Africa 

Website www.deafsa.co.za 

Email nationaldirector@deafsa.co.za 



Fax Number +27 11 726 5873 

Country Sudan (Not a WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Sudanese National Union of the Deaf (SNUD) 

Name of Association in National Language ( س ق ص أ ) ﱏادﻮﺴﻟا ﻰﻣﻮﻘﻟا ﻢﺼﻟا دﺎﲢا 

Street Address Sudatel Street 

Postal Address PO 2963 

City, Post Code Khartoum North, 11111 

Country Sudan 

Website N/A 

Email snudgesec@hotmail.com 



Fax Number +249 8523 5178 

Country Swaziland (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Swaziland National Association of the Deaf 

Address Lilunga Street, Msunduza Rd 


City, Post Code Mbabane, H100 

Country Swaziland 

Website N/A 

snad@swazi.net 

Email 

makhosinip@hotmail.com 



Fax Number +268 404 7625 




Country Tanzania (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Tanzania Association of the Deaf (CHAVITA) 

Street Address Mtoni-Mwembe Madafu off Kilwa Road 


City, Post Code Temeke District, Dar Es Saraam 

Country Tanzania 

Website www.chavita.org 

Email chavita@raha.com 



Fax Number +255 2221 12434 

Country Uganda (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Uganda National Association of the Deaf 

Street Address Plot No 118, Kamwokya Bukoto Street 


City, Post Code Kampala, 256 

Country Uganda 

Website www.unadug.net 

Email unad@infocom.co.ug 



Fax Number +256 414 541 874 

Country Zambia (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Zambia National Association of the Deaf 

ZNAD House, 

Plot 10437 Los Angeles Crescent 

Street Address 

North of Kanyama 

Bp Filling Station, Chinika South Area 

Postal Address 35821 

City, Post Code Lusaka 10101 

Country Zambia 

Website N/A 

Email znaddeaf@yahoo.com 







Country Zimbabwe (WFD Ordinary Member) 


Name of Association Zimbabwe National Association of the Deaf (ZIMNAD) 

No 6 Mbare Hostel, 

Address 

Arbobennie Road, Mbare 


City, Post Code Harare 

Country Zimbabwe 

Website N/A 

Email zimnadorg@yahoo.com 


+263 912 451 156 


+263 912 450 627 (Chairman) 





7.2.0 National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group 

7.2.1 Please provide the number of members your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group has in your country. 

7.2.1.1 Deaf Members: - 

Country Total Deaf Members Total Deaf Women Total Deaf Men 

Botswana N/A N/A N/A 

Burundi 815 505 310 

Eritrea 2,200 850 1,350 

Ethiopia 5,000 0 0 

Kenya N/A N/A N/A 

Lesotho 1,998 842 1,156 

Madagascar 192 82 110 

Malawi 1,200 420 780 

Mozambique N/A N/A N/A 

Namibia N/A N/A N/A 

Rwanda 100,000 56,000 44,000 

Seychelles 18 10 8 

South Africa 20,497 0 0 

Sudan 15,000 6,000 9,000 

Swaziland 1,120 480 640 

Tanzania 281,000 193,123 87,877 

Uganda 4,700 0 0 

Zambia 14,436 4,752 9,684 

Zimbabwe 280,000 130,000 150,000 

Total 728,176 393,064 304,915 

7.4.2.1 Hard of Hearing Members: - 

Country Total Hard of Hearing Members Total Hard of Hearing Women Total Hard of Hearing Men 

Botswana N/A N/A N/A 

Burundi 107 36 71 

Eritrea 58 25 33 

Ethiopia 0 0 0 

Kenya N/A N/A N/A 

Lesotho 923 387 536 

Madagascar 2 N/A 2 

Malawi 0 0 0 

Mozambique N/A N/A N/A 

Namibia N/A N/A N/A 

Rwanda 1,700 1,200 500 

Seychelles 6 5 1 

South Africa 0 0 0 

Sudan 50 20 30 

Swaziland 0 0 0 

Tanzania 57,000 32,000 25,000 

Uganda 0 0 0 

Zambia 0 0 0 

Zimbabwe 750 300 450 

Total 60,596 33,973 26,623 




7.2.1.3 Hearing Members: - 

Country Total Hearing Members 

Botswana N/A 

Burundi 5 

Eritrea 0 

Ethiopia 0 

Kenya N/A 

Lesotho 0 

Madagascar 24 

Malawi 18 

Mozambique N/A 

Namibia N/A 

Rwanda 0 

Seychelles 12 

South Africa 0 

Sudan 0 

Swaziland 0 

Tanzania 0 

Uganda 0 

Zambia 0 

Zimbabwe 23 

Total 82 

7.2.1.4 Summary Status of the Associations’/Groups’ Memberships: - 

Country Total Deaf Members Total Hard of Hearing Members Total Hearing Members Total Members 

Botswana N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Burundi 815 (88%) 107 (11.5%) 5 (0.5%) 927 

Eritrea 2,200 (97%) 58 (3%) 0 2,258 

Ethiopia 5,000 (100%) 0 0 5,000 

Kenya N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Lesotho 1,998 (68%) 923 (32%) 0 2,921 

Madagascar 192 (88%) 2 (1%) 24 (11%) 218 

Malawi 1,200 (99%) 0 18 (1%) 1,218 

Mozambique N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Namibia N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Rwanda 100,000 (98%) 1,700 (2%) 0 101,700 

Seychelles 18 (50%) 6 (17%) 12 (33%) 36 

South Africa 20,497 (100%) 0 0 20,497 

Sudan 15,000 (99.5%) 50 (0.5%) 0 15,050 

Swaziland 1,120 (100%) 0 0 1,120 

Tanzania 281,000 (83%) 57,000 (17%) 0 338,000 

Uganda 4,700 (100%) 0 0 4,700 

Zambia 14,436 (100%) 0 0 14,436 

Zimbabwe 280,000 (99.5%) 750 (0.49%) 23 (0.01%) 280,773 

Total 728,176 60,596 82 788,854 




7.2.2 In what year was your National Association/Deaf Group established? 

7.2.3 Does your Deaf Association/Deaf Group have Statutes/a Constitution? 

7.2.4 Does your government recognise your national organisation as the representative of Deaf people in your country? 

Country 

In what year was your National 

Association/Deaf Group 

established? 

Does your Deaf Association/Deaf 

Group have Statutes/a 

Constitution? 

Does your government recognise 

your national organisation as the 

representative of Deaf people in 

your country? 

Botswana 2002 Yes No 

Burundi 2002 Yes Yes 

Eritrea 1998 Yes Yes 

Ethiopia 1971 Yes Yes 

Kenya 1986 Yes Yes 

Lesotho 1992 Yes Yes 

Madagascar 1985 Yes Yes 

Malawi 1992 Yes Yes 

Mozambique 1999 Yes Yes 

Namibia 1991 Yes Yes 

Rwanda 1988 Yes Yes 

Seychelles 2005 Yes N/A 

South Africa 1929 Yes Yes 

Sudan 1972 Yes Yes 

Swaziland 1989 Yes Yes 

Tanzania 1983 Yes Yes 

Uganda 1973 Yes Yes 

Zambia 1981 Yes Yes 

Zimbabwe 1995 Yes Yes 

Total 19 Yes (100%) 


17 Yes (89%) 

7.2.5 Please list some of the areas in which your association has adopted a policy statement. 

Country Please list some of the areas in which your association has adopted a policy statement. 

Botswana No policy statement supplied 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

• Education 


• Integration 

• Health 

• Communication 


• Deaf Women's Rights 

• Sports for the Deaf 

There are no formal policy statements however the Association advocates/works towards: 

• Respect for the Human Rights of the Deaf 

Ethiopia 

• 

• 

Linguistics Rights 

Employment Rights (opportunity to obtain employment) 

• Rights to use Sign Language in Education 

• Everyday Communication 

• Education of the Deaf in Primary and Secondary Schools 

• Sign Language Interpretation in the Public and Private Sectors for Deaf/Sign Language Training for Hearing 

Kenya • Sports and Recreations 

• Employment and Self Sustenance 

• Access to Health Services/HIV/AIDS Training 

Lesotho The Policy Proposals made by our Association to the Government so far have not been responded to. 

Madagascar No policy statement supplied 

Malawi Policy on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 

Mozambique No policy statement supplied 




Namibia 

Rwanda 

Seychelles 

South Africa 

Sudan 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

• Recognition of Namibian Sign Language 

• Advocacy for the Rights of Persons with a Disability 

• Ratification of the Salamanca Statement for Special Education by the Ministry of Education 

• Education for All, EFA 1999 

• To encourage the public authorities to apply legislation related to the protection, education and 

employment of persons with a hearing loss 

• To promote the fight against discrimination of Deaf people based on gender, religion and race 

• Education 

• Social Life 

• Sports and Culture 


• Deaf Education Position Paper 

• South African Sign Language 

• South African Sign Language Interpreters 

• Legislation 

• Education 


SNAD policy on Developing in Silence to empower the Deaf Community in achieving equal rights as enjoyed by 

all able citizens regardless of participation, or economic and political status. 

To see a Tanzanian Community that recognises, accepts and cooperates with Deaf people, and ensures that 

they not afflicted by poverty, injustice, segregation and any kind of discrimination. 

1. UNAD lobbied the Ministry of health to adopt a policy on sign language training for its health workers 

2. Lobbied for a sign language training and research programme for SL interpreters at Kyambogo University 

3. The ministry of education accepted the use of sign language in schools for the Deaf 

4. Sign language recognised in laws and in the Constitution of Uganda 

Zambia No information provided 

Zimbabwe The Association has not adopted a policy statement but always thrives to conform to the Constitution. 

7.2.6 Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action plan. 

Country Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action plan. 

Botswana No priority issues/actions 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

1. Promoting the deaf community by training them in development activities 

2. To promote sign language and sign language interpretation services 

3. To improve the quality and accessibility of public and government services to benefit the Deaf 

4. To fight against HIV/AIDS in the Deaf community 

1. To ensure equal rights and full participation 

2. To educate the deaf from elementary school though high school 

3. To give training to the deaf to help themselves 

4. To publish an Eritrean Sign Language Dictionary and push the Education Authorities to use it in the 

curriculum as a medium of instruction 

5. To foster relationships with organisations within and outside of Eritrea in order to earn income to make 

the Association sustainable 

6. To train more interpreters to facilitate interpretation services in all spheres of Deaf interest 

1. Recognition of sign language as the natural language of the Deaf 

2. Right to Education 

3. Right to Employment and Equal Opportunity 

4. Right for sign language interpreting services 

5. Empowerment of Deaf women 

6. Prevention of HIV/AIDS 

1. To promote the empowerment and participation of Deaf men and women, their families and carers as an 

integral part of Service Development or Advocacy and Networking 

2. To promote awareness of the needs and aspirations of Deaf men and women 

3. Support the development of sign language research in the Public Universities and Institutions 

4. Sign Language Training 

5. Develop the capacity of branch associations and Deaf Women’s Associations through leadership training in 

organisational management, entrepreneurship, information and Deaf Awareness for the General Public 

and Institutions, HIV/AIDS Awareness and Reproductive and Health Education 

6. To liaise with Government, NGOs and DPOs, with the aim of implementing policies that have direct 

impact on the welfare of the Deaf and Disabled 

1. Education and Health (Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Adolescent Health, etc.) 

2. Employment 

3. Sign Language Training for Deaf members, parents, sign language interpreters and the general public 

4. Empowerment Programme for Parents of Deaf Children 




Madagascar 

Malawi 

1. Deaf Women’s Club 

2. Sign Language Dictionary 

3. Interpreter Education 

1. Deaf Rights Awareness 

2. Sign Language Teaching 

3. Sign Language Interpreters Training 

4. HIV/AIDS Awareness 

5. Capacity Building 

6. Empowerment (Economic and Social) 

Mozambique Do not have any strategic action plan because the association is currently being re- structured. 

Namibia 

Rwanda 

Seychelles 

South Africa 

Sudan 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia 

1. Advocacy 

2. Deaf Education 

3. Deaf Awareness 

4. Deaf Women 

5. Namibian Sign Language 

6. HIV/AIDS awareness 

1. To promote national unity of all Deaf in Rwanda in our association 

2. To develop and apply programmes that support research on sign language development 

3. To develop and apply programmes that concentrate on gender issues as well as HIV/AIDS and other 

activities in the field of health, in line with the mission of the national association 

4. To promote equality and participation of Deaf people in the national development 

5. To defend the rights and interests of Deaf people in general 

6. Equality and quality education 

7. Early detection 

8. Professional training 

9. Equal rights in employment 

10. Official acceptance of Seychellois Sign Language. 

1. South Africa Sign Language and Interpreting Services 

2. Education and Training 

3. Provincial Development 

4. Early identification and intervention 

5. Youth 

6. Women 

1. Education promotion 

2. Sign Language courses to be offered at universities 

3. Employment 

4. Vocational education and training 

5. Health care 

6. Legislation and justice 

SNAD plans within the five years 2005-2010 to achieve the following results of social importance to the life 

and independency of the Deaf community: 

1. Youth Empowerment 

2. HIV/AIDS Education and Campaign 

3. Sign Language Development 

4. Social Programme 

1. Organisational Capacity Development 

2. Resources Mobilisation 

3. Strengthening Public and International Relations 

4. Developing Tanzania Sign Language 

5. Economic Empowerment of Deaf People 

6. Awareness Raising, Advocacy and Lobbying for Laws and Policy Changes 

7. Training Deaf people about HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health 

1. Promote research on Uganda Sign Language and Sign Language training 

2. Implement programmes focusing on gender, HIV/AIDS and other health related services 

3. information research, publication and dissemination 

4. Advocacy and lobbying to access services and resources from Government and non-governmental 

organisations 

5. Capacity building of Regional and District Associations of the Deaf 

6. Monitoring and evaluation of programmes and financial management of resources 

1. Human Rights Programme 

• Sign Language Programme 

• Information Programme 

• Health and Wellness Programme 

2. Social Work 

• Membership Development Programme 

• Deaf Women’s Programme 

• Placement Service Programme 

3. Administration 

• Programme and Services Administration 




Zimbabwe 

1. Train more sign language interpreters 

2. HIV and AIDS Awareness 

3. Leadership and Capacity Building 

4. Research sign language vocabulary 

5. Train Deaf instructors 

6. Teaching sign language to hearing people including civil servants 

7.2.7 Please describe the structure of your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group (e.g. congress/annual 

meeting/board/executive/districts/local associations and so forth). 

Country 

Please describe the structure of your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group (e.g. congress/annual 

meeting/board/executive/districts/local associations and so forth). 

Botswana No information supplied 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

• General Assembly: Comprised of all Deaf members of the Association; it is the highest body of BNAD 

• The Board: Comprises the President, Vice President, Executive Director, Accountant, Branches Coordinator, 

Deaf Women’s Representative and Deaf Youth Representative 

• Executive Committee: Comprises the Executive Director, Project Co-ordinator, Accountant, Storekeeper, 

Interpreter, Main Sign Language Teacher, Health and Education, Trainer in charge of Culture, Arts and 

Sports 

• The Eritrean National Association of the Deaf is led by the General Assembly, which is the highest body of 

the Association; the Executive Committee (12 Board Members); Chairperson; and in the head office the 

General Manager and other staff. There are also local branch offices in four Eritrean geographic regions. 

• The ENAD Congress is held every four years and the annual meeting is held annually. 

• The Executive and the local Branch Leaders meet every three months throughout the year. 

• General Assembly 

• Executive Management Committee/Board/Secretariat 

• Local Associations 

• The General Assembly is composed of representatives of the local Associations 

• The Secretariat, headed by the Executive Director, has different sections including finance and property 

administration, and archives. There are also different project offices 

• There are also groups such as Women’s, Sports and Youth (currently inactive) 

• Delegates Congress of 66 members representing branches every three years 

• Bi-Annual Delegates Congress of 33 representatives every one and half year 

• Governing Council - 13 members representative branch 

• Quarterly Meeting of six Project Sub-Committees - eight members per committee 

• Administration and Management Departments 

• Branch Associations - Quarterly Meeting 

• KNAD is a membership organisation; eligibility is for branch associations of Deaf people around Kenya 

• KNAD is an umbrella organisation for Branch Associations 

• The delegates from branches meet every three years to elect the board of Governors. They review 

activities bi-annually. 

• KNAD runs a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director. The organisation has projects that are headed by 

departmental heads. The activities of the departmental heads are reviewed by Sub-Committees who report 

to the Board. These committees are managed by Experts in their areas of focus. 

• Organisational Structure attached 

• We have a General Assembly which is made up of members from the District Branches; this General 

Assembly elects the Executive Board 

• The same General Assembly also elects representatives to the Women’s Wing, Youth Forum, etc. 

• The Executive Board appoints the Executive Director and other staff personnel 

Madagascar Organisational Chart provided 

Malawi 

Mozambique 

Namibia 

• Board of Trustees 

• General Assembly 

• Executive Board 

• Secretariat (Branch and Club) 

• Annual Meeting or Conference of the Central Council 

• Executive Secretariat 

• Provincial Delegation 

• Congress is held every two years 

• The Annual Meeting is an annual event 

• The Board meets three times a year 

• The Organisation is led by an appointed national Executive Director 

• The Association has regional Branches that are affiliated to NAD 




• General Assembly (GA) is the supreme body of our association 

• Executive committee is represented by the president, who makes decisions and disseminates them to the 

Rwanda 

GA 

• General Secretariat or the Commission of the National Association 

• Council of Surveillance 

Seychelles Local association which is run by a management committee 

South Africa 

Sudan 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

DeafSA currently has nine Deaf Provincial Federations throughout South Africa which are recognised as NPO’s 

each with their own constituency. The Deaf Federations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western 

Cape have long benefited from financial support from the National Office. Other means of support are extended 

to the remainder of the Deaf Provincial Federations. 

DeafSA Governance Structure 

The composition of the Quadrennial National Congress comprises a total of 39 representatives, via: 

• Twenty seven Congressional Members – three members from each of the nine DPF’s of South Africa 

• Three National Representatives for SA Deaf Youth 

• Three National Representatives for SA Deaf Women 

• Three National Representatives for SA Deaf Sports 

• Three National Representatives for SA Deafblind 

The National Executive Committee, of which 99% are Deaf, is comprised of provincial representatives from each 

province. They are chairpersons of the nine Deaf Provincial Federations where they form part of the decisionmaking 

process on the national level and thereby influence the affairs of DeafSA. 

• General Assembly held every two years and formed of all state branches 

• Executive Officers hold office for a period of two years 

• Specialised Secretariats (14 Secretariats e.g. Sign Language Secretariat, Special Education Secretariat, and 

so forth) 

• Annual Meeting 

• Board 

• Executive 

• Districts 

• Local Associations 

• The main decision-making body is the annual general meeting representing regions and branches countrywide; 

they elect the National Executive Board every three years. 

• The Board employs the Executive Director, who is the officer in charge of the day to day management of 

the organisation. 

• To implement the vision and mission statement in line with the professional strategic plan, the director 

employs departmental staff depending on their educational background, skills and professionalism. 

• At the grassroots level there is a national network of Deaf clubs from Wards, Districts and Regions. 

Uganda Organisational Chart provided 

Zambia 

Zimbabwe 

• ZNAD Membership Branches (Grass Roots) 

• ZNAD General Assembly (Held once every 3 years) 

• ZNAD Annual General Meeting (Held once every year) 

• ZNAD Executive Committee Board (Makes policy and decisions) 

• ZNAD Secretariat (Implements Programmes) 

• Zimbabwe National Association of the Deaf is composed of the Chairman and one Vice Chairman, Secretary, 

and one Vice Secretary, Treasurer and four committee members. 

• ZIMNAD has branches countrywide. 

• Every year ZIMNAD holds an Annual General Meeting, which draws its members from all walks of life. 

Individuals of national renown are also invited to take part in the Annual General Meeting. The Executive 

maps strategies to be followed and implemented by members of the staff. 

• The Branches forward their grievances to the National Association and the Executive tries to find means to 

rectify them. 

• The Executive meets two times per month in order to assess progress made by staff members. If there is 

any urgent matter the Executive members send each other messages through mobile phones. 




7.2.7.1 How many affiliated regional and/or local Deaf Associations are part of your National Association of the Deaf? 

Country Regional Associations Local Associations 

Botswana 0 0 

Burundi 5 5 

Eritrea 0 4 

Ethiopia 0 14 

Kenya 3 13 

Lesotho 0 0 


Malawi 3 6 

Mozambique 5 2 

Namibia 13 1 

Rwanda 10 25 

Seychelles 0 3 

South Africa 9 119 

Sudan 15 12 

Swaziland 4 0 

Tanzania 17 38 

Uganda 7 47 

Zambia 0 25 

Zimbabwe 0 6 

Total 103 322 

7.2.8 How many members of your board are Deaf? 

Country 

How many members of your board 

are Deaf? 

Total number of Board Members 

Percentage of Deaf on the 

Board 

Botswana 10 10 100% 

Burundi 18 19 95% 

Eritrea 12 12 100% 

Ethiopia 9 9 100% 

Kenya 13 13 100% 

Lesotho 10 10 100% 

Madagascar 14 14 100% 

Malawi 10 10 100% 

Mozambique 12 12 100% 

Namibia 7 7 100% 

Rwanda 9 12 75% 

Seychelles 6 13 46% 

South Africa 17 18 94% 

Sudan 15 15 100% 

Swaziland 8 8 100% 

Tanzania 8 8 100% 

Uganda 9 9 100% 

Zambia 17 20 85% 

Zimbabwe 9 15 60% 

Total 213 234 91% 




7.2.9 How many members of the board are Deaf women and how many are Deaf men? 

Country Deaf Women Board Members Deaf Men Board Members Percentage of Deaf Women on the Board 

Botswana 7 3 70% 

Burundi 7 11 63% 

Eritrea 4 8 33% 

Ethiopia 3 6 33% 

Kenya 4 9 31% 

Lesotho 7 3 70% 

Madagascar 6 8 43% 

Malawi 4 6 40% 

Mozambique 3 9 25% 

Namibia 2 5 29% 

Rwanda 5 4 56% 

Seychelles 3 3 50% 

South Africa 9 8 53% 

Sudan 3 12 20% 

Swaziland 4 4 50% 

Tanzania 4 4 50% 

Uganda 2 7 22% 

Zambia 4 13 24% 

Zimbabwe 4 5 44% 

Total 85 128 39% 

7.2.10 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have committees for specific areas of interest or affiliation 

with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have committees for specific areas of 

interest or affiliation with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

Deaf Women’s Groups 15 (94%) 

Country/Average 

Percentage 

Based on 16 Respondents 

Sign Language Interpreting 14 (88 %) 

Deaf Youth 12 (75%) 

Sign Language Research 12 (75%) 

Sports Groups 12 (75%) 

Deaf Education 11 (69%) 

Parents of Deaf Children 11 (69%) 

Cultural Groups of Deaf People 8 (50%) 

Children of Deaf Adults 3 (19%) 

Deafblind 3 (19%) 

Deaf People with Other Disabilities 3 (19%) 

Other Committees 1 (6%) 

Deaf Seniors 0 

Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual 0 

Country Other Committees/Groups 

Uganda 

• 

• 

Sign Language Instructors/Teachers 

Deaf Business Groups 

Botswana, Seychelles and Mozambique stated their Associations do not have any specific areas of interest or affiliation with any 

relevant groups in their countries. 




Country 

Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have committees for specific areas of interest or 

affiliation with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

Burundi Sign Language Interpreting 

Sign Language Research 

Deaf Education 

Parents of Deaf Children 

Deaf Youth 

Sports Groups 

Deaf Women’s Groups 

Eritrea Sign Language Interpreting 


Sports Groups 


Ethiopia Sign Language Interpreting 



Deaf Youth 

Cultural Groups of Deaf People 

Sports Groups 


Kenya Sign Language Interpreting 




Deafblind 

Deaf Youth 


Sports Groups 


Children of Deaf Adults 

Lesotho Sign Language Interpreting 



Deaf Youth 

Sports Groups 

Deaf People with Other Disabilities 


Madagascar Sign Language Interpreting 





Sports Groups 


Malawi Sign Language Interpreting 

Deaf Youth 





Namibia Sign Language Interpreting 





Rwanda Sign Language Interpreting 



Deafblind 

Deaf Youth 

Sports Groups 




South Africa Sign Language Interpreting 




Deafblind 

Deaf Youth 


Sports Groups 


Sudan Sign Language Interpreting 



Deaf Youth 



Swaziland Deaf Youth 

Sports Groups 

Deaf Women’s Group 

Tanzania Sign Language Interpreting 




Uganda Sign Language Interpreting 



Deafblind 

Deaf Youth 


Sports Groups 





Zambia 

Zimbabwe 

Sign Language Interpreting 



Deaf Youth 


Sports Groups 


Sign Language Interpreters 

Sign Language Researchers 



Deaf Youth 

Sports Groups 




7.2.11 Does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group have any paid staff members? 

7.2.11.1 How many of the paid staff members are women and how many are men? 

7.2.11.2 How many of the paid staff members are Deaf? 

Does your 

National 

Association of the 

Country 

Deaf/Deaf Group 

have any paid 

staff members? 

Botswana No 

Burundi No 

Total Paid 

Staff 

Members 

Paid 

Women 

Paid Men 

Total Paid 

Deaf Staff 

Members 

Paid 

Deaf 

Women 




Paid 

Deaf 

Men 

Percentage 

of Deaf 

Staff 

Members 

Eritrea Yes 33 15 18 33 11 22 100% 

Ethiopia Yes 38 26 12 23 18 5 61% 

Kenya No 

Lesotho Yes 2 1 1 1 1 0 50% 

Madagascar Yes 2 1 1 1 0 1 50% 

Malawi No 

Mozambique No 

Namibia Yes 5 2 3 3 1 2 60% 

Rwanda No 

Seychelles Yes 5 3 2 3 1 2 60% 

South Africa Yes 64 43 21 35 22 13 55% 

Sudan No 

Swaziland No 

Tanzania Yes 10 3 7 10 3 7 100% 

Uganda Yes 19 8 11 14 5 9 74% 

Zambia Yes 13 5 8 9 3 6 69% 

Zimbabwe Yes 4 2 2 2 1 1 50% 

Total 11 Yes (58%) 195 134 69% 

Based on 19 respondents

7.2.12 Is your Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director/Person-In-Charge Deaf? 

Country Is your Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director/Person-In-Charge Deaf? 


Burundi Yes Voluntary 

Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes Voluntary 

Lesotho Vacant 

Madagascar Yes 

Malawi Yes Voluntary 

Mozambique Yes Voluntary 

Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes Voluntary 

Seychelles No 

South Africa Yes 

Sudan Yes Voluntary 

Swaziland Yes Voluntary 

Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 

Zimbabwe No 

Total 

8 Yes (42%) 

7 Yes Voluntary (37%) 





7.3.0 Population of Deaf People 

7.3.1 Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf people in your country? 

Country 

Does your country’s government have any official number of Deaf people in your 

country? 





Ethiopia Yes approx 250,000 


Lesotho No 

Madagascar Yes 219 






South Africa Yes 402,847 



Tanzania No 




Total 9 Yes (47%) 912,558 


Eritrea approx 7,000 approx 13,000 

Ethiopia 125,000 125,000 


Sudan 20,643 28,219 

Total 152,743 166,338 


7.3.2 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures of the number of Deaf people living in your 

country? 

Country 

Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures of the 

number of Deaf people living in your country? 





Ethiopia No 


Lesotho Yes 1,998 

Madagascar No 









South Africa Yes 500,000 approx 









2,893,212 

Please note: Lesotho gives the same figure for the Deaf population and for Deaf membership of the National Association of 

the Deaf. Three countries (Eritrea, Namibia and Zambia) reported their National Government and their Association of the Deaf 

as having the same numbers of Deaf people in their country. 


Eritrea 7,000 13,000 

Lesotho 842 1,156 

Namibia 0 0 

Seychelles 0 0 

South Africa 0 0 

Swaziland 0 0 

Uganda 440,000 400,000 

Zambia 0 0 

Zimbabwe 900,000 600,000 

Total 1,347,842 1,014,156 

7.3.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as 

their primary language? 

Country 

Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate 

numbers of Deaf people who use sign language as their primary 

language? 


Total Number of Sign Language Users 

Burundi Yes 304 








Namibia No 



South Africa No 



Tanzania Yes 278,000 

Uganda No 



Total 7 Yes (37%) 1,508,104 





Country Deaf Women Sign Language Users Deaf Men Sign Language Users 

Burundi 103 201 

Eritrea 2,000 3,000 

Sudan 3,000 7,000 

Tanzania 189,000 89,000 

Zimbabwe 725,000 475,000 

Total 919,103 574,201 

7.3.4. Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men and children? 

Country Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men and children? 

Botswana Yes 

Burundi Yes 

Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Lesotho Yes 


Malawi Yes 

Mozambique Yes 

Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes 

Seychelles No information 


Sudan No information 

Swaziland Yes 

Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 

Zimbabwe Yes 


Country 


If yes, please describe the situation with HIV/AIDS in the Deaf community in your country, including any 

official statistics on the number of Deaf people living with HIV/AIDS. 

Botswana HIV/AIDS affects all people in Botswana but we have no statistics. 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

There is a steady rise in HIV/AIDS infection every year in the Deaf community in Burundi. The lack of equal 

access to HIV Education which most hearing persons can access makes Deaf people easy prey to HIV/AIDS. Also 

unemployment pushes Deaf youths, boys and girls alike, into juvenile delinquency thus increasing the possibility 

of HIV/AIDS infection. Also due to unemployment many deaf women resort to prostitution in an attempt to earn 

their daily bread. 

Many members of the Eritrean National Association of the Deaf have knowledge about HIV/AIDS but people living 

with HIV are not among them. The Ministry of Health has information about non-members. There are many Deaf 

affected by this virus, mostly in remote areas. The problem is there is no campaign or training about HIV/AIDS 

aimed towards the Deaf specifically. This is because of social discrimination, isolation and lack of awareness 

about sign language in society and by the government authorities. Because of their disability, lack of work and 

communication problems, some Deaf are affected. To prevent exposure to and transmission of HIV/AIDS, EriNAD 

is trying to lead campaigns and workshops for Deaf people to raise their awareness about protecting themselves. 

The Deaf community is highly affected by HIV/AIDS because of lack of information, but we do not have official 

statistics on the number of deaf affected. We are trying to provide training and make information available in 

sign language. 

The Liverpool Special Care and Treatment Centre runs three Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) sites for 

the Deaf, managed by Deaf counsellors and providing targeted services to the Deaf Community. The results of 

their pilot programme for the Deaf community showed a seven percent increase in prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the 

Deaf Community in the 24 months of the programme (according to VCT client records at the 3 Deaf VCT sites). 

This figure is significant given that it is equal to the prevalence in the general population, which stands at 

around six percent according to statistics kept by the National HIV/AIDS Control Council. This has happened 




Lesotho 

Malawi 

Mozambique 

Namibia 

Rwanda 

South Africa 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia 

Zimbabwe 

despite several efforts by different organisations to educate the Deaf on HIV/AIDS. Deaf persons still have a low 

level of knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS due to the low literacy level, which inhibits their ability to 

obtain and process information. The HIV/AIDS messages are in formats that are not Deaf-friendly. Deaf people 

also have other vulnerabilities related to gender, age and geographical factors. 

Deaf people in Lesotho are victims of HIV and AIDS in the sense that there is no information about HIV and AIDS 

designed for the less literate Deaf people to understand. All the workshops about HIV and AIDS are designed for 

hearing people, and there are no sign language interpreters for such workshops or for information broadcast on 

national television. Deaf people are at a higher risk, therefore, of contracting the disease, due to lack of 

appropriate information about HIV and AIDS. 

• Many Deaf people are infected due to lack of information about HIV/AIDS such as how it is spread and how 

to prevent it 

• Most Deaf women and children are abused by men – they are raped because people have the misconception 

that disabled people cure AIDS 

• There is a lack of access to anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) because most Deaf people are not aware of where to 

access ARVs nor do they have general information on the therapy 

• There are no official statistics on the number of Deaf people infected because there has been no research 

done on this area nation-wide 

In Zambezia province the number of deaf affected with HIV/AIDS is high, but few Deaf people have died from 

this epidemic disease. There are no official statistics. It is probable that less then help number (WHAT MEAN??) 

of deaf are affected by HIV/AIDS 

The situation of HIV/AIDS in Namibia does affect Deaf persons, women, men and children. Although there are no 

confirmed statistics, the Association is aware of some members who are living with HIV/AIDS. The problem is 

worsened by the fact that information and services are not equally delivered to the Deaf community due to the 

public’s misconception about Deaf and other persons with disabilities... i.e. Deaf cannot have sex or cannot get 

infected with HIV, etc. 

As for all citizens in Rwanda, HIV/AIDS affects most Deaf people in all regions of Rwanda; there are no HIV 

detection services for the Deaf such as the VCT/PMTCT. Twenty (20) HIV seropositive cases were found in the 

town of Kigali, of whom 12 have died. However, that number is not included in official statistics. 

DeafSA is part of SANAC (South African National AIDS Council). 

Programmes are currently being developed to make counselling services accessible. 

No numbers are available. 

Officially we do not have any figures; however the rate of HIV has had a drastic effect on the Deaf community 

largely to ignorance. This is unfortunate in itself. 

HIV/AIDS became a threat to many African countries due to lack of appropriate information, negative attitudes, 

stigmatisation and poverty. The number of Deaf people dying from HIV/AIDS is not known because even those 

affected by HIV/AIDS are not receiving appropriate attention. It is a great tragedy in Tanzania. 

Deaf people in Uganda have limited access to HIV/AIDS information due to information dissemination that is not 

Deaf-friendly, such as the use of television without sign language interpreters, radio and the print media. About 

70% of Deaf people can not read or write. The Ugandan government is being praised internationally for its efforts 

to fight and reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS from 12% to 6.4%, but this does not take into account the 

prevalence rates among the Deaf community who have been left behind in the fight against the HIV/AIDS 

epidemic. 

UNAD has worked hard to educate Deaf people about the disease by lobbying for resources to carry out 

HIV/AIDS-related activities through drama, training and voluntary counselling and testing. The efforts have 

raised awareness in Government and Civil Society Organisations specialising in HIV/AIDS prevention and many 

efforts are being made to include Deaf issues in their programmes. Even The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in 

Uganda is arranging for special programmes to train Deaf counsellors, who can then provide confidential services 

directly to Deaf clients rather than going through third parties. 

Currently each TASO branch in the country keeps its data on the number of affected Deaf people confidential at 

the local level, so there is no accurate national data, only a few cases recorded at the respective centres. 

• Deaf people need advertisements on our National Television about HIV/AIDS to be interpreted into sign 

language 

• The Deaf community wants to have airtime on the National Television network to spread HIV/AIDS messages 

to its members through sign language and the use of sign language interpreters 

• The spread of HIV/AIDS among the Deaf community is increasing 

• There are communication barriers between Deaf clients and VCT staff/counsellors 

No official statistics due to factors like:- 

• Inadequate communication with the health sectors countrywide because they don’t use sign language 

• Little or no counselling for Deaf people 

• Most Deaf people are afraid of being publicly open as they think this will break up their marriage or cause 

them to be rejected by others 

• Non-awareness – others are not aware of the current situation 

• Cultural beliefs from their parents/families e.g. Apostolic Church-goers do not believe in clinical treatment, 

they believe in using holy water or herbs and so forth 




7.4.0 Legislation and Policies 

7.4.1 Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens in your 

country? 

Country 

Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens in 

your country? 

Botswana Yes 

Burundi Yes 

Eritrea No 

Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Lesotho Yes 


Malawi Yes 


Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes 



Sudan Yes 


Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 

Zimbabwe Yes 



Please note: that the Regional Working Group debated whether the question was clear as to the meaning of the phrase “equal 

basis as other citizens”. Most countries in Southern and Eastern Africa have legislation for People with Disabilities but 

implementation of these laws has not happened. The question should have been clearer as to what is meant by “equal basis as 

other citizens”. 

7.4.2 Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities? 

Country Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities? 

Botswana Yes 


Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Lesotho Yes 


Malawi Yes 


Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes 

Seychelles Yes 


Sudan Yes 

Swaziland Yes 

Tanzania Yes 




Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 




7.4.2.1 If yes, what is the name, address and website of the government office that is responsible for services for 

People with Disabilities in your country? 

Country 

Botswana 

Eritrea 

If yes, what is the name, address and website of the government office that is responsible for services for 

People with Disabilities in your country? 

National Co-ordinating Committee for People with Disabilities 

Private Bag 0038 

Gaborone 

www.moh.gov.bw 

Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare 

PO Box Asmara 

Eritrea 

Tel: 158146 

Fax: 291-151749 

Ethiopia Under Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, there is a Rehabilitation Department, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

Malawi 

National Council for Persons with Disabilities 

Ministry of Gender Culture and Social Services 

PO Box 30276 

Nairobi 

Kenya 

Rehabilitation Unit (Ministry of Heath and Social Welfare) 

PO Box 514 

Masery - 100 

Lesotho 

Ministry of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly 

Private Bag 380 

Lilongwe 

Ministry of Health and Social Service Ministerial Building 

Harvey Street 

P/Bag 13198 

Windhoek 

www.helathnet.org.na 

www.op.gov.na/Decade_peace/health.htm 

Namibia 

Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare 

32 Mercedes Street 

Khomasdal Windhoek 

Private bag 19005 

Windhoek 

Namibia, 

www.op.gov.na/Decade_peace/health.htm 

Rwanda Office of the Ministry in charge of local affairs (MINALOC) 

Seychelles 

South Africa 

Sudan 

National Council for the Disabled 

Office Room No 4 Lungos Building 

Stad Popiler Car Park 

Victoria 

ncfd@seychelles.net 

Office on the Status of Disabled Persons 

The Presidency 

Union Buildings 

Private Bag x 1000 

Pretoria 1 

www.government.gov.za 

Ministry of Social Welfare and Women’s and Children’s Affairs 

Department of Disabled People 

P O Box 1266 

Khartoum 

Sudan 

Fax: +2983 783150 

www.welfare.gov.sd 




Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia 

Ministry for Health and Social Welfare 

Office of the National Disability Co-ordinator 

Disability Unit 

P.O. Box 8 

Mbabane H100 

Swaziland 

www.ministryforhealth@gov.sz 

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare 

Department of Social Welfare 

PO Box 1949 

Dar Es Salaam 

Tele: +255 2222 180100 or +255 7828 25029 

Hon. Madada Suleiman 

Minster of State for the Elderly and Disability 

PO Box 7136 

Kampla 

Uganda 

Tel: 256 – 772-611107 

Email: skymadada@yahoo.com 

www.mglsd.go.ug 

Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities 

P.O. Box 50073 

Leopards Hill Road 

Lusaka 

Tel: 01261948 

Fax: 260128 

7.4.3 Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for Deaf people (or People with Disabilities in 

general)? 

Country 

Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities in general)? 


Burundi Yes 


Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 



Malawi Yes 


Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes 



Sudan Yes 


Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia No 




Please note: A member of the Regional Working Group stated that Lesotho has legislation for People with Disabilities; he 

attended a meeting with the Minister of Justice, who is blind himself. 




7.4.3.1 If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that relate to Deaf people (or People with Disabilities) 

(please write the name of the legislation or policy in full). 

Country 

If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that relate to Deaf people (or People with Disabilities) 

(please write the name of the legislation or policy in full). 

Burundi Article 22: No one can be a target of discrimination due to physical or mental disability. 

Ethiopia 

It has been passed by Parliament only just recently and is not yet available. We will provide a copy in the 

future. 

Kenya 

Persons with Disabilities Act 2003, Special Education Policy - Sessional Paper No 1 - 2005, Disability Human 

Rights Policy - Kenya Chapter - 2007 

Malawi Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for People with Disabilities 

Namibia 

Rwanda 

South Africa 

These are just some of the activities taking place in Namibia, under the National Disability Council in Namibia: 

Namibia Disability Programme (NDP): EU funded sub-programme to support the NFPDN (National Federation of 

Persons with Disabilities of Namibia) in its activities, both in Windhoek and in regional offices to be established 

in the rural areas. We will support the Disability Movement (NFPDN and its member organisations) in: 

• Delivering awareness raising campaigns 

• Increasing representation at the national level and capacity mobilisation in rural areas 

• Supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Services in target regions in the development of Community 

Based Rehabilitation programmes, in order to reach people with disabilities in their communities 

• Supporting the Ministry of Education in target regions to implement their Inclusive Education mandate 

1. All disabled persons enjoy the same rights as others under law; they have to be treated respectfully and 

with dignity 

2. Persons with disabilities have the right to live with family and in the same conditions as other family 

members 

3. Persons with disabilities have the right to express their opinion on questions of national interest and on all 

questions concerning themselves; they contribute to the national development according to their ability 

4. Employment Equity Act 

5. South African Federal Council on Disability (SAFCD): The Call for Inclusive Education (1994) 

6. South African Constitution (1996) 

7. South African Schools Act: Norms and Standards for Language Policy in Public Schools (1996) 

8. An Integrated National Disability Strategy (INDS) (1997) 

9. Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (2001) 

10. Education White Paper 6: Special Needs Education (EWP6) (2001) 

1. Sudan Constitution mentions social justice for all citizens without discrimination 

Sudan 

2. 

3. 

Sudan Constitution mentions the right to education for all citizens without discrimination 

Sudan Constitution mentions the rights of persons with special needs in employment, education, 

entertainment, culture, etc. 

Tanzania Tanzania Policy on Disability (2004); Disability Employment Act (1982) 

Uganda 

Specific laws and polices for People with Disabilities: 

• Persons with Disability Act 2006 

• Policy on Disability in Uganda 2006 

• National Council on Disability Act 2003 

Policies/laws with a provision about Disability: 

• Constitution of Uganda 1995, amended 2005 

• Communication Act 1998 

• University and Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 

• Children’s Statute 1996 

• Local Government Act 1997, amended 2001 

• Land Act 1998 

• Rules of Procedure of Parliament 1996 

• Uganda Traffic and Road Safety Act 

• Uganda People’s Defence Forces Act, amended 2005 




7.4.4 Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for Deaf people (or People with Disabilities)? 

Country 

Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities)? 




Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 





Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes 




Sudan Yes 


Uganda Yes 





7.4.5 Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for the Deaf Community through its government 

departments? 

Country 

Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for the Deaf Community through its 

government departments? 

Botswana Yes 



Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Lesotho Yes 




Namibia Yes 





Swaziland Yes 

Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 


Zimbabwe Yes 






7.4.5.1 If yes, what types of service are provided specifically for the Deaf Community by your country’s government? 

7.4.5.2 What is the general opinion of the current service(s) specifically provided for the Deaf Community by your 


Country 

If yes, what types of service are provided 

specifically for the Deaf Community by your 


Botswana Education System No information supplied 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

Madagascar 

Namibia 

Seychelles Audiology 

South Africa 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 


• Free medical service 

• Television programme in sign language 


• Interpreter Service at Universities, Colleges and 

Courts of Law 

Sign language interpreters will be provided at 

Government Meetings and Workshops, and paid for by 

the government. 

• Sign language on television 

• Meeting rooms for the Deaf Club 

Disability Allowance Programme for Deaf people 

• Sign Language Interpreter Services 

• Disability Allowance Programme for Deaf people 

• Social and Health Services 

The Ministry for Heath and Social Welfare provides 

grants to children with a disability and Deaf children, 

in particular Deaf students. This is not a nationally 

well-advertised or well-known support service. 

• Education 

• Vocational Training 

• Resettlement Services 

• Rehabilitation 

• Community Rehabilitation services for People 

with Disabilities 

• Department of ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) for 

those needing hearing assessment 

• Support Sign Language Interpreters Training at 

Kyambogo University 

• Employ Deaf Teachers of Deaf 

What is the general opinion of the current service(s) 

specifically provided for the Deaf Community by your 


There are no adequate services provided for the Deaf. 

However, a few sign language interpreters have been 

employed by Government for some secondary schools. 

Lack of awareness of the needs of the Deaf and limited 

resources are the main reasons. 

• The general opinion is that the government is 

trying to accommodate the deaf in the current 

services available for all People with Disabilities 

(PWDs) by reserving 10% of jobs for PWDs but Deaf 

people are not qualified 

• Deaf persons are not discriminated against as the 

Persons with Disability Act accommodates all, but 

education of the Deaf is a barrier to opportunities 

• The Disability Act guarantees any PWD has a right 

to these privileges provided he/she is competent 

enough 

The services are not enough; however we appreciate 

the effort taken to meet us halfway even though it 

doesn’t happen all the time. 

1. Government in Toamasina provides sign language 

on TV for the Deaf in Toamasina 

2. Government in Mahajanga provides a venue for 

Deaf meetings 

3. The situation is difficult with Government because 

there have been several changes (Mayor, offices, 

etc.) but we are not discouraged 

1. Because of the low standard of education in the 

country, the grants are available to help Deaf 

persons help themselves with a little cash to buy 

food and make a simple living 

2. Currently, the Namibian Disability Council is in the 

process of re-arranging all these services and 

ensure adequate service for its members 

3. Special Education is important for Deaf children 

because they cannot fit well in the mainstream 

education system, but at the moment our 

government, through the Ministry of Education, has 

an Inclusive Education policy that is being 

promoted and gaining momentum 

Under-staffed, under-equipped, do not provide 

adequate information to the public, no innovation in 

new technologies. 

Sign language interpreters are not always available for 

every Deaf person through the government services 

especially in the rural areas. 

The current level of services is encouraging; for 

instance, Government is now fully aware of our 

Programme and all Ministries are already well-informed 

about disability issues, which warrant improvement in 

the long run. 

1. More government funding is needed 

2. Sign language needs official recognition 

3. Interpreting services should be provided at the 

government’s expense 

1. Government support to Deaf people is limited; 

there is a high demand for more primary and 

secondary schools in Uganda. UNAD is following up 

with the government to provide 

employment/placement of sign language 

interpreters at all public institutions such as the 

courts, health services and educational institutions 




Zimbabwe 

• Support Services for Deaf Students at the higher 

education level (Interpreters and Affirmative 

Action) 

1. Special classes for Deaf children 

2. The Department of Physiological Services within 

the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare 

3. There may be other services but they are not 

known by the Deaf population 

so that Deaf people have access to equal services. 

2. UNAD is also lobbying the Government to support 

the development of sign language in Uganda as its 

constitutional mandate states that “the 

Government shall promote the development of Sign 

Language for the Deaf’. Currently efforts are 

underway by the National Council on Higher 

Education to develop a sign language curriculum. 

The general opinion is that there are not many Deaf 

people and they need to be treated like hearing 

people. 

Please note: Eritrea made a comment: The Deaf community has problems with unemployment, no education for the Deaf, no 

protection of sign language, no elementary, junior or high schools for the deaf and no interpreting services. Deaf people are not 

allowed to drive or to hold a driving licence, or to compete in cycling races with hearing teams. In general, services are not 

adequate and are almost non-existent. 

7.4.5.3 If no, why does your country’s government not provide any service specifically for the Deaf Community? 

Country If no, why does your country’s government not provide any service specifically for the Deaf Community? 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

For the most part, it is a lack of awareness, the absence of deaf representatives in the government and the 

fact that our country has always been in a civil crisis which means that government officials have been 

focussing on peace negotiations rather than disability. 

Because of economic problems, war, the cultural and political situation, maybe discrimination against the 

naturally disabled (deaf). There is lack of awareness of sign language because of the Association’s short history 

with. There are also no policies that support the Deaf and the Association's policies and objectives. We have a 

lot of things to lobby the government about. 

Malawi 

The government, through the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities and Malawi Council for the Handicapped, 

provides services to all persons with disabilities, not to specific disabilities. 

Mozambique They expect the Deaf Association, together with disability organisations, to provide special services. 

Rwanda 

The government of Rwanda hasn’t proposed any specific services to the Deaf community because the 

Sudan 

government thinks that Deaf people are people incapable of doing anything. 

1. Low and/or no financial resources provided in the annual budget of the Sudanese government for the 

government offices that are responsible for disabled people. 

2. Legislation and laws related to disabled people are not active. 

Zambia No information provided 

7.4.6 Does your Association/Group have any contact with your country’s current government? 

7.4.6.1 What type of contact does your Association/Group have with your country’s current government? 

Country 

Does your 


have any contact 

with your current 

country’s 

government? 


What type of contact does your Association/Group have with your country’s current 

government? 

Burundi Yes Our Association has a co-operation agreement with various Ministries. 

Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Lesotho Yes 

We have a little contact with a specific government body (Ministry of Labour) and a little 

with other Government bodies about Deaf issues. 

Our Association has been registered with the Ministry of Justice – Associations Registry 

office, which undertakes a monitoring role. Also we have a close working relationship 

with the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. 

1. Ministry of Education 

2. Ministry of Social Service 

3. Ministry of Gender and Sports 

4. Ministry of Labour 

5. Policy development with various ministries on issues that have direct impact on the 

welfare of the Deaf 

We have good relations with various Government Departments e.g. Ministry of 

Education, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. 


We have lobbied the government several times about Human Rights Conventions from 

the United Nations. 

Malawi Yes When discussing disability issues at meetings and conferences. 





Namibia Yes 




Sudan Yes 

Swaziland Yes 

Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes Partnerships 



1. The Ministry of Education 

2. Ministry of Health and Social Service 

3. Ministry of Labour has a Deaf representative on its Employment Commission 

The association promotes all projects and invites the government’s participation; the 

government is co-operative for most projects. We can say we have a good collaboration. 

Memorandum of Understanding on service level agreements with the various Ministries 

for subsidised programmes in the fields of Education, Social Welfare, Employment and 

Health. 

Deaf Representation on the South African Disability Alliance. 

The Chairperson of DeafSA is a current Member of Parliament. 

Membership of the National Council for the Care and Rehabilitation of Persons with 

Disabilities. 

We are working with the Ministry for Health and Social Welfare and The National 

Disability Unit, which houses the Disability Programme. 

At the moment the Association has submitted an action plan to the Disability Programme 

for sign language training for Social Health Care Givers and implementation of training 

for Deaf Youth. The government supports these initiatives via a short-term contact. The 

Welfare Department assists with funding educational trips, which we utilise when 

establishing links with neighbouring countries. 

CHAVITA works closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which has a 

special department which deals with organisations of people with disabilities. We are 

also affiliated with the Tanzania Federation of Organisations of Disabled Persons and the 

East Africa Federation of Disabled People (EAFOD). 

1. UNAD has been consulted by various government departments on education, health, 

information, judiciary matters, gender, disability and legislation as an expert on 

Deaf issues 

2. UNAD has participated in the development of policies and laws, programmes that 

aim at including people with disabilities in the Government development process 

3. UNAD is a member of the National Community Based Rehabilitation Committee, 

chaired by the Minster for Disability 

4. UNAD has two representatives on the National Council on Disability 

5. UNAD Executive Director is a Member of Parliament 


7.4.7 Does your Association/Group receive any financial support from your country’s current government? 

7.4.7.1 What is the amount of annual financial support from your country’s government? 

Country 

Does your 

Association/Group receive 

any financial support from 

your country’s current 

government? 



Eritrea Yes 200,000 Nakfa (8,606€ on 31 st May 2008) 

Ethiopia Yes Approximately 1,000 Euro per annum. 


Lesotho Yes 




Namibia Yes No information supplied. 


What is the amount of annual financial support from your country’s 

government? 

USD1,400.00 (902.00€ on 31 st May 2008) from the Department of Social Welfare, 

Rehabilitation Unit. 

Seychelles Yes SR11,000 per month (894€ on 31 st May 2008). 




South Africa Yes ZAR1, 500,000 per year (127,395€ on 31 st May 2008). 


Swaziland Yes No information supplied. 

Tanzania Yes USD2, 500 (1,610.50€ on 31 st May 2008). 






7.4.7.2 What is the purpose of the financial support from your country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

Country What is the purpose of the financial support from your country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

Eritrea For office rent, administration expenses, travel, accommodation, meetings and workshops/training. 

Ethiopia Project work 

Lesotho To strengthen the Association through the current activities e.g. administration costs. 

Namibia 

• Namibian Sign Language Dictionary work 

• HIV/AIDS awareness training 

Seychelles • Salaries and daily expenses 

South Africa 

• Programme Services e.g. Sign Language Interpreters Training, Skill Development Training, Adult Basic 

Education Training, Administration Costs and Leadership Training for Youth and Deaf Women 

• Dissemination of information 

Swaziland This is a quadrennial assistance to attend conferences or undertake trips. 

Tanzania Support day to day office and administration costs. 




7.4.8 Do Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local elections? 

7.4.9 Are Deaf people allowed to obtain a driver’s licence? 

7.4.10 Are Deaf people allowed to marry Deaf or other partners? 

7.4.11 Are Deaf people allowed to have children? 

7.4.12 Are Deaf people allowed to adopt children? 

Country 

Do Deaf people 

have a right to 

vote in national, 

regional and local 

elections? 

Are Deaf people 

allowed to obtain a 

driver’s licence? 


allowed to marry 

Deaf or other 

partners? 


allowed to have 

children? 


allowed to adopt 

children? 

Botswana Yes Yes Yes Yes No 

Burundi Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Eritrea Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Ethiopia Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Kenya Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Lesotho Yes Yes Yes Yes Not sure 

Madagascar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Malawi Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Mozambique Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Namibia Yes Yes Yes Yes Unknown 

Rwanda Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Seychelles Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

South Africa Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Sudan Yes No Yes Yes Yes 

Swaziland Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Tanzania Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Uganda Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Zambia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Zimbabwe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Total 19 Yes (100%) 11 Yes (58%) 19 Yes (100%) 19 Yes (100%) 16 Yes (84%) 


7.4.12.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the Government legislation or policy that stops them from 

being allowed to drive. 

Country 

If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the Government legislation or policy that stops them 

from being allowed to drive. 

Burundi No information supplied 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

It is not written in the Ministry of Land and Transportation and Traffic Rules but the Traffic Officers prohibit 

Deaf people from driving and being given driving licences. We have tried to solve this problem but it is hard. We 

will not stop trying. 

Outdated civil code that does not recognise that deaf people can manage their own affairs. There is a plan to 

revise the code and hopefully the deaf will then be allowed to drive. Our association is advocating for this. 

The Colonial Traffic Act that is in place has not been changed to allow Deaf to obtain a driving licence. However 

a few Deaf people are getting access and are being allowed to drive provided they pass the tests. 

Malawi No information supplied 

Mozambique No information supplied 

Rwanda 

Sudan 

Deaf are not authorised to possess a driving license in Rwanda because there is no legislation applicable 

specifically for Deaf. 

• Traffic laws and regulations 

• General Medical Council Law 




7.4.12.2 If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list any specific Government legislation or policy that 

stops Deaf people from being allowed to adopt children. 

Country 

If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list any specific Government legislation or policy 

that stops Deaf people from being allowed to adopt children. 

Botswana No information supplied. 




7.5.0 Access to Government Services 

7.5.1 Do Deaf people have access to government services such as education, health care, employment, social welfare and 

any general government services? 

7.5.1.1 If yes, how do Deaf people access these government services? 

7.5.1.2 Are Deaf people satisfied with the level of access they have to the government services? 

Country 


have access to 

government 

services such as 

education, health 

care, 

employment, 

social welfare 

and any general 

government 

services? 

If yes, how do Deaf people access these 

government services? 

Are Deaf people satisfied with the 

level of access they have to the 

government services? 

Botswana Yes Yes (No information provided on “how”) No – there is a language barrier. 

Burundi Yes 

Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Lesotho Yes 


Malawi Yes 


• The government pays for sign language 

interpreting services 

• Deaf people put their thoughts in writing for 

communication with Government people 

• In education they resort to lip-reading, 

especially in secondary school and college 

• Only for those Deaf people who are qualified 

with trade skills does the government provide 

an employment service 

• Deaf people get health care and some social 

welfare 

As citizens they have access to government 

services. Medical services are free for Deaf people 

since the majority of them are poor. 

• Government provides two schools for the 

Deaf. Deaf students in primary schools are 

supported by government 

• Access to health care in the government 

hospital is for all but limited 

• Deaf persons who are qualified can get a job 

on merit 

• Public debates, forums, workshops and 

seminars are accessible by invitation 

Deaf people access these government services 

through the referral system by the office (National 

Association of the Deaf of Lesotho’s office) and 

with interpreters. 

• Vocational Training Programme 

• Official Government Programmes 

• By registering with the responsible 

government departments like the Malawi 

Council for the Handicapped 

• They can access medication in public hospitals 

• Education: there are few government schools 

for the Deaf through an inclusive education 

policy 

• Health: Deaf people experience barriers but 

are granted free medicines when presenting 

Deaf membership card 

• Deaf people have free access to public 

transport 

No, the government services are 

inadequate. In fact, the government 

does not provide adapted services. 

Not at all. They face so many 

challenges in education, 

interpretation, court, social welfare, 

etc. 

• No, because access to education 

is limited in that no sign language 

interpreting service is available 

at secondary and tertiary level 

education. 

• Employment opportunity is very 

limited 

• No, Deaf people complain that 

the government does not give 

them equal opportunity to obtain 

good employment 

• Access to public debates is free 

for all but the hindrance is lack of 

interpreting services 

No, Deaf people are not satisfied 

because many government offices are 

not familiar with deaf awareness or 

needs. 

Also there is a low number of sign 

language interpreters for Deaf people 

to access government services fully. 

Government is not prepared to 

provide quality services for Deaf 

people. 

• No 

No, at the Health Service Deaf people 

still experience communication 

barriers with health workers 

especially doctors. 




Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes 

• Government provides education for Deaf 

children 

• Employ Deaf people with qualifications in the 

government departments 

There is a law that the ministry in charge of labour 

has to follow to define the method and extent of 

accessibility support for handicapped people in 

employment, health treatment and education. 

Seychelles Yes • Services are free for all No 


Sudan Yes 

Swaziland Yes 

Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 

Zimbabwe Yes 


• Through DeafSA Provincial and Regional 

offices 

• Dissemination of Information 

• Workshops 

• Funded programmes 

• Sign Language interpreters (not widely 

available) 

Deaf people have to pay service fees; there are 

limited free services. 

It has been stated in 7.4.6.1 that Deaf people get 

financial support from Government for Social 

Welfare and Education. But other services such as 

housing are not accessible to Deaf people due to 

their low income. 

Through the Department of Social Welfare under 

directive from the Ministry. 

• The Government pays for the salaries of Deaf 

teachers; at the university level there is 

provision for sign language interpreters 

• The few Deaf people with qualifications can 

access government services, such as those 

who are qualified as teachers and are 

employed at schools for the Deaf 

• The Government provides sign language 

interpreting services when Deaf people access 

justice services 

Deaf people can go to hospital or clinics 

individually. There are special schools and also 

vocational training centres for PWDs. Few Deaf are 

aware of Social Welfare Services so only a few 

have benefited from services such as acquiring 

grants for their children or government payment 

for hospital bills. 

• In Education, there are special schools for the 

Deaf around the country 

• In Health, there is a department for 

psychological services which also caters for 

Deaf children 

• In Employment, there are loans for which one 

can apply to initiate income generation 

projects. 


In some cases, government services 

are inadequate. 

No, Deaf people are not quite happy 

with access to governmental services 

because they are not sufficiently 

accessible. 

No, not 100%, it could be done better 

by provision of more sign language 

interpreters 




No 

No! This is not good enough for Deaf 

people. 

Not all – we continue to advocate to 

ensure that government services are 

responsive to Deaf people’s needs. 

No, there is a lot to be done. 

This is hampered by lack of sign 

language interpreters in the various 

levels of Government; this can be 

improved if the Government 

implements the PWDS Act 2006 which 

has numerous provisions for all 

departments of the government. 

Not much has been done for the Deaf 

to get access to quality education and 

employment. 

• They are not satisfied because 

information does not fully reach 

them 

• In Education, for instance, 

teachers practise oralism and 

many Deaf children do not 

understand the proceedings in the 

classroom 

• In Health, they end up being 

given the wrong medicine 

because the personnel are not 

familiar with sign language 

• In Employment, more needs to be 

done because Deaf people’s 

applications are always turned 

down 

• No Deaf person has benefited 

from the loan scheme although 

hearing disabled people have 

benefited; the reason is that Deaf 

people may not be aware of these 

loans available from the 

government

7.5.2 Are Deaf people entitled to any financial assistance from your country’s government? 

7.5.2.1 What type of financial assistance are Deaf people entitled to receive from your country’s government? 

Country 


entitled to any 

financial 

assistance from 

your country’s 

government? 









Disability 

Allowance 


Namibia Yes � 

General 

Pension 


Seychelles Yes � 

South Africa Yes � 









Disability-specific Pension Other Description 




7.6.0 Access to the Media 

7.6.1 Does your country’s government provide sign language services for news and/or current affairs programmes on 

public television? 

Country 

Does your country’s 

government provide 

sign language 

services for news 

and/or current affairs 

programmes on 

public television? 

Botswana Yes 


Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Yes 






Namibia Yes 



Please provide detailed information on how many hours or days per week Deaf 

people receive sign language services for news and/or current affairs programmes 

on public television. 

News 30 minutes a day for a total of 3 hours 30 minutes per week. This provision has 

been available only eight months and we are still working on the process of having 

other programmes interpreted. 

The Deaf receive the National News Summary once a week on public television but they 

are not satisfied with the signing nor with the programme because it will not cover 

Deaf issues and activities, or include information about the Deaf and the Association. 

Five times per week. For two days it is available for 30 minutes; on the other three 

days it is about 10 minutes. 

National TV 

• Each Sunday morning at 8.00 for 20 minutes: sermons in Malagasy Sign Language 

about the Bible and religious songs 

• Each Sunday afternoon at 13.00 for 30 minutes: news in Malagasy Sign Language: 

info about Madagascar, politics, the world, etc. from the previous week 

The news on TV is seldom interpreted, only 15 to 30 minutes on the evening news 

broadcast. 

Every day the sign language service for Deaf persons happens for only 30 minutes during 

the national news broadcast; and on Mondays for a one-hour programme ‘Talk of the 

Nation’. 

The National Broadcaster is compelled to provide SASL interpreters by the 

requirements of ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa); after 

DeafSA’s intervention the SABC will provide the following: 

• SABC Channel 1 News prime time 30 minutes per day = 2.5 hours a week 


• 

• 

SABC Channel 2 News prime time 30 minutes per day = 2.5 hours a week 

SABC Channel 3 News 60 seconds late evening = 5 minutes a week 

• ETV 5 minutes a day = 25 minutes a week 

• DTV (Programme for Deaf People) Saturdays at 12:00 (30 min) 

• Zwahashu (Deaf SASL interpreter) on Wednesdays 30 min 

• Sports rap 30 minutes every day 

Sudan Yes 15 minutes a day, but for NEWS ONLY! 

Swaziland Yes 


Swazi TV has interpreted news for Deaf viewers only on Sunday. This is the week’s news 

summarised and interpreted. There is no live interpretation in Swaziland. 

Uganda Yes 15 minutes per day for only news programmes. 


Zimbabwe Yes 30 minutes per day – seven days per week (average three and half hours per week). 






7.6.2 Does your country’s government provide subtitles/captions for news and/or current affairs programmes? 

Country 

Does your country’s government provide 

subtitles/captions for news and/or current 

affairs programmes? 


















Please provide detailed information on how many 

hours/days per week news/current affairs programmes 

(subtitled/captioned) are offered for Deaf people. 

Zambia Yes Subtitles often appear on our national TV news 




Please note: The Regional Working Group wished it to be acknowledged that in a few countries, for example Uganda, Kenya 

and South Africa, the National Television channel has “top news” text scrolling on the bottom of the screen. This is not 

considered a ‘subtitled programme’. 

7.6.3 Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your country’s sign language(s)? 

Country 

Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your country’s sign 

language(s)? 























Total 0 Yes 





7.7.0 Status of the National Sign Language(s) 

7.7.1 Does your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.1 What legislation/regulation formally recognises your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.2 When did your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language(s)? 

7.7.1.3 Does your Deaf Association/Deaf Group lobby your government for the recognition of your country’s sign 

language(s)? 

7.7.1.4 If no, please explain the reason your Association/Group does not lobby your current government for the 

recognition of your country’s sign language(s). 

Country 

Does your 

country’s 

government 

formally 

recognise 

your 

country’s 

sign 

language(s)? 


What 

legislation/ 

regulation 

formally 

recognises 

your 

country’s 

sign 

language(s)? 

When did your country’s 

government formally 

recognise your country’s 

sign language(s)? 

Does your 

Deaf 

Association/ 

Deaf Group 

lobby your 

government 

for the 

recognition of 

your 

country’s sign 

language(s)? 

Burundi No Yes 

Eritrea No Yes 

Ethiopia No Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Legislation, 

Policy 

Lesotho Yes Policy 

Sign Language 

recognition was drafted 

in the Constitution but 

rejected by the majority 

of Kenyans in the 

Referendum of 2005 

because the Constitution 

did not reflect their 

views. 

Stated in various 

Ministry-specific policies 

e.g. Ministry of 

Education, Ministry of 

Health and Social 

Welfare. 

Madagascar No No 

Malawi Yes Policy 2006 Yes 

Mozambique Yes Policy 2005 Yes 

Namibia Yes Constitution 1991 Yes 

Rwanda No Yes 

Seychelles No Yes 


Constitution, 

Policy, 

Guideline. 

If no, please explain the reason 

your Association/Group does not 

lobby your current government 

for the recognition of your 

country’s sign language(s). 





Yes 

Yes 

1994 Yes 

Sudan Yes Policy 1971 Yes 

Swaziland No Yes 

Tanzania Yes 

Policy, 

Guideline 

1994 Yes 

The Association is still working on 

a problem we have. 

We still have to print a sign 

language dictionary and book DAM 

(Deaf Action in Madagascar 07- 

09). We will then show it to the 

Government. We have asked 

newspapers to lobby government 

about sign language in the 

Constitution because we did not 

receive info about voting for the 

new President, Mayor, etc.

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 

Constitution, 

Legislation, 

Policy 

Legislation, 

Policy 

1995 Yes 

1996 Yes 

Zimbabwe No Yes 

Total 10 Yes (53%) 17 Yes (89%) 

7.7.2 Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 


Country Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 




Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 











Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 

Zimbabwe Yes 






7.8.0 Access to Education 

7.8.1 Does your country’s government recognise that Deaf children and Deaf students have the right to receive an 

education? 

7.8.2 Does your country’s government have any legislation or policies on Deaf Education? 

7.8.2.1 If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or policies relating to Deaf Education. 

Country 

Does your 

country’s 

government 

recognise 

that Deaf 

children and 

Deaf students 

have the right 

to receive an 

education? 

Does your 

country’s 

government 

have any 

legislation or 

policies on 

Deaf 

Education? 

Botswana Yes Yes Towards Education for All 

Burundi Yes No 

Eritrea No No 

Ethiopia Yes Yes 

Kenya Yes Yes 

Lesotho Yes Yes Special Education Policy 

Madagascar Yes No 

Malawi Yes No 

Mozambique Yes No 

Namibia Yes Yes 

Rwanda Yes No 

Seychelles No No 

South Africa Yes Yes 

Sudan Yes Yes 

Swaziland Yes No 

If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or policies relating to 

Deaf Education. 

There is no specific legislation relating to deaf education BUT a policy on 

special needs education for persons with disabilities 

• Special Education Policy 

• Disability Act 

Towards Education for All 

Ministry of Education 1999 

Tanzania Yes Yes Tanzania Policy on Special Education 

Uganda Yes Yes 

Zambia Yes Yes • Inclusive Education 

Zimbabwe Yes No 

Total 17 Yes (89%) 10 Yes (53%) 

• South African Schools Act: Norms and Standards for Language Policy in 

Public Schools (1996) 

• An Integrated National Disability Strategy (INDS) (1997) 

• Education White Paper 6: Special Needs Education (EWP6) (2001) 

• Law planning organisation of the education system 

• National Plan of Education for ALL PEOPLE 

• Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Constitution) 

• Persons with Disabilities Act 2006 

• Mixture of Inclusive Education and Special Schools policies 





7.8.3 Does your country’s government provide any of the following educational settings for Deaf children and Deaf 

students? 

Country 

Early 

intervention 

(Up to 5 years 

old) 

Kindergarten 

(Between 3/4 

years old to 5/6 

years old) 

Primary 

(From 5/6 

years old to 

12/13 years 

old) 

Secondary 

(From 12/13 

years old to 

17/18 years 

old) 

University 

(After 18 years 

old) 

Vocational 

Education/Training 

Botswana No Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Burundi Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Eritrea No No No No No No 

Ethiopia No No Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Kenya Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Lesotho Yes No Yes Yes No Yes 

Madagascar No No No No No Yes 

Malawi Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Mozambique No No Yes No No No 

Namibia No No Yes Yes No Yes 

Rwanda No No Yes No No No 

Seychelles No No No No No No 

South Africa Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Sudan No Yes Yes Yes Yes No 

Swaziland Yes Yes Yes No No Yes 

Tanzania Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Uganda Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Zambia No Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Zimbabwe No Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Total 8 Yes (42%) 10 Yes (53%) 

16 Yes 

(84%) 

13 Yes (68%) 8 Yes (42%) 14 Yes (74%) 


Please note: The Regional Working Group queried whether the information received about educational settings was true and 

correct. 

7.8.4 Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your country’s sign language(s) for Deaf 


Country 

Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your country’s sign language(s) for Deaf 


Botswana Yes 



Ethiopia Yes 

Kenya Yes 

Lesotho Yes 




Namibia Yes 










Uganda Yes 





7.8.4.1 If yes, in which educational setting is bilingual education offered in your country using your sign language(s)? 

Country 

Early 

intervention 

(Up to 5 years 

old) 

Kindergarten 

(Between 3/4 

years old to 5/6 

years old) 

Primary 

(From 5/6 

years old to 

12/13 years 

old) 

Secondary 

(From 12/13 

years old to 

17/18 years 

old) 

University 

(After 18 years 

old) 

Vocational 

Education/Training 

Botswana No Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Ethiopia No Yes Yes Yes No No 

Kenya Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Lesotho No No Yes Yes No No 

Namibia Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 

Uganda No No Yes Yes No Yes 

Total 2 Yes (33%) 4 Yes (67%) 6 Yes (100%) 6 Yes (100%) 0 Yes 4 Yes (67%) 

Based on six respondents 

Please note: The Regional Working Group believed that actually only Uganda and Kenya have bilingual education programmes. 

7.8.5 Does your country have any schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students? 

7.8.5.1 If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

Country 

Does your country have any 

schools specifically for Deaf 

children and Deaf students? 

If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

Botswana Yes Two Special Schools - Deaf Units in Mainstream Schools 

Burundi Yes Two Private Primary Schools 

Eritrea Yes Two Deaf Schools owned by missionaries – Non-Governmental Schools for Deaf 

Ethiopia Yes 10 but there are many schools for the hearing with separate classes for Deaf 

Kenya Yes 

40 residential primary schools for the Deaf and 30 Deaf Primary Units, 

three Secondary Schools for the Deaf, 

four Vocational Training Centres and a number of Vocational Workshops in 

some primary schools for the deaf in rural areas 

Lesotho Yes Two Primary Schools (Roman Catholic Schools) 


Nine Deaf Schools - seven schools belonging to the Lutheran Church and 

two private schools 

Malawi Yes Four Deaf Schools 

Mozambique Yes Three schools in two cities out of 16 cities and more then 45 rural areas 

Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes 


Two government schools and three units for Deaf run by sponsored funds. 

These units mainly provide orientation to kindergarten and then the children 

are brought to the two government schools. 

In our country there are two public primary schools for the deaf and six other 

private primary schools. 

For secondary education students are integrated in normal schools with other 

students. 

South Africa Yes 47 Schools 

Sudan Yes 15 Schools 

Swaziland Yes 

We have only one school for the Deaf (Primary School since 1975); a High 

School is being constructed and shall be operational this year (July 2008) 

Eight Special Schools for Deaf and about 28 integrated primary and secondary 

Tanzania Yes 

schools (Special Units for Deaf Students have been established to cater for 

Deaf or Sign Language Users). 

Uganda Yes 10 special schools for the Deaf (eight primary and two secondary) 

Zambia Yes 

Only three Deaf Residential Schools, the rest are day Units for the Deaf in the 

mainstream schools 




Zimbabwe Yes Three Deaf Schools 

Total 18 Yes (95%) 271 Schools (Deaf, Private, Integrated and NGOs) 


7.8.5.2 If no, where do Deaf children and students receive an education in your country? 

Country If no, where do Deaf children and students receive an education in your country? 

Seychelles At the School for the Handicapped (School for the Exceptional Child) 

7.8.5.3 What is the educational approach for communicating with Deaf children and students at the Deaf School in your 

country? 

Country Bilingual Education 1 Oral Method 2 Cued Speech 3 

Oral and Sign Language 

(Total Communication) 4 

Auditory Verbal 5 

Botswana � 

Burundi � 

Eritrea � � 

Ethiopia � 

Kenya � � � 

Lesotho � � 


Malawi � 

Mozambique � � 

Namibia � � 

South Africa � � � 

Sudan � 

Swaziland � 

Tanzania � 

Uganda � � 

Zambia � 

Zimbabwe � 

Please note: Rwanda did not tick any of the educational approaches. They stated that there is no educational vision for 

communication with Deaf children and students because teachers are not trained/educated to teach in sign language. Deaf 

children and students in Rwanda receive education with other (normal) children. 

1 Bilingual Education: Sign language is considered to be the natural language (‘mother tongue’) that will be acquired as a first 

language. Spoken language, which is not acquired naturally by Deaf children, will be learned as a second language as the child 

becomes cognitively/developmentally ready. Both languages are used throughout the child’s entire education. 

2 Oral Education: Spoken language is assumed to be the basis for standard social and academic communication, and the human 

system is assumed to be designed (pre-wired) to learn language expressed in speech. Children learn about and from spoken 

language. Also known as auditory-oral, aural/oral education. Emphasis on speech. 

3 Cued Speech: A visual mode of communication that uses hand shapes and placements in combination with the mouth 

movements of speech to make the phonemes of a spoken language look different from each other, resulting in a visual 

counterpart of a spoken language. 

4 Total Communication: All forms and modes of communications are used. This includes natural gestures, sign language, 

manually-coded spoken languages, sign systems, mime, audition and speech. 

5 Auditory Verbal Education: Supposes that even minimal amounts of residual hearing can lead to the development of 

spontaneous speech and language, if that residual hearing is stimulated. Children learn to process language through amplified 

hearing. A method of oral education with an emphasis on listening. 




7.8.6 What is the general opinion of the level of education received by Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

7.8.7 What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 

Country 

Botswana 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

Madagascar 

Malawi 

Mozambique 

Namibia 

Rwanda 

What is the general opinion of the level of 

education received by Deaf children and Deaf 

students in your country? 

The level of Deaf students’ education is below that 

of hearing students. 

The general opinion is that the level of deaf 

education is lamentably low. 

• When deaf students finish fifth grade, they are 

obliged to go to hearing schools 

(mainstreaming), which is very tough and 

challenging. Most drop out and leave school so 

the level of education is generally limited to the 

fifth grade. 

• Integration is also very hard for the Deaf 

because teachers do not know sign language. 

We feel it is very low. From secondary school 

upwards, education is not in sign language and there 

are not even any good teachers adequately trained in 

sign language in the primary and junior secondary 

schools 

• Teachers of the Deaf are not fluent in Kenyan 

Sign Language 

• Quality of Deaf Education is low 

• The Ministry of Education does not conduct 

inspections to ensure quality and good standards 

• Education of the Deaf is improving but the ratio 

of Deaf children per teacher is high 

The current level of education is not satisfactory 

enough for the Deaf people to gain employment. 

Hearing people don’t believe that Deaf students can 

reach a high level of education. 

• Most of them do not go on to higher education 

because of communication problems in class 

• Many Deaf finish at the primary school level 

• Deaf students receive low and poor quality 

education because they are taught via oral 

language, which is hard to understand 

Deaf children who attend special schools for the deaf 

receive poor education. 

At the secondary education level, Deaf students do 

not pass their examinations at the regular hearing 

schools. 

Very low, education provision to Deaf children does 

not fit the children’s needs and students are not 

academically empowered upon leaving school. 

The general opinion with regard to education for 

Deaf children and students is ‘not satisfactory’ 

because of the lack of decent communication - they 

usually speak instead of using sign language. 

What is the general opinion of the current literacy 

level of Deaf children and Deaf students in your 

country? 

Literacy is very low 

The literacy level of Deaf children and students is very 

low. 

Generally speaking the level of literacy of deaf children 

and students is very poor and low. 

It is very low. Schools are concentrated in towns and the 

majority of the deaf in rural areas do not have access to 

education. 

Low literacy level. 

The literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf students is 

low, if not non-existent. 

Not sure. 

Seychelles No level. Most are illiterate. 

Most Deaf people are illiterate because of the low level 

of education attained. About 98% of the Deaf population 

does not read or write. 

Many Deaf students do not know how to write and read. 

The average school-leaver does so at standard 8 or grade 

10, and still has not mastered reading and writing English 

fluently. 

The general opinion of the current level of literacy of 

Deaf children in Rwanda is that Deaf people in Rwanda 

are using a sign language alphabet that is not the official 

one. 

• Deaf learners have little access to the regular 

school curriculum 

• The majority of school educators and parents 

South Africa 

• 

are not proficient in SASL 

Absence of Deaf role models has serious 

implications for the development of Deaf 

learners especially in terms of acquisition of 

language 

Majority of Deaf people have low literacy levels. 

Sudan The quality of Deaf education is not good. More than 95% of the Deaf population is illiterate. 

Swaziland 

Very low level. Government is reviewing the Policy 

on Education of the Deaf. Sign language skills of Deaf 

children are dismally low and they are not formally 

taught Sign Language. But it is envisaged that this 

will improve in future. 

As stated we find that if sign language is not taught as 

the official language, the students’ literacy rate declines 

each and every teaching period of the calendar year. 




Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia 

Zimbabwe 

Deaf students have limited opportunities for higher 

learning. 

The quality of Deaf education is still poor. 

More efforts are being made to lobby the Minister of 

Education and Sports to research and monitor the 

performance of special schools for the Deaf and 

address the hindrances to quality education. 

The level of education received by Deaf children is 

very low. 

The general opinion is that it is quite good up to the 

primary level, but thereafter there is no 

improvement. Deaf people end up being taught only 

by key words at the vocational training level, to 

enable them to take the final practical tests. 

Poor academic achievements in high school. 

60% of the Deaf population are illiterate, 20% have 

completed primary school, 8% have completed secondary 

school and 2% have completed a tertiary/university 

education; the remainder have received vocational 

education. 

Very low. 

The current literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf 

students is pathetic. 




7.8.8 Do Deaf people have access to a University education in your country? 

7.8.8.1 If yes, how many Universities provide access to studies for Deaf people in your country? 

7.8.8.2 If no, why do Deaf people not have access to a University education in your country? 

Country 


have access to a 

University 

education in your 

country? 

If yes, how many Universities provide 

access to studies for Deaf people in 

your country? 

If no, why do Deaf people not have access to 

a University education in your country? 

Botswana No Because of literacy problems. 


Eritrea Yes 


Kenya Yes 


Madagascar Yes Yes 

Malawi Yes Two Universities 


Namibia Yes 

Rwanda Yes All Universities 


South Africa Yes Four Universities 

One University and college but no deaf 

people have reached the university level 

- there is no sign language interpreting 

service. 

Three Public Universities, however most 

Deaf people never reach the admission 

level. 

One National University, but few 

resources are available and there are no 

sign language interpreters. 

Sudan Yes All universities on an equal basis 

The deaf are unable to access university 

education since even secondary education is 

not accessible. 

All universities are open to the deaf if they 

pass the entrance exam. However, no 

interpreting service is available hence the deaf 

are forced to learn by using their own notes. 

There are no provisions for Deaf people to 

study at the university level; sign Language 

Interpreters are not available. 

This access is a new opportunity offered by the 

main university beginning in March 2008. 

They do not provide academic subjects or 

school curriculums for Deaf students. 

Swaziland No No information provided, 

Tanzania Yes One University 

Uganda Yes Five Public Universities 





Lack of interpreters and the high qualification 

requirements hinder Deaf students’ entry to 

the universities. 

No teachers available to teach sign language 

and no interpreters in the Education Sectors. 




7.8.9 Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services at University? 

Country Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services at University? 





Kenya Yes 










Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 







7.9.0 Status of Sign Language Interpreting Services 

7.9.1 Does your country have any sign language interpreters? 

7.9.1.1 How many sign language interpreters does your country have? 

7.9.1.2 Are there any sign language interpreting qualifications available in your country? 

Country 

Does your country have 

any sign language 

interpreters? 

How many sign language interpreters 

does your country have? 

Are there any sign language 

interpreting qualifications available 


Botswana No No 

Burundi Yes 5 interpreters No 

Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Yes 

30 interpreters (including staff, 

interpreters of our association, school 

teachers of the deaf, families and 

friends) 

About 15 interpreters; family members 

and friends of the deaf serve as 

interpreters also although they do not 

have formal sign language training. 

Kenya Yes 20 interpreters No 

Lesotho Yes 10-plus interpreters Yes 


4 qualified interpreters, 13 trained 

interpreters and other unofficial 

interpreters. 

Malawi Yes 11 Interpreters No 


A few, but they are not professional and 

many of them work for churches and not 

for the deaf organisation or community. 

Namibia Yes 10 Certified Interpreters Yes 

Rwanda Yes 3 Interpreters No 

Seychelles No No 

South Africa Yes 30 Interpreters Yes 

Sudan Yes 20 Interpreters Yes 

Swaziland Yes 3 Interpreters No 

Tanzania Yes 45 Interpreters Yes 

Uganda Yes 102 Interpreters Yes 

Zambia Yes 

About 30 Interpreters with various levels 

of skill (from poor signing to proficient). 

Zimbabwe Yes 15 Interpreters Yes 

Total 17 Yes (89%) 10 Yes (53%) 


Please note: The Regional Working Group stated that a training project for sign language interpreters was conducted under 

the auspices of the Finnish Association of the Deaf; therefore the answer from Botswana should be changed to “Yes”, with at 

least 20 Interpreters in the country. 




Yes 


Yes 


Yes

7.9.1.3 Who provides the training for people who want to become qualified sign language interpreters? 

Country University 

Community 

College 

Eritrea � 

Lesotho � 

Madagascar � � 

Namibia � 

South Africa � � 

Sudan � 

Tanzania � 

Uganda � � 

Zambia � 

Zimbabwe � 

National Association of the Deaf Other 

The National Association of the Deaf 

provides basic sign language training to 

beginners; then the Icelandic 

International Development Agency 

(ICEIDA) provides theoretical and 

practical training to those who want to 

become qualified interpreters- 

Both the National Union of the Deaf and 

National Society for the Deaf. 

Deaf Clubs and other tailored 

programmes 

Zambia National Association of the Deaf 

(ZNAD) and Zambia National Association 

of Sign Language Interpreters (ZNASLI). 

7.9.1.4 How many years of training are available to someone who wants to become a sign language interpreter? 

Country Four Years Three Years Two Years 

Less than 

One Year 

Eritrea � 

Lesotho � 


Namibia � 

South Africa � 

Sudan � 

Tanzania � 

Uganda � 

Zambia � 

Zimbabwe 




Other 

If qualified teachers and good books are 

available it can be mastered within six 

months. 

There is no training of sign language 

interpreters in our country. The last training 

was the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional 

Sign Language Interpreting project under the 

Finnish Association of the Deaf, back in 2000. 

Please note: Swaziland stated they have signed an agreement with the Government of Scotland, through the Scottish 

organisation Deaf Action, to train 15 interpreters.

7.9.1.5 How many sign language interpreters in your country have formal interpreting qualifications? 

Country How many sign language interpreters in your country have formal interpreting qualifications? 

Eritrea About 10 interpreters 

Ethiopia About 15 interpreters 

Lesotho The current interpreters have no formal interpreting qualifications 

Madagascar 4 interpreters 

Namibia 10 certified interpreters 

South Africa 20 interpreters 

Sudan 5 interpreters 

Tanzania At least 6 interpreters 

Uganda 

77 interpreters have qualifications 

(25 interpreters hold Diplomas while 52 hold Certificates) 

Zambia None 

Zimbabwe 14 interpreters 

7.9.1.6 How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 

Country How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 

Botswana Through non-governmental organisations or government. 

Burundi The National Association contacts Interpreters whenever a Deaf person needs them. 

Eritrea 

By requesting the Deaf Association to make arrangements and appointments. The Association is ready to solve 

the issues and problems of the Deaf by sending interpreters when needed. 

Ethiopia Through the National Association of the Deaf, and family members. 

Lesotho 

Namibia 

South Africa 

Sudan 

Deaf people have personal choice of interpreters. The Deaf person who needs a sign language interpreter 

informs the office and then the office contacts the Interpreter in question. 

Through the Deaf schools and National Association; also some public services such as Courts and Police Stations 

have on-site sign language interpreters. 

Through the National Association of the Deaf - the South African Sign Language Interpreter at the National 

Office co-ordinates interpreting services. 

1. Arranged contacts by associations 

2. Personal contacts 

3. Requests from the government services departments 

Swaziland No information supplied. 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

The Interpreter Association works in co-operation with our organisation; we established a services co-ordination 

office where Deaf persons who need the service can place an order and obtain agreement for the service. 

1. Through the Uganda National Association of the Deaf 

2. Through the Local Deaf Association 

Zambia Through the Association of Sign Language interpreters. Or by private arrangement with interpreters. 

Zimbabwe 

1. 

2. 

Through text messages via their mobile phones 

Through messages via their next door or other neighbours 




7.9.2 Does your country have sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.2.1 If yes, who provides these sign language interpreting services? 

Country 

Does your 

country have 

sign language 

interpreting 

services? 


If yes, who 

provides these 

sign language 

interpreting 

services? 

Government 

National 


Deaf 

Burundi Yes � 

Eritrea Yes � 


Kenya Yes � 

Lesotho Yes � 


Malawi Yes � 


Namibia Yes � � 



Private 

Sector 

South Africa Yes � � � 

Sudan Yes � 

Swaziland Yes � 

Tanzania Yes � 

Uganda Yes � � 

Zambia Yes � 







Other 

Both the National Union of the Deaf 

and National Society for the Deaf. 

NAD and ASLI 

Our stakeholders such as disabled 

persons organisations, and others 

who invite Deaf people to their 

meetings or seminars. 

Association of Sign Language 

interpreters. 

Please note: Again the Regional Working Group stated that the three countries who ticked “No” should have ticked “Yes” 

because those countries were involved with the Interpreter Training Project under the Finnish Association of the Deaf.

7.9.2.2 In what areas of life are sign language interpreting services available in your country? 

In what areas of life are sign language 

interpreting services available in your 

country? 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Social Services � � � � � � � � � � � 

Health/Medical Services � � � � � � � � � � � 

Employment Services � � � � � � 

Court Services � � � � � � � � � � 

Educational Services � � � � � � � � 

Counselling Services � � � � � � � � � 

Financial Institutions � � � � � � 

Funerals/Weddings � � � � � � � � � � 

Entertainment � � � � � � � � 

Others � � � 

Country Others 

Namibia Broadcasting Services 

South Africa Interpreter in Parliament for the Deaf Member, and Media 

Uganda Parliament, Driving Tests and Media 

7.9.2.3 What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting services? 

Country What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting services? 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

Malawi 




Kenya 

Lesotho 

These services are deemed fair. However since there are no professional qualifications, the interpreters face 

various obstacles when working in official settings. 

Interpretation services in Eritrea are few; they are just starting now. The Association is training more 

Interpreters and awareness is rising. But generally speaking we are at the very beginning stage. 

Most interpreters are not qualified or recognised by government for employment as sign language interpreters. 

They are employed as clerks who do interpretation. 

Interpreters are after money and are not professional - any novice can service a big meeting but in the end they 

always fail. 

This happens even though interpretation is now well understood by the general public. 

There is a lack of cooperation between the consumer, the interpreter and the organisers. 

There are not enough services, however they are very important. There is a high need and demand for sign 

language interpreter training so that Deaf people can gain access to information and services. 

There are not enough sign language interpreters; the ratio is 1:200 interpreters to Deaf people. 

The negative attitude of the general public towards the interpreting profession prevents interpreters from 

performing better; sometimes they are denied permission to provide their services at e.g. Courts and Hospitals. 

Namibia Not enough information supplied 

South Africa 

Sudan Not satisfied 

Swaziland 

More skilled interpreters need to be trained. 

Services need to be expanded and made available for Deaf people in the rural areas. 

Need to improve co-operation with the National Association of Sign Language Interpreters. 

The Deaf Association believes that these are communication facilitators who are experts in their own right and 

are there to strengthen the voice of the Deaf Community. 

Tanzania The number of interpreters needs to be increased to meet the demand of Deaf persons. 

Lack of payment for sign language interpreters is the major problem faced as far as these services are 

concerned. 

Uganda The National Association of Sign Language Interpreters needs strengthening to effectively lobby and promote the 

profession. 

There is a lack of specialisation in the sign language interpreter training programme thus no accreditation. 

Zambia Interpreting services need a lot of improvement in signing skills, voicing and observance of Code of Ethics. 

Malawi 

Namibia 

South Africa 

Sudan 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia

7.9.3 Do sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services in your country? 

7.9.3.1 Who is responsible for paying for a sign language interpreter? 

7.9.3.2 What is the average hourly rate of payment for sign language interpreters in your country? 

Country 

Do sign 

language 

interpreters 

receive 

payment for 

interpreting 

services in 

your 

country? 

Who is 

responsible 

for paying 

for a sign 

language 

interpreter? 

Government 

Botswana Yes � 


National 

Association 

of the 

Deaf/Deaf 

Group 


Ethiopia Yes � 

Deaf 

People 

Kenya Yes � � � 

Lesotho Yes � � 





Rwanda Yes � 

South Africa Yes � � � 

Sudan Yes � 

Swaziland Yes 

Others 

Government pays a 

salary for those 

working in schools. 

During workshops, 

symposiums and 

training the 

organisers pay. 

Non-Governmental 

Organisations 

NGOs are informed 

that any organisation 

or department, for 

example court, 

requesting the 

participation of the 

Deaf Association in 

their meeting is 

responsible to pay for 

interpreting services. 

What the average hourly rate 

of payment for sign language 


BWP 75 (7.62€ on 31 st May 

2008). 

100 Eri Currency (Nasfa) (8.60€ 

on 31 st May 2008). 

The amount varies according 

to availability of funds but in 

general it is about 15.00€ per 

day or about 2.00€ per hour. 

Rates vary depending on the 

ability of the organisers to 

pay; they range from USD65.00 

to USD85.00 per day (42.65€ to 

54.75€ on 31 st May 2008). 

USD30.00 per day (19.33€ on 

31 st May 2008). 

200 NAD (Namibian Dollars-N$) 

(17.18€ on 31 st May 2008). 

Hourly rate is fixed at 

USD50.00 (32.20€ on 31 st May 

2008). 

ZAR 468.00 for a half day 

(39.75€ on 31 st May 2008). 

ZAR 1,870.00 for a full day 

(158.92€ on 31 st May 2008). 

10 – 50 Sudanese pounds a day 

(3.22€ to 16.10€ on 31 st May 

2008). 

• R350per hour per for 

professional rates (29.90€ 

on 31 st May 2008). 

• Services for the deaf are 

R150per hour (12.82€ on 

31 st May 2008). 




Tanzania Yes � � 

Uganda Yes � � � 

Institutions which 

invite or are in need 

of Deaf contributions 

at various gatherings 

Zambia Yes � Private Sector 

Zimbabwe Yes � � 

Total 

14 Yes 

(78%) 

Additional Information from Seychelles: 


• USD50.00 per full day 

service (32.20€ on 31 st 

May 2008). 

• USD30.00 for half day 

(19.33€ on 31 st May 2008). 

• USD10.00 to USD15.00 for 

short assignments (6.44€ 

to 9.66€ on 31 st May 

2008). 

35,000 UGX per day (13.92€ on 

31 st May 2008). 

Not hourly but daily. The rate 

ranges from USD$20 to USD$30 

per day (12.88€ to 19.33€ on 

31 st May 2008). 

The rate of payment depends 

on agreement between the 

interpreter and the client. In 

most cases it’s a negotiable 

rate; there is no fixed rate. 

There are no interpreters available in the country of Seychelles; Deaf people use hearing people who know sign language for 

interpreting support. There are plans for a French expert to provide an interpreter training programme, to commence in 2009. 

7.9.3.3 Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service for all sign language interpreting 

assignments? 

Country Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service for all sign language interpreting assignments? 

Botswana Sometimes 

Burundi Sometimes 

Eritrea Yes 

Ethiopia Sometimes 

Kenya Sometimes 

Lesotho Sometimes 


Malawi Yes 

Mozambique Sometimes 

Namibia Sometimes 


South Africa Sometimes 

Sudan Sometimes 


Tanzania Yes 

Uganda Sometimes 

Zambia Sometimes 

Zimbabwe Yes 






7.9.4 Does your country have a National Association of Sign Language Interpreters? 

7.9.4.1 Is your National Association of Sign Language Interpreters independent from your National Association of the Deaf? 

7.9.5 Is there a national Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters in your country? 

Country 

Does your country have a National 

Association of Sign Language 

Interpreters? 

Is your National Association of Sign 

Language Interpreters 

independent from your National 

Association of the Deaf? 

Is there a national Code of 

Ethics for sign language 


Botswana No No No 

Burundi No No No 

Eritrea No No No 

Ethiopia No No No 

Kenya Yes Yes No 

Lesotho No No No 

Madagascar No No No 

Malawi No No No 

Mozambique Yes Yes No 

Namibia Yes Yes Yes 

Rwanda No No No 

Seychelles No No No 

South Africa Yes No Yes 

Sudan No No No 

Swaziland No No Yes 

Tanzania Yes No Yes 

Uganda Yes Yes Yes 

Zambia Yes Yes Yes 

Zimbabwe No No No 

Total 7 Yes (37%) 5 Yes (26%) 6 Yes (32%) 


7.9.6 Is there any legislation or policy in your country which states that the government has a responsibility for the 

provision of sign language interpreting services? 

7.9.6.1 If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically state the government has a responsibility for the 

provision of sign language interpreting services. 

Country 

Is there any legislation or policy in 

your country which states that the 

government has a responsibility 

for the provision of sign language 

interpreting services? 





Kenya Yes 






If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically state the 

government has a responsibility for the provision of sign language 

interpreting services. 

Disability Act Misc 39. Accessibility - 21, Rights and Privileges - 19, 

Polling Sec - 30. There are other sections in the Rights and Privileges and 

Civic Rights, Miscellaneous, Offences and Penalties of the Act. These 

authorise the government to provide sign language interpreting services 

but have not been enforced. 




Rwanda Yes 






The law says that public services are required to provide communication 

access for Deaf persons, by using sign language, sign messages and other 

means if possible during meetings, conferences, information bulletins 

and so forth. 

Integrated National Disability Strategy 

Draft National Language Policy 

Uganda Yes Persons with Disabilities Act 2006 








7.10.0 Employment 

7.10.1 Does your country’s government consider that Deaf people have a right to be employed and earn a standard 

salary? 

7.10.2 Does your country’s government have any anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, especially for Deaf 

people or People with Disabilities? 

7.10.2.1 If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or policy that relates to anti-discrimination in 

employment. 

Country 

Does your 

country’s 

government 

consider that Deaf 

people have a 

right to be 

employed and 

earn a standard 

salary? 

Does your 

country’s 

government have 

any antidiscrimination 

laws 

in the area of 

employment, 

especially for Deaf 

people or People 

with Disabilities? 

Botswana Yes No 

Burundi Yes No 

Eritrea No No 

If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or policy 

that relates to anti-discrimination in employment. 

Ethiopia Yes Yes No information supplied 

The Disability Act states that no persons or companies shall deny a 

Kenya Yes Yes 

person with disabilities access to opportunities for suitable 

employment. 

Lesotho Yes No 

Madagascar No No 

Malawi Yes No 

Mozambique No No 

Namibia Yes Yes No information supplied 

According to the Law on Persons with Disabilities 

Rwanda Yes Yes 

1. 

2. 

Discrimination is prohibited in work 

A person with a disability must be hired first if there is 

competition between two equally-qualified candidates 

Seychelles Yes No 

South Africa Yes Yes Employment Equity Act 

1. No qualified disabled person can be stopped from getting a 

Sudan Yes Yes 

2. 

job (Constitution) 

Not less than 2% of public or private sector jobs must be 

dedicated for disabled people (Labour Law) 

Swaziland No No 

Tanzania Yes Yes Employment and Care and Maintenance Act 1982 

1. Persons with Disabilities Act 2006. 

Uganda Yes Yes 

2. Guidelines for Managing Disability in the Workplace 2006 (not 

yet implemented) 

Zambia Yes No 

Zimbabwe No No 

Total 14 Yes (74%) 8 Yes (42%) 





7.10.3 Does your Association/Group have any official or approximate figures on the number of Deaf people who are in 

paid employment in your country? 

7.10.3.1 If yes, how many Deaf people are in employment? 

Does your 


have any official or 

approximate figures on 

Country 

the number of Deaf 

people who are in paid 

employment in your 

country? 



Total Number of Deaf 

people employed 

Number of Deaf Women 

employed 

Number of Deaf Men 

employed 

Eritrea Yes 10,000 3,000 7,000 











Sudan Yes 14,000 1,000 13,000 





Zimbabwe Yes 74 13 61 

Total 3 Yes (16%) 24,074 


4,013 20,061 




7.10.3.2 What are the most common areas of work for Deaf people in your country? 

What are the most common areas of work 

for Deaf people in your country? 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Office Administration 

Management 

Education 

Theatre/Arts 

Research Projects 

Sign Language Work 

Social Services 

� �� 

� � � �� 

� � � � � �� 

� �� 

� �� 

� � � � �� 

� � � �� 

Farm Work � � � � � �� Financial Industry � � � � 

Engineering 

Welding 

� � 

� � �� 

Carpentry � � � � � �� 

Jeweller � � � � 

Tailoring � � � � � � �� 

Building � � � � � �� 

Painting � � � � � � �� 

Cleaning � � � � �� 

Car Mechanic 

Panel Beater 

� � � � � �� 

� �� 

Shoe Repairing 

Bakery 

Hairdresser 

Printer 

� � � � � �� 

� � � � � 

� � � �� 

� � �� 

Catering 

Others 

� � � � 

� 

� �� 

� �� 

Country Others 

Mozambique Private sector, packer, carrier, cleaner and domestic worker. 

Sudan Accounting, Free Trades, Electricity and industry worker. 

Tanzania Media House (as News Translators and Analysis Unit). 

Uganda Driver and Government Executive. 

Zambia Housemaid 




Lesotho 

Malawi 

Mozambique 

Namibia 

South Africa 

Sudan 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia 

Zimbabwe

7.10.4 Does your country have any figures on the percentage of Deaf people who are unemployed? 

7.10.4.1 Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

Country 

Does your country have any 

figures on the percentage of 

Deaf people who are 

unemployed? 

Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

Botswana No Language barriers and communication problems. 




Kenya No No information supplied. 







1. Because of low literacy 

2. Because of communication problems 

3. Prejudices 

4. They are uninformed about job opportunities which are often 

announced via radio 

5. Ignorance 

The Government only provides unemployment services for people who have 

done time in the National Military Service, so Deaf people are unable to 

receive this support from the government. However the Association of the 

Deaf can give this service to individuals. 

1. Deaf do not get adequate training or education 

2. Discrimination by employers 

3. Training of the deaf is not geared to their specific needs 

Their level of education hinders them from formal employment and the job 

market is very competitive. 

1. Low education levels 

2. Negative attitude of employers towards Deaf people 

3. Communication problems 

4. Lack of Legislation or laws to enforce employment of the Deaf 

Deaf men do not like to work with hearing colleagues and managers in 

companies because their salaries are not commensurate with the work 

done. The Deaf Women previously had their own business but not any longer 

because the manager has retired. Deaf people would like Deaf Clubs to set 

up businesses in the regions. 

Whether they are qualified or not the government and many companies 

consider Deaf people as unable to work; they are neglected, they are seen 

as handicapped with little ability to work, they are illiterate, they 

experience barriers to attaining employment, and there is a lack of 

employment placement services and policies. 

• Deaf people have little knowledge to compete for positions in 

government and in other projects to turn around the country’s 

economy 

• Deaf people in Namibia lack skills with which they can compete in the 

labour market; the skills they possess are vocational skills that are illpaid 

and make their lives hard 

The main reason for Deaf people’s unemployment is due to the fact that 

Deaf in Rwanda are illiterate. Previously there were no laws protecting 

persons with disabilities in general and particularly Deaf people. That 

meant no help or support whatsoever, nor access to employment. Now the 

anti-discrimination law for persons with disabilities has been made public. 

Seychelles No • Lack of education and dependence on benefits 


Sudan No No information supplied. 

Swaziland No No information supplied. 




• Low education and literacy levels 

• Lack of career guidance in schools 

• Employers do not know how to handle Deaf employees 

• Lack of education 

• Negative attitudes 

• Stigmatisation 

• Low education levels (skills and qualifications) 

• Negative attitudes from employers 

• Scarcity of job opportunities 

• Poor education among Deaf people 

• Poor national economy 

• Bad altitude among employers; they view Deaf people as unable to 

perform work 





Total 0 Yes 

• Negative attitudes from hearing counterparts, who believe that it is 

impossible to communicate with the Deaf 


Please note: The answers from Rwanda to Questions 7.10.2 and 7.10.4.1 with regard to anti-discrimination legislation are 

conflicting. To the first question the response was ‘Yes’ but the response to the second question was ‘No’. 

7.10.5 Does your country provide employment services to assist unemployed Deaf people to look for 

employment? 

7.10.5.1 Who is responsible for providing employment services for unemployed Deaf people in your 

country? 

Country 

Does your country 

provide 

employment 

services to assist 

unemployed Deaf 

people to look for 

employment? 



Who is 

responsible for 

providing 

employment 

services for 

unemployed 

Deaf people in 

your country? 

Government 

Employment 

Service 

National Association 

of the Deaf/Deaf 

Group 











South Africa Yes � � 

Sudan Yes � 


Tanzania Yes � � Religious organisations 

Uganda Yes 

Zambia Yes 



Other, please write down: 

� Disabled persons organisations 




� 

Based on 19 respondents

7.11.0 General 

7.11.1 Which of the following does your National Association of the Deaf/Deaf Group consider to be the highest priority 

for your Deaf Community? 

Which of the following 

does your National 


Deaf/Deaf Group 

consider to be the 

highest priority for 

your Deaf Community? 

Botswana 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

Better quality of Deaf 

Education � � � � � � � � � � �� 

Equal Opportunity in 

Employment � � � � � � � � �� 

Better Sign Language 

Interpreting quality and � � � � � � � � � �� 

services 

Recognition of your 

country’s Sign Language 

by your country’s 

Government 




Madagascar 

� � � � � � � 

Malawi 

Namibia 

Rwanda 

� � 

Seychelles 

South Africa 

� 

Sudan 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia 

�� 

Improved quality and 

access to Government 

and Community Services � � � � � � � � �� 

Other � � � � � 

Country Other 

Burundi Sign Language Research and Deaf Leadership. 

Eritrea 

To provide Vocational Training to the Deaf; to train Deaf Youth in sports; and to make the Deaf aware about 

HIV/AIDS etc. 

Madagascar 

The same issues we’ve raised throughout the survey but the most important for us is to include sign language in 

the Government’s Constitution. 

Mozambique The Association is not functioning because of conflicts throughout the executive board and structure. . 

South Africa Access to Health. 

Tanzania Participation in decision-making bodies e.g. Parliament, Local Government, etc. 

7.11.2 Does your Association/Group have any other concerns about the standard of living of Deaf people in your 

country? Please list them. 

Country 

Botswana 

Burundi 

Eritrea 

Ethiopia 

Kenya 

Does your Association/Group have any other concerns about the standard of living of Deaf people in your 

country? Please list them. 

• Deaf people are not supported equally 

• Lack of involvement in government programmes 

• Concerned about integration and professional training for Deaf people 

• Additionally we work toward the inclusion of the deaf community in political life 

Our Association as an umbrella organisation is concerned with equality and full participation of the Deaf in all 

spheres of life: 

• Ensuring human rights and linguistic rights 

• Teaching the Deaf to support themselves 

• Training of sign language interpreters 

• Training Deaf people in social and cultural issues, life, sports, HIV, sexual abuse, health issues, 

organisational management, project management, constitutional rights and financial management 

• Advocate for policy development 

• Poverty eradication for Deaf people 

• To create employment opportunities or to provide support for the Deaf to be self-employed 

• Kenya has a high rate of skilled Deaf school-leavers who are unemployed and hawking in the streets 

• The capacity of Deaf leaders in the National Association, as well as in the branches, has deteriorated due to 

ethnic rivalry 

• All the branches are now dormant because the National Association no longer has funds to support them as 

has been the case in the past when the National Association was supported by Shia/SDR 

• There is great need for reconstruction so that the capacity of the branches is effective 

• Members in the branches need more leadership training and organisational management skills 

• Deaf women are the ignored ones in the management of organisations 

• More capacity building is needed 

Zimbabwe

Lesotho 

Madagascar 

Malawi 

Mozambique 

Namibia 

Rwanda 

• Decentralised service delivery at the community level for Deaf people to access easily 

• Improved Secretariat with fulltime personnel for better co-ordination of the Association's activities in the 

districts 

• We think the most important thing is the Deaf children in Deaf schools in Madagascar; the Government 

should be held accountable for this 

• Deaf adults in the regions want to have their own businesses 

• FMM hopes to have equal human rights and rights of the Deaf 

• High percentage of unemployment due to little education obtained 

• Not enough sign language interpreters to provide services to the Deaf in different areas 

• High death rate due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic since most Deaf does not have access to information about 

HIV and AIDS 

• Lack of civic education on how Deaf could promote their own livelihood eg. Self employment and business 

management 

The Association doesn’t have any concern but the Deaf people themselves have concerns about the standard of 

living. 

• The overall concern still is education - we cannot compete with the hearing world in our own country if we 

are illiterate, we cannot expect the public to consider us as people who can make significance 

contributions to the socio-economic status of the country if we are not armed with University Degrees; 

instead we will be regarded as beggars because all we do is demand assistance and we cannot do anything 

on our own. This is a very negative preconception and an insult to the Deaf people in our country, but the 

truth is we do not have knowledge; those with knowledge are very few as opposed to the masses who ‘have 

not’. 

• We want government to fund our organisation and to allow us to work closely with them in all things that 

concern Deaf persons; because this will help them make the best decision which Deaf people will 

appreciate and benefit from fully. 

Yes, we are worried that our country is not interested in us; they communicate with persons with disabilities 

instead of contacting us directly and asking us to express our own needs and opinions. 

Because most Deaf depend on the benefits provided by the government, they become lazy and dependant on 

others. Most families encourage them to take the benefits and stay at home. This sometime leads to abuse in 

Seychelles the family. They are asked to look after the other children or do chores for other family members. The family 

thus stops them from living their own dreams or becoming independent. This leads also to lack of 

empowerment. 

Sudan Level of poverty among deaf people is very high. 

Swaziland 

Tanzania 

Uganda 

Zambia 

Zimbabwe 

We are still marginalised; we want to have access to general resources in employment and education, as 

accorded all citizens of Swaziland. 

• Electronic Assistive Devices such as alarms and so forth 

• Expose Deaf people to Information Communication and Technology, including use of computers, email, 

Internet, etc 

• Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

• There is a high demand by Deaf people for employment; the NAD is striving to promote opportunities that 

can secure the employment rights of Deaf people 

• Despite many policies/laws/acts in Uganda, little Is being done to implement them and secure the 

fundamental human rights enshrined in these legislations 

• Creating Deaf Awareness 

• To be less dependant on relatives and guardians 

• Improved access to the media 

• Unemployment – need to reduce the poverty of Deaf people through employment 

• Need to improve communication with the general public 

• Need more schools for Deaf children around our country 

• Need gender equality for Deaf people and the community at large 

• Great need for leaders from abroad to continue passing on the latest information and for our leaders to 

feature in different meetings worldwide 

• Need financial assistance from government or other organisations, and to attain better education 

• Need improved communication with different institutions such as police, hospitals (health sector), courts 

and other public services 

• Be Christians; need more churches with bilingual preachers – sign language should be one of the languages 

used 




8.0 Appendices Appendix No 1 

Dear President and Secretary, 

Global Education Pre‐Planning Project on the 

Human Rights of Deaf People 

Email: DeafHumanRights@yahoo.com.au 

3 rd March 2008 

I wish to introduce the new project “Global Education Pre-Planning Project on the Human Rights of Deaf People” implemented 

by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in co-operation with the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR). This 

project is a preparation for a Global project “Deaf Global Human Rights Training Project” to commence hopefully in 2009. An 

application will be submitted 2008 to Swedish funding bodies. 

The purpose of the pre-planning project is to conduct a global survey to collect information on the standard of life for Deaf 

people in each one of the seven WFD Regional Secretariats, focussing on the areas of: 

1. Contact Details, 

2. Status of the National Deaf Association, 

3. Population of Deaf people, 

4. Legislations and Policies, 

5. Access to Government Services, 

6. Access to the Media, 

7. Status of the Country Sign Language, 

8. Access to Education, 

9. Status of the Sign Language Interpreting Services, 

10. Status of the Deaf Employment and 

11. General. 

Your Association is a member of the WFD – Regional Secretariat in Southern and Eastern Africa and this group is the fifth 

region to be surveyed in this project. 

It will be appreciated if you take time to complete this survey as soon as possible to enable us to finalise the draft Fact-Finding 

Report. The Project will establish a temporary Regional Working Group consisting of two or three members from the Ordinary 

WFD Members of the Regional Secretariat in Southern and Eastern Africa Region. The Regional Working Group is planning to 

meet in June 2008 to discuss the draft Fact-Finding Report. The Regional Working Group is responsible for confirming the 

recommendations from the Fact-Finding Report to be used in the application for the “Deaf Global Human Rights Training 

Project”. 

The project has appointed a Regional Co-ordinator Ms Susan Kirima from Nairobi, Kenya and her responsibility is to establish a 

contact point with all members of the WFD Regional Secretariat in Southern and Eastern Africa for this project. If you have any 

questions about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Susan Kirima and her email address is skirima@yahoo.com 

Please find the survey questions attached in English language and attached is a copy of a DVD in International Sign, based on the 

survey questions. Please be aware that it is essential to answer all of the survey questions correctly to provide the true 

reflection of the actual standard of living of Deaf people in your country. 

Please return your survey questions to: 

Ms Susan Kirima 

Regional Co-ordinator 

C/- Dean of Students office 

P.O Box 30197 

University Way 

Nairobi 

Kenya 

Email: skirima@yahoo.com 

Fax: +254-020-245566 

It will be appreciated if Ms Susan Kirima can receive your survey by no later than Friday, 18 th April 2008. 

Thank you for your co-operation to make this possible achievement for every Deaf person in your country. 

Yours sincerely, 

Colin Allen 


The World Federation of the Deaf and the Swedish National Association of the Deaf 





Appendix No 2 

World Federation of the Deaf 

Global Education Pre‐Planning Project 

on the Human Rights of Deaf People 


A GLOBAL 

SURVEY 

Global Education 

Pre-planning Project 

on the Human Rights 

of Deaf People 

Regional Secretariat in Eastern and Southern Africa 

March 2008 




1.0 Contact Details 

1.1 Country: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

1.2 Name of the National Association of the Deaf: __________________________________________________ 

___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

1.3 Street Address: 

Street Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Street Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

City: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Post code / Zip Code: _______________________________________________________________________ 

Country: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

1.4 Postal Address: 

Postal Number: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

City: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Post code / Zip Code: _______________________________________________________________________ 

Country: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Website Address: _______________________________________________________________________ 

Email Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

1.5 Telephone Numbers: 

Landline Number: _________________________________________________________ 

Mobile Number: _________________________________________________________ 

Facsimile Number: _________________________________________________________ 

Project Data Use Only 

Country Reference No: .............................................................................. 

Received Date: ...................................................................................... 

Data Entered: ........................................................................................ 

Country Classifications: 

□ Low Income □ Lower Middle Income 

□ Upper Middle Income □ High Income 




2.0 National Association of the Deaf 

2.1 Please provide the official name of your National Association of the Deaf in both English and in your 

language: 

2.1.1 English: _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.1.2 In your national language: _____________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.2 Please provide the number of members your National Association of the Deaf has in your country? 

2.2.1 Deaf Members: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.1.1 Deaf Women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.1.2 Deaf Men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.2 Hard of Hearing Members: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.2.1 Hard of Hearing Women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.2.2 Hard of Hearing Men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.2.3 Hearing Members: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.3 In what year was your National Association established? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.4 Does your Deaf Association have Statutes/a Constitution? 

□ Yes, please go to Question No 2.5 

□ No, please go to Question No 2.5 

2.5 Does your government recognise your national organisation to represent Deaf people in your country? 






2.6 Please list some the areas in which your association has adopted a policy statement? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.7 Please list the six highest priority issues/actions in your strategic action plan 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.8 Please describe structure of your National Association of the Deaf (e.g. congress/annual meeting/ 

board/ executive/districts/local associations etc)? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




2.8.1 How many affiliated regional and/or local Deaf Associations is part of your National Association of the 

Deaf? 

2.8.1.1 Number of Regional associations: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.8.1.2 Number of Local associations: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.9 How many members of your members are Deaf? 

[___________________] of [___________________] 

(Deaf Board Members) (Total of Board Members) 

2.10 How many members of the board are Deaf women and how many are Deaf men? 

2.10.1 Deaf women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.10.2 Deaf men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.11 Does your National Association of the Deaf have committees for specific area of interest or affiliation 

with any other relevant independent groups in your country? 

□ Sign Language Interpreters □ Sign Language Researchers □ Deaf Education 

□ Parents of Deaf Children □ Deaf Seniors □ Deafblind 

□ Deaf Youth □ Cultural groups of Deaf people □ Sports groups 

□ Deaf people with other disabilities □ Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual 

□ Deaf Women’s Groups □ Children of Deaf Adults 

□ Other, please write down: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2.12 Does your National Association of the Deaf have any paid staff members? 

□ Yes, please go to Question No 2.12.1 





2.12.1 How many of the paid staff members are women and who many are men? 

2.12.1.1 Women: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.12.1.2 Men: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 

2.12.2 How many of the paid staff members are Deaf? 



2.13 Is your Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director / Person-in-charge Deaf? 



3.0 Population of Deaf people 

3.1 Does your country’s government have any official records on the number of Deaf people in your 

country? 



3.1.1 If yes, please provide the official number of Deaf people in your country? 

3.1.1.1 Total: - [___________________] please write the number in this box 



3.2 Does your Association have any official or approximate figures on the number of Deaf people living in 

your country? 



3.2.1 If yes, please provide the number of Deaf people in your country 







3.3 Does your Association have any official or approximate figures on the Deaf people who use sign 

language as their primary language? 



3.3.1 If yes, please provide the number of Deaf people who use sign language in your country 




3.4. Does the situation of HIV/AIDS in your country affect Deaf women, men and children? 



□ No information available, please go to Question 4.1 

3.4.1 If yes, please describe the situation with HIV/AIDS in the Deaf community in your country including any 

official statistics on the number of Deaf people living with HIV/AIDS. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




4.0 Legislations and Policies 

4.1 Does your country’s government recognise Deaf people as citizens on an equal basis as other citizens 




4.2 Does your country’s government have an office responsible for services for People with Disabilities? 



4.2.1 If yes, what is the name, address, and website address of the government office that is responsible for 

services for People with Disabilities in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.3 Does your country’s Government have any legislation or policies for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities in general)? 



4.3.1 If yes, please list some of the policies or legislation that relates to Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities), (please write the name of the legislations or policies in full detail): 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.4 Does your country’s Government have any anti-discrimination laws for Deaf people (or People with 

Disabilities)? 



4.5 Does your country’s government provide any services specifically for the Deaf Community through its 

government departments? 


□ No, please go to Question No 4.5.3 




4.5.1 If yes, what types of service are provided specifically for the Deaf Community by your country’s 

government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.5.2 What is the general opinion of the current service(s) specifically provided for the Deaf Community by 

your country’s government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Please go to Question No 4.6 

4.5.3 If no, why does your country’s government not provide any service specifically for the Deaf 

Community? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




4.6 Does your Association have any contacts with your current country’s government? 



4.6.1 What type of contact does your Association have with your country’s current government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.7 Does your Association receive any financial support from your country’s current government? 



4.7.1 What is the amount of annual financial support from your country’s government? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.7.2 What is the purpose of the financial support from your country’s government to the Deaf Community? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.8 Do Deaf people have a right to vote in national, regional and local elections? 



4.8.1 If Deaf people do not have the right to vote, please list the government legislation or policies that 

specifically exclude Deaf people from having the right to vote: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.9 Are Deaf people allowed to obtain a driver’s licence? 






4.9.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to drive, please list the Government legislation or policies that stop 

them from being allowed to drive: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.10 Are Deaf people allowed to marry Deaf or other partners? 



4.10.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to get married, please list any specific Government legislation or policy 

that specifically stops Deaf people from being allowed to marry (or to be allowed to marry another 

deaf person): 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.11 Are Deaf people allowed to have children? 



4.11.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to have children, please list any specific Government legislation or 

policy that stops Deaf people from being allowed to have children. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

4.12 Are Deaf people allowed to adopt children? 



4.12.1 If Deaf people are not allowed to adopt children, please list any specific Government legislation or 

policy that stops Deaf people from being allowed to adopt children. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 





5.1 Do Deaf people have access to government services such as education, health care, employment, 

social welfare and any general government services? 



5.1.1 If yes, how do Deaf people access these government services? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

5.1.2 Are Deaf people satisfied with the level of access they have to the government services? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

5.2 Are Deaf people entitled to any financial assistance from your country’s government? 



5.2.1 What type of financial assistance are Deaf people entitled to receive from your country’s government? 

□ Disability allowance □ General Pension □ Disability-specific Pension 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 





6.1 Does your country’s government provide sign language services for news and/or current affairs 

programmes on public television? 



6.1.1 Please provide detailed information on how many hours or days per week Deaf people receive sign 

language services for news and/or current affairs programmes on public television. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

6.2 Does your country’s government provide subtitles / captions for news and/or current affairs 

programmes? 



6.2.1 Please provide detailed information on how many hours / days per week are news / current affairs 

programmes (subtitled / captioned) offered for Deaf people? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

6.3 Does your country’s government offer governmental documents in your country’s sign language? 






7.0 Status of the Country Sign Language 

7.1 Does your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language(s)? 



7.1.1 What legislation/regulation formally recognises your country’s sign language? 

□ Constitution □ Legislation □ Policy □ Guideline 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

7.1.2 When did your country’s government formally recognise your country’s sign language? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


7.1.3 Does your Deaf Association lobby your government for the recognition of your country’s sign 

language(s)? 



7.1.4 If no, please explain the reason your Association does not lobby your current government for the 

recognition of your country’s Sign Language. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

7.2 Does your country have a sign language dictionary? 







8.1 Does your country’s government recognise that Deaf children and Deaf students have the right to 

receive an education? 



8.2 Does your country’s government have any legislation or policies on Deaf Education? 



8.2.1 If yes, please list the specific name of the legislation or policies relating to Deaf Education: 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


8.2.2 If no, are all Deaf children and Deaf students entitled to receive any education in your country? 



8.3 Does your country’s government provide any of the following educational settings for Deaf children 

and Deaf students? 

Early intervention (Up to 5 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Kindergarten (Between 3/4 years old to 5/6 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Primary (From 5/6 years to 12/13 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Secondary (From 12/13 years to 17/18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

University (After 18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Vocational Education / Training □ Yes □ No 

8.4 Does your country’s government provide bilingual education using your country’s sign language for 

Deaf children and Deaf students in your country? 






8.4.1 If yes, in which educational setting is bilingual education offered in your country using your sign 

language? 

Early intervention (Up to 5 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Kindergarten (Between 3/4 years old to 5/6 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Primary (From 5/6 years to 12/13 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Secondary (From 12/13 years to 17/18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

University (After 18 years old) □ Yes □ No 

Vocational Education / Training □ Yes □ No 

8.5 Does your country have any schools specifically for Deaf children and Deaf students? 



8.5.1 If yes, how many Deaf schools does your country have? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

8.5.2 What is the educational approach for communicating with Deaf children and students at the Deaf 

School in your country? 

□ Bilingual Education □ Oral Method □ Cued Speech 

□ Oral and Sign Language (Total Communication) □ Auditory Verbal 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


8.5.3 If no, where do Deaf children and students receive an education in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




8.6 What is the general opinion of the level of education received by Deaf children and Deaf students in 

your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

8.7 What is the general opinion of the current literacy level of Deaf children and Deaf students in your 

country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

8.8 Do Deaf people have access to a University education in your country? 



8.8.1 If yes, how many Universities provide access to studies for Deaf people in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 


8.8.2 If no, why do Deaf people not have access to a university education in your country? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 





8.9 Do Deaf people have full access to sign language interpreting services at University? 



9.0 Status of the Sign Language Interpreting Service 

9.1 Does your country have any sign language interpreters? 



9.1.1 How many sign language interpreters does your country have? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.1.2 Are there any sign language interpreting qualifications available in your country? 



9.1.3 Who provides the training for people who want to become qualified sign language interpreters? 

□ University □ Community College □ National Association of the Deaf 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.1.4 How many years of training are available to someone who wants to become a sign language 

interpreter? 

□ Four Years □ Three Years □ Two Years □ Less than One Year 


____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 




9.1.5 How many sign language interpreters in your country have formal interpreting qualifications? 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

9.1.6 How do Deaf people access sign language interpreters? 

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9.2 Does your country have sign language interpreting services? 



9.2.1 If yes, who provides these sign language interpreting services? 

□ Government □ National Association of the Deaf □ Private Sector 


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9.2.2 What areas of life are sign language interpreting services available in your country? 

□ Social Services □ Health/Medical Services □ Employment Services 

□ Court Services □ Educational Services □ Counselling Services 

□ Financial Institutions □ Funerals / Weddings □ Entertainments 


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9.2.3 What is the general opinion of these sign language interpreting services? 

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9.3 Do sign language interpreters receive payment for interpreting services in your country? 



9.3.1 Who is responsible for paying for a sign language interpreter? 

□ Government □ National Association of the Deaf □ Deaf people 


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9.3.2 What the average hourly rate of payment for Sign Language Interpreters in your country? 

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9.3.3 Do your sign language interpreters provide voluntary service for all sign language interpreting 

assignments? 



□ Sometimes, please go to Question No 9.4 

9.4 Does your country have a National Association of Sign Language Interpreters? 






9.4.1 Is your National Association of the Sign Language Interpreters independent from your National 

Association of the Deaf? 



9.5 Is there a national Code of Ethics for sign language interpreters in your country? 



9.6 Is there any legislation or policy in your country which states that the government has a responsibility 

for the provision of sign language interpreting services? 



9.6.1 If yes, please list the legislation or policies that specifically state the Government has a responsibility 

for the provision of sign language interpreting services. 

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10.1 Does your country government consider Deaf people to have a right to be employed and earn a 

standard salary? 



10.2 Does your country’s government have any anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, 

especially for Deaf people or People with Disabilities? 






10.2.1 If yes, please write clearly the name of any legislation or policies that relate to anti-discrimination in 

employment: 

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10.3 Does your Association have any official or approximate figures on the number of Deaf people who are 

in paid employment in your country? 



10.3.1 If yes, how many Deaf people are in employment? 




10.3.2 What are the most common areas of work for Deaf people in your country? 

□ Office Administration □ Management □ Education □ Theatre /Arts 

□ Research Projects □ Sign Language □ Social Services □ Farm work 

□ Financial Industry □ Engineering □ Welding □ Carpentry 

□ Jeweller □ Tailoring □ Building □ Painter 

□ Cleaning □ Car Mechanic □ Panel Beater □ Shoe Repairing 

□ Bakery □ Hairdresser □ Printer □ Catering 


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10.4 Does your country any figures on the percentage of Deaf people who are unemployed? 



10.4.1 If yes, what percentage of Deaf people are unemployed in your country? If possible, give percentage of 

unemployed Deaf women and Deaf men. 

10.4.1.1 Total: - [___________________] please write the percentage in this box 

10.4.1.2 Deaf Women: - [___________________] please write the percentage in this box 

10.4.1.3 Deaf Men: - [___________________] please write the percentage in this box 

10.4.2 Why are Deaf people unemployed in your country? 

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10.5 Does your country provide employment service to assist unemployed Deaf people to look for 

employment? 



10.5.1 Who is responsible for providing employment service for unemployed Deaf people in your country? 

□ Government Employment Service □ National Association of the Deaf 


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11.0 General 

11.1 Which of the following does your National Association of the Deaf consider to be the highest priority 

for your Deaf Community? 

□ Better quality of Deaf Education 

□ Equal Opportunity in Employment 

□ Better Sign Language Interpreting quality and services 

□ Recognition of your country’s Sign Language by your country’s Government 

□ Improved quality and access to Government and Community Services 


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11.2 Does your Association have any other concerns about the standard of living of Deaf people in your 

country? Please list those: 

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Thank you for taking the time 

to complete this Survey

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