Video: “Breaking the Sound Barrier”

[UPDATE 31 Dec 06: I've since learned that "Hearing Impaired" is not a preferred term. I should use "Deaf" or "Hard of Hearing". Thanks.]

Thanks to Alvan for alerting the group to this video titled “Breaking the Sound Barrier“:

This is a short documentary on the hearing impaired Hard-of-Hearing and the Deaf. It explores the various ways available to them for overcoming the challenges to integration and communications. Due to the limited length, many issues, including Cochlear Implants, are not covered. This was produced primarily for the “Project Deaf-Initely Boleh!” and will be screened at the event to be held at the National Library in December 2006.

The video features interviews with people with hearing-impairment people who are deaf/ hard of hearing. Quotes and highlights from the video:

• “Integration with society requires Total Communication (TC)”
• “For many who are deaf, the Sign Language is the most viable and important means of communication.”
• Short segment on the process of getting a Hearing Aid (the service is available from SADEAF).
• Mobile-phones and SMS (Short Messenging Service) has been an enabler for the Deaf. Alvan was interviewed there as well. He comments on the language skills and issues faced by students at the Singapore School for the Deaf.
• “I worry about the future because it is difficult to find a job. I can’t communicate with Hearing-people at work”
• “Don’t think of your child as a Handicapped Child. Think of them as a Child first. The handicap is secondary.”
• “I can do anything… but hear”.

Nice video that gives an insight to what it means to be deaf or have a hearing-impairment hard of hearing. It may take a while to load but worth the wait (anyway, it wasn’t that long). Here’s the link to the video again.

Alvan adds that:

“The site is done by a pastor who does video work on social issues. It features interesting (and short, extremely watchable) videos, like the autistic chap who is supposed to have recovered, foreign workers who actually live in the rubbish collection depots in Singapore, the teen skaters a the Youth Park, the old malted candy woman in Holland V.”

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