Which is worse, a fake interpreter, or no interpreter at all?
Each add up to the same thing – a lack of access for Deaf people, but here’s betting that the lack of an interpreter at Ariel Sharon’s funeral in Israel gets far less coverage than the fake interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s memorial did.
Extract from the Jerusalem Post:
The lack of a sign-language interpreter at former prime minister Ariel Sharon’s funeral was discriminatory against the deaf and hard of hearing, deaf groups complained Tuesday.
The issue of sign language at national ceremonies came to the forefront after late South African president Nelson Mandela’s funeral, where a hallucinatory impostor simply making odd hand gestures was on stage.
For Sharon’s funeral ceremony at the Knesset, translating devices were distributed for English and Hebrew. But no interpreters were provided for the deaf.
“When there is a national event open to the entire public, everyone must be able to take part,” said Yael Kakon, director of the Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Israel. “Deaf and hard-of-hearing people were excluded.”
To read the full article, go to: http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Deaf-complain-no-translator-at-Sharon-funeral-338175
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Pauline
January 15, 2014
This is awful and I am embarrassed as a Zionist of Jewish heritage. I have seen and experienced the excellent support for Deaf and Deafblind services in Israel; also attending the Jerusalem branch twice on Ben Yehuda St. Something has gone terribly wrong and the awful thing is the clock can never be turned back. Some may say, “Ah, but we can learn from this.” That maybe the case, but it doesn’t make it any better for those who have missed out on such an important event.
guyorlov13
January 16, 2014
@ Pauline, I used to live in Israel, as deaf person, all kind of services are like third world, not good, as well as interpreting agency by government fund, providing 45 hours to use, per year only. And interpreter is new professional for Israel, slower developing a good system like Western.