A one-week sign language training program for media women and social workers organized by the Deaf Club of Jeddah with the cooperation of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) concluded here on Wednesday. The program, under the patronage and sponsorship of Princess Sitat Bint Abdullah the CEO of the Supreme Council of the Deaf Club for women in Jeddah and a member of the Arab Federation for the Deaf, aimed to increase the number of people in the media and social work organizations capable of communicating with deaf people. A similar one-week training program for men will be held starting from Mar. 27. The sign language training program was part of an agreement between the JCCI media and information department, the Jeddah council for social responsibility and Al-Madina newspaper to train and develop the abilities of those working in the national media. The program held at the JCCI trained 40 women from newspapers, magazines, universities and other organizations how to communicate with deaf people. The aim is to increase the number of people who know sign language so that when the deaf visit government departments, hospitals, banks and other public places someone can communicate with them in their own language and provide the services they require. The sign language training program was conducted by Fayiza Abbas Natto, the president of the Deaf Club of Jeddah, and professor Lujain Mahmood Sindi with the use of special sign language books and CDs. “We are very satisfied with the results of this training program. The trainees have learnt the basics of sign language, and we will continue with other programs to train other professionals. Through this language course we have taken a small step to help those who are deaf, because they are a part of our society. We can find them everywhere, and we must not avoid them. People must learn sign language,” said Natto. “Princess Sitat Bint Abdullah is keen that all members of the community learn sign language so that they can communicate with the deaf, and let them know that they are part of our community,” she added. Natto said that apart from the JCCI training program for men, sign language training programs would be held in other parts of the Kingdom in coordination with community health centers. Dr. Aisha Natto, a member of the JCCI board, said, “Deaf people are part of our community and we can't ignore them. So we want media people to learn sign language so they can communicate with them.” Sameera Farsi, from the center of family social affairs and a participant in the program, said that the program was excellent and that she learned a new language which will help her in communicating with deaf people. “This program will help me in my work, as sometimes deaf people come for help with the problems of their families and as we don't know their language, it is hard to communicate with them. But now after this training course, it will be easier for me and my colleagues,” she said . Another trainee, Dania Abulula, a lawyer and law firm associate who works as a volunteer in the deaf club, said that she took part in the program so that she can help deaf people who cannot express themselves to others. “I wanted to do this training program so that I can deal with the problems of deaf people in issues, such as divorce cases or in many other areas in which they need the assistance of a lawyer. I now feel that I can communicate with them without any hesitation or problem. If someone else attempts to explain to a lawyer what a deaf person wants to say, I do not think that it gives a true picture of what they really mean. That is why I took part in this program and I will continue with this training,” she explained.
