Photo: Sean G. Williams
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New Providence Association of the Deaf (and
Hard of Hearing) hosted its first fundraising event, a Souse-Out and Membership
Drive on Saturday, November 24th, at the Western Esplanade on West
Bay Street. Delicious stewed fish, stewed conch, sheep tongue souse, turkey
souse and chicken souse were sold for a donation of $10 for souses and $12 for
stew. The event was quite successful.
Many came out to show their support for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
All profits from this event go towards the funding of NPAD’s Sign Language
Training Initiative and funding of programs that will assist the Deaf in their
educational, economical and social development.
Left to right: Vice President- Davinci Leu Brunson, President- LaSasha Williams-Harry and Public Relations Officer- Danielle Cambridge take a break for a photo. Photo: Sean G. Williams
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The officers and members of NPAD would like
to extend heartfelt thanks to all donors and supporters who made this event
possible especially Bahamia Rentals, AML Foods Ltd, Custom Computers, Music
Needs, Club One Fitness Centre, Deborah Williams, Danielle Evans, Edna Carroll
and Ivy Maycock.
Members of NPAD interacts with prospective supporters. Photo: Sean G. Williams
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Photo: Sean G. Williams
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Photo: Sean G. Williams
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Who We Are
Photo: Sean G. Williams
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Purpose
To ensure a better future for Deaf and Hard
of Hearing Bahamians
Vision
One of a Bahamian society where Deaf and
Hard of Hearing people are fully integrated with equal opportunities, increased
independence and accessible education. It is our duty to make this vision a
reality by promoting equal rights of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to improve
their life opportunities
Mission
Our mission is to serve, protect and
promote the welfare and interests of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by
facilitating them to achieve a better quality of life, increased independence
and productivity that will enable them to integrate and become productive
Bahamian citizens.
Our Values
The New Providence Association of the Deaf embraces all fundamental rights in
addition to our values and beliefs.
• We believe in equality and justice for all Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bahamians
• We value the usage, promotion and preservation of Bahamian Sign Language
• We value and accept Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals with varying
perspectives, abilities and hearing loss. We are committed to the elimination
of all forms of discrimination in the Deaf Community.
• We believe in integrity, respecting others and ourselves
Who are we and how you can help us
The New
Providence Association of the Deaf (and Hard-of-Hearing) is a non- profit
organization, the brainchild of Mr. Marvin N. Finlayson, a former technical
educator with the Ministry of Education. Mr. Finlayson acknowledged the need
for reform in Deaf service and education in the Bahamas. In effort to tackle
these issues, he attempted to establish New Providence Association of the Deaf
(NPAD). Confronted with challenges; however for years Mr. Finlayson continued
to be an unwavering advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community until
his demise in November 2011 after a lengthy battle with Sickle Cell Anemia and
Liver Cancer. The Deaf community praise and recognized his efforts and the need
of an organization of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (HOH) individuals that will
officially represent the Deaf and HOH community.
Taking the
initiative, La’Sasha Williams Harry began to organize the groundwork and was eventually
elected President in March 2012 along with a team of the first official Board
of Directors. Consisting of all Deaf and HOH individuals, this team of six:
La’Sasha
Williams-Harry- President, Davinci Leu-Brunson- Vice President, Shonell Sands-
Secretary, Lydia Anderson- Treasurer, Danielle Cambridge- Public Relations
Officer and Ricardo Farqhuason- Sergeant at Arms are determined to implement
our purpose which is to work together to ensure a better future for Deaf
Bahamians.
For years the
Deaf have been ignored and oppressed in this society, the NPAD intends to
address this dilemma because we recognized that there are detrimental societal
barriers that must be eliminated in order to effectuate change in the Bahamian
society so that Deaf and HOH Bahamians may live full productive and dignified
lives in this country. The lack of educational reform, employment opportunities
and basic human rights are among the key elements that contributed to the
formation of NPAD. We are committed to discouraging forms of discrimination and
eradicating ignorance by promoting programs in Deaf Education and
Communication. We also intend to promote programs that will assist the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing in their economical, educational and social development.
Major
Objectives & Goals
·
Promote Deaf Awareness
·
Promote and launch a Sign
Language program with the objective of training the Bahamian public in sign
language that will allow us to confront major obstacles which are the lack of
communication and awareness
·
Assist in placing a number of
Deaf and HOH individuals with gainful employment so that they may be able to
support themselves and their families
·
Promote and launch Self
Improvement programs and seminars for the Deaf and HOH
·
To introduce a comprehensive
Literacy program for Deaf and HOH who would like to study English as a second
language
·
Petition for advanced
technology aids, such Teletypewriter, Telephone and Video Relay services and
Closed Captioning on the Bahamian television channels
·
Hold a national conference with the government
officials to address the dire issues inflicting the Deaf and HOH in the Bahamas
How
can you help?
You can help by:
·
Supporting NPAD by making
financial contributions
·
Supporting our fundraising
activities and programs
·
Becoming a member of NPAD and
joining our mailing list
·
Volunteering your professional
services to the Deaf and HOH members of NPAD
·
Contributing or assisting in
any way to help with the educational, social or economical development of the
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community
To make contributions or for more
information, please contact us at: NPDeafAssociation@gmail.com
Commentaries
from members of NPAD
Twenty one years old and Hard of Hearing, like
many other persons affected by deafness, Lauren is faced with additional
challenges. Lauren suffers from an abnormality of the hip and knees. With the
love for writing, she has dreams of working in the field of Journalism. One day she hopes to be freed from the pain
of her condition to have a better quality of life. This is her story:
Photo: Sean G. Williams
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I was born premature at 6 months with a
health issue called Jaundice and was hospitalized for months and months.
At toddler stage, life got extremely tough;
I couldn't hear, talk nor walk. I was little in size and misunderstood, got
into lots of mischief - like breaking my siblings stuff. This led me to be very
quiet with everyone.
As I grew and was able to go to school, I
realized I liked to read and write, and paid very close attention to my speech
teacher and another teacher who taught me very well. I began to develop good
speaking with my family and friends.
Later, in my teenage years about 13 or 14,
I felt such intense and strange pain in my right leg. This 'pain' got worse as
I walked long, short or even as I stand. It became very unbearable and made me
miserable, depressed and left out.
At the age of 17, my sister and I went to
Princess Margaret Hospital; there we sat waiting long hours waiting for the
doctors to call my name. I had so much hope and feelings that my leg will get
fix -something that has been bothering me to get it. We went to the X-Ray room,
took x-rays of all my skeletal parts from the hip to the toe. In the Doctor's
room, three doctors explained about my hip socket and how a hip replacement
would be great, only thing was stopping them was my age-I was too young. I was
shocked to see the x-rays and to hear that they [doctors] cannot fix my legs,
hips or the pain I felt for years. Depressed again because it was the 'special'
doctors who had all the answers but did not have one for me. They couldn't fix
it, that's all what was running through my mind as we walked out of the doors.
I cried and I felt so distraught. We left the hospital and I didn't say
anything, not one word.
It made me wonder, how long do I have to
suffer with such painful stares from the public and live with such painful
hips, legs and knees. My hip socket and knee is painful even walking short or
long distances, my legs slowed me down. I always have to take a break and lean
against the walls. Sometimes I used crutches and strollers but I prefer to walk
independently and never gave up.
Just recently I found out that I may have a
chance to see 'special' bone doctors again.
This time I am older and stronger for surgery. I really wish that this
talk of surgery could be my reality, without this surgery, I am unable to work
and live a free and independent life of my own.
God gives me all the strength I need and
heals my joint pains. I'm fighting a painful battle against my pains giving
from my joints every day, fighting keeps my spirit high and strong. I am a
fighter.
Regards,
Lauren G Ferguson
Albert Major is a father of three who is
currently employed as a Chemical Line worker with Bapak Limited. He is
dedicated to providing for his family and offering encouragement to the Deaf
community. He hopes that one day deaf people will be given equal opportunities
so that they may become an independent community.
Photo: Sean G. Williams
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You are going to be very convinced that you
may have a family member or a personal friend who is deaf with the fortitude,
strength, and calmness of himself/herself. It is time for Bahamian folks to
stand up amid the ordeals and tensions surrounding the silent movement.
The only thing we cannot hear is our ear. Of course, we still can strive to
focus with our mind. We use our head rather than our feet to overcome and to
conquer obstacles and dilemmas we are facing. This is how our Deaf Culture grew
and still grows over the years. I just did overcome difficulties when I used to
be the great Dairy/Frozen Associate for the City Market for five years. So for
one year and a half, I am still conquering new difficulties at my current job
as the Chemical Line worker.
I want all Bahamians to know that the deaf
person with a dream and a goal can do anything and be anything with or without
a hearing aid. Deaf people are not only just the good alert drivers, but they
are also very good at reading your lips and at writing a smart sentence too.
I firmly support New Providence Association of the Deaf because they have
always proved to be the type of community with qualities to make a big
difference in the Bahamas. When we could be easily overlooked, ignored and
discriminated, but we stand strong to prove anyone wrong.
In the darkest moments, the deaf people of the Bahamas always brought the light
of hope and courage to stand with our blind, cripple, and mentally challenged
friends because we desire to have equal rights like everyone else do.
In
the past, we used to be alone in the world of silence, not anymore. That's why
we have great families and hearing friends pull us up to be successful. We are
all out in your world of noise and we feel your vibration because you respect
our Deaf Culture. We want to say thank you folks, because of your noise and vibration;
we are not alone in our world of silence. Again, thank you Bahamas, your noise
have vibrated us step by step. We feel your loud "boom box".
Albert J. Major