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News : New Providence Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


New Providence Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
By LaSasha Williams-Harry
Dec 4, 2012 - 10:28:21 AM

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Photo: Sean G. Williams

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.

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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

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.

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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

Who We Are

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Photo: Sean G. Williams

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:

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Photo: Sean G. Williams

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.


 

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Photo: Sean G. Williams

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


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