Disability Rights Argentina Project #39291

Help Deaf Children learn to read and write

by Canales Asociacion Civil

Project Report | May 22, 2023
Argentine Sign Language - LSA is now legally recognized in Argentina

By Silvana Veinberg | Founder and Institutional Developer

Canales celebrating the voted law at the Congress

On April 13, the Chamber of Senators unanimously approved the recognition of the Argentine Sign Language - LSA as a natural and native language, linguistic and cultural heritage of deaf people throughout the national territory.

This historical event will bring deaf children the opportunity to increase their access to bilingual educational material (in Spanish and in Argentine Sign language) such as those Canales has been producing and promoting. Today, more than ever, we need your help to give this excluded population the chance to participate and express themselves in their Natural Language (ASL) but also in their Second Language (Spanish).

The participation and full inclusion of deaf people and all those who choose to communicate in either language is now guaranteed by the national state. Another noteworthy point of the law is that those organizations made up entirely of deaf people that represent them throughout the territory of the Argentine Republic will be the only legitimate consultation bodies on the LSA topics.

This recognition of a fundamental human right to language and identity is a fundamental step to eliminate language, communication and attitudinal barriers, to equalize participation opportunities, to strengthen the autonomy and empower deaf people and to design and materialize policies that ensure accessibility.

This new law is the product of a historic struggle of the Argentine deaf community, and this last initiative was created by a consensus-building effort led by the Argentine Confederation of the Deaf, which began by organizing round tables throughout the country so that the approved text reflected the needs of each region. A great collaborative, community and exemplary participatory citizenship work.

Finally, so many years of struggle and oppression are over. Now begins a new chapter in which we will surely be a leading part: from early childhood, deaf children and adolescents should access a quality education in Argentine Sign Language, their natural and now official language all over the country.

* Photo caption: Silvana Veinberg (Founder and Institutional Developer) and Julia Valmarrosa ( Secretary of the Argentine Deaf Confederation and Executive Director at Canales Civil Association ) celebrating the recently voted law at the Congress

Links:

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Jan 18, 2023
It's Deaf children's time to use their "voice"!

By Silvana Veinberg | Institutional development

Award winning deaf children

We are proud to announce that thanks to YOUR help, deaf children from all over Argentina had recently have the opportunity to participate telling their own stories in Argentine Sign Language (LSA).

Deaf children all over the world have little or no opportunities to be “heard”. They are mostly being told, taught, and shown in a passive way.

In order to change this undesirable frequent situation, we organized the 5th Literary National Contest in LSA. The aim of this program is to promote reading, but mostly to encourage deaf children and teenagers to choose their stories, recreate them and present them in their own language, LSA.

This edition´s theme focused on stories that included some kind of reference to deaf characters and deaf culture to disseminate and empower deaf values and deaf community's world perspectives.

The award winning stories received a prize and were translated into Spanish so that deaf and hearing children can access stories narrated by deaf storytellers.

Due to the particular characteristics of this year's Award Ceremony, the event took place on the Zoom platform with live LSA interpreters and deaf hosts. Deaf schools from all over the country assisted and we invited also a deaf magician and the president of the Argentine Deaf Confederation to congratulate all the young participants.

You are invited to watch and listen to them in an inclusive format on the website www.cuentoslsa.org.ar .

Thank you for giving deaf children the possibility to express themselves!

First prize: "The Surprise of Deaf girlfriends"

Award winning: "One day in the field..."

Deaf hostesses

The president of the Argentine Deaf Confederation

Nito, the deaf magician

Celebration at school!

Links:

Website in which you can find the award winning stories

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Sep 30, 2022
We advocate for a change in public policies

By Silvana Veinberg | Executive Director

Historical moment for the Argentine Deaf Community

If we want to deeply influence society, we need to start changing our behaviors. When NGOs get taken into consideration by the State, the solutions they create find the best way to enhance their results and become public policies for all.

This is why in recent months, Canales has been present in several events: we want to improve public policies in Argentina and in other Spanish-speaking countries.

1. For a long time, Canales has been developing pedagogical literacy material about Spanish as a second language for deaf students. Our first textbook was published in 2017 but we had begun to investigate this matter in 2012.

During 2022, invited by UNICEF, we were able to share our experiences in the field of literacy for deaf children in an Internal Forum on Special Education organized by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education (MINED). Three hundred300 families, directors, pedagogical advisors, teachers, representatives of associations of people with disabilities representatives, schools and families from all over the country participated in this meeting.

2. Likewise, we have been called to train pedagogical content creation officials about bilingual intercultural education for deaf students and about the creation process to develop bilingual educational materials. This training workshop was organized by the General Directorate of Educational Planning of the Ministry of Education of the City of Buenos Aires.

3. September is a very special month for the deaf community in Argentina and throughout the world. Canales accompanied the Argentine Confederation of the Deaf (CAS) during the International Week of the Deaf and the Day of Sign Languages Day during a public festival that brought together more than 4,500 people. At the same time, CAS presented to the legislators a project for the legal recognition of Argentine Sign Language, at the National Congress .

CAS’ president, Enzo Rizzi, ended his speech with an inspiring request to legislators:

“This oppression cannot continue, GIVE US YOUR VOICE! APPROVE THE LAW!

We need this law to improve DEAF EDUCATION in Argentina.

With your donation YOU become part of this change.

JOIN US!

We share our expertise to benefit deaf children

Links:

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