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SP Market is now accessible for the people with hearing disabilities
The language of the deaf people surmounts the barriers
The everyday communication between the people, which is necessary for performing the supposedly banal obligations, such as shopping in the markets, is not a problem for the deaf people any more. This group of people, too, thanks to the trained managers and their deputies who work every day in the four SP Markets, eleven Maxi D discounts, including the beauty center Unique in the center of the town, have had the chance to be served in their sign language since the second half of 2006. Thus, another one of the many communication barriers which makes the everyday life of the deaf people harder, has been surmounted. The very example of a business-sector representative supporting them, is an important civilization step, which nowadays is common in number of developed countries in the world.
The initiative for training the employees in the markets was born in “Skopski Pazar”, although as the companies PR Marija Gjorgjieva said, there were no previous problems with the deaf or the hearing impaired people.
“We wanted to adjust completely to the needs of our consumers, to make a step forward towards better social integration of the people with hearing disabilities. With 24 trained employees, we are the only company in the country adjusted to the needs of the people with hearing disabilities. All our markets have signs at the entrance which say that deaf customers can be served in the sign language”, says Georgievska.
Two of the trained managers, Zorce Sirgovska and Adem Smajovikj who work at the Maxi D discount, that is the SP Market in Kisela Voda and Dracevo speak about the training (realized by the Macedonian Federation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the only organization in the country which is licensed for the sign language) as a very pleasant and useful experience.
“As shop assistants, we were not trained at all for certain ways of communication and thus, we were unable to assist the customers when they come across a certain problem. But now, after we attended the training course, we can explain to our hearing disabled customers everything they need to know about the retail. We also have a manual for sign language and the Federation gave us a dictionary as a present so that we can extend our communication. The trained managers and their deputies transfer their knowledge to the shop assistants regarding the basic terms used in the shops: the prices, the ways of payment, the colors, the days and other words that refer to the retail” – says Zorce Sirgovska.
Adem Smajovikj says: “The essence of this communication is to show from the start that you understand the people with hearing disabilities so that you could approach them. It is easier then; they follow the moves of your hands and read your lips. Previously, these customers had problems when they wanted to take something from the refrigerators, but now, they tell you what they want in details”.
Viktorija Volak, a defectologist at the Center for Education and Rehabilitation “Partenie Zografski” trained the assistants. She is a member of the Federation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and for her, the sign language training is very important. She says she was pleasantly surprised by the “Skopski Pazar” initiative which reached the Federation through Creativa Nova agency.
“We at the Federation, have much bigger problems regarding the communication of the deaf people at the counters, when trying to communicate with the medical personnel at the hospitals. Nevertheless, we give up no initiatives. “Skopski Pazar” financed the training which took place in their premises, and I am very happy with the way it was going on, with the interests the trainees showed. Even at the very beginning I said to them that they would not be able to communicate with the deaf people without any obstacles, but that their primary goal should be to learn words related to their everyday work. However, they themselves expressed interest to learn even more.
I introduced them to the world of the deaf, transferring them my experiences as a child of deaf parents. I told them what they should pay attention to when communicating, I worked on raising their awareness”, says Viktorija Volak, who, after completing her studies started translating. “As children of deaf parents, we, interpreters, have good sense of understanding the sign language. We translate in any kind of situation, at medical examinations, on TV, etc. Last year, parallely to this training, there was a training of tellers organized by the Federation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Polio Plus. We trained some of the tellers at MIA, the bureau for social and pension insurance, and we had a positive feedback. I am very happy with the results of our so-far training courses, since what is being learnt learned here is further transferred among the other employees and in the families. I want to reach the necessary level of awareness that the deaf people, too, are equal they only speak a different language. However, much more work needs to be done in that field in our country. I do not believe that the country would mind if all tellers learned the signed language, but the money is always an issue. I hope that this training will continue this year as well” – says Volak.
The president of the Macedonian Federation of People with Hearing Disabilities, Nikola Ognenovski, who was present at the last class of the SP markets and Maxi D assistants training, says that the training is very useful for the deaf people.
“Now we communicate more easily in the markets. However, we need to have more trained people in different places in the country, especially at the hospitals. A few years ago, we delivered training for several dentists in Gostivar, Tetovo, Veles and Skopje. At the request of Pro Credit bank we also trained some of their employees. As a Federation, we do not have the necessary finances to carry out all the necessary training courses. Therefore, we thank everyone initiating training courses that we deliver for them. The Federation has 19 municipal associations in Macedonia, we also have interpreters, but, unfortunately, our assets are limited. Every day on the MTV news, we have three presenters whose presentation expenses we cover ourselves” – says Nikola Ognenovski, emphasizing that of all handicapped people, those with hearing disabilities have biggest problems in the communication, which is obvious at first glance. “Without the interpreters, we cannot communicate with the other people in the right way. The interpreters are our ears”, says Ognenovski.
For the Federation members, it is very important that last year for the first time, the deaf people were abolished the radio and TV monthly fee, but also that on 26 January this year, at the promotion of the United Nations Convention for the rights of the people with disabilities that took place in Skopje, our Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, who attended the Convention, said among other things that the Government supports the passing of the Law for protecting the rights of the people with disabilities, and that this group of people will be placed in the focus of its activities.
“Pro Credit Bank” and “Skopski Pazar” are two examples of business-sector representatives who have shown interest for successful cooperation in overcoming the communication problems. We hope that other private companies from different sectors will initiate training courses for their employees. I receive information from our members that they are satisfied with the communication they have with the assistants at SP. The training courses need to continue in future, especially at the health centers, at gynecology, cardiology. We have ideas for various projects, but we sources of financing. In the past, we wanted to deliver training to the parents of deaf children so that they improve their mutual communication, but we still have not found money to realize it. We have realized a computer training course, we set up a computer centre with help from the ISC. The World Bank provided the computers, we printed the dictionary of the sign language which should be now revised and enriched, and perhaps, reprinted. We asked for the sign language to be incorporated in the new Law for social protection. We ask for more interpreters and more teachers since there is a growing interest for learning our language”, says the president of the Federation of People with Hearing Disabilities, Nikola Ognenovski.
Katerina Bogoeva |
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