Deaf News Highlights
Vatican Aide Affirms Depth of Sign Language
Vatican City, Nov. 22, 2009 (Zenit.org). The 90 deaf people who gathered last week in the Vatican have helped the Church to rediscover the profundity of sign language, said the Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombari, director of the Vatican press office, stated this today on the latest episode of “Octava Dies.” He spoke about an international conference on the theme of “Ephphata: the Deaf Person in the Life of the Church,” which brought together deaf people along with priests, religious and health care workers. The event, which ended Friday, was sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry. It aimed to consider ways in which the Church could better serve some 1.3 million Catholic deaf people. Father Lombardi stated, “I saw a married couple: They spoke to each other continually in sign language: He is deaf, she is his ear and his voice for communicating with others.” The priest observed, “More time and patience is necessary to communicate, but it is certainly not the hurried and superficial communication like that which we are normally used to.”
“It is a communication that comes from the depths and passes through an extraordinary commitment of love,” he explained, describing the conference’s environment. The spokesman acknowledged that the conference will probably receive little attention. He said: “The media’s curiosity is focused on other problems in the life of the Church. But we think that this is important.” He continued: “We will not forget the prayers and songs expressed with hand movements, the Pope’s address translated into sign language. “Believers know that at the last judgment of the Lord — who on this earth opened the ears of the deaf and loosened the tongue of the mute — he will ask them: ‘I was deaf, and did you help me to hear? I was mute, and did you help me to speak?’ ” Father Lombardi concluded, “These are questions on which it is worthwhile to reflect.”
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support. HLAA publishes the bimonthly Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions, Walk4Hearing, and more. Information can be found at http://www.hearingloss.org/. The national headquarters is located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20184. HLAA has chapters and state organizations across the country.
HLAA is delighted to announce that at the urging of HLAA, United Healthcare, an innovative leader in the health and well-being industry, has reviewed appropriate scientific evidence and changed their clinical policies to allow coverage of bilateral cochlear implants for children and adults. Check with United healthcare to see if this coverage applies to you.
The Creation Story in Word and Sign Language
In The Creation Story, Deacon John P. Audia provides children with a simple version of the classic story of Creation illustrated in word and sign. Through engaging full-color images and rhyming verses he captures the attention of children, both deaf and hearing, and reminds them that God is living in them and that they are a special part of God's creation. This story is a first step in helping children to understand that when God speaks we all can hear.
John P. Audia is a hearing Deacon from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York. He is in ministry with The Pastoral Ministry for the Deaf and serves as Chaplain for the Deaf community. He is a member of The Sign of the Cross Council, the only Deaf Knights of Columbus Council in the world.
