DSWD-7 pushes use of FSL

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 is pushing for Filipino Sign Language (FSL) in order to gain more advocates, learners, and practitioners to ensure that no deaf persons are left behind.

Republic Act 11106 declares FSL as the national sign language of the Filipino deaf and the official sign for all government transactions involving hearing impaired individuals.

The law likewise requires schools, broadcast media, and workplaces to use the FSL.

As one of the agencies serving the persons with disability (PWD) sector, DSWD-7 recently conducted the Basic Sign Language of the Deaf in Cebu with participants from different regions, mostly staff of the centers and residential care facilities.

The staff assigned to the CRCFs deemed the use of FSL necessary to enhance communication with vulnerable children and women who are deaf and victims of different types of abuse, as well as for PWDs who do not have or lack formal education and training in sign language.

DSWD-7 said that it is also helpful in various stages of rehabilitation, such as assessment, counseling, and day-to-day interactions.

DSWD-7 regional director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero encouraged not only center-based staff but also the public to advocate, learn, and practice the use of FSL while highlighting the relevance of training in addressing gaps and communication barriers within the deaf community.

“We want the Filipino Sign Language to become our way of life. Not only do we communicate because there is a deaf person, but because we have a genuine concern for the deaf community. It starts by communicating with them with basic greetings and involving them in little conversations using fun and creative signs,” Lucero added.

During the training, participants learned FSL vocabulary and sign parameters suited to the needs of the Filipino deaf.

Basic greetings, survival signs when conversing with the deaf, the sign alphabet, and commonly used words in social service settings using Visual-Gestural Communication (VGC) were among the topics taught.

VGC, is a form of non-language communication, involves and uses gestures, facial expressions, body language, and pantomime. Through VGC, non-deaf people will develop skills to interact with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

This non-language communication, according to DSWD-7, is used for asking, giving instructions, and conversing with a deaf person and in writing or drawing on paper or using gadgets or objects to communicate better and explain a point.

Jessica Mae Laygo, one of the trainers, said FSL is crucial in developing the Filipino deaf community.

“We will be glad to see DSWD social workers able to communicate with the deaf easily using FSL and VGC. By then, the deaf would be listened to and understood,” she said, using sign language.

Participants also applied their training to the deaf clients of Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) II by presenting children’s stories and role-playing scenarios of different settings, like emergencies and disasters, using FSL to develop new skills and reinforce their learnings by practicing in various settings. — (FREEMAN)