Olaoluwa Bayonle Emmanuel is fondly known as Mr. Observer; a Sign Language Interpreter, special educator and an advocate for the Deaf. In this short interview tagged ‘Hearing Professionals in Nigerian Deaf Community’ with Douglas Izuu, Olaoluwa Bayonle Emmanuel explained how fate brought him into the world of Deaf. Excerpts:
PLS TELL US WHAT BROUGHT YOU INTO THAT PROFESSION.
Bayo: Schooling brought me into that profession. I just wanted to go to school to study geography and then I came across special education at the Federal College of Education (Sp) Oyo. That was where it all started.
WHAT’S YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF DEAF PEOPLE AS YOUR PRIMARY CONSUMERS?
Bayo: Deaf people remain the owner of Sign Language yesterday, today and forever. However, it is important that Deaf people as the major users of the language encourage more hearing people to be users as well (not by force anyways) in order to ensure flow of communication since the community is dominated by hearing people; and for us all to have a better place.
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH DEAF PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR PROFESSION?
Bayo: My relationship with Deaf people outside my profession is flexible. I interact based on the person I meet and it’s just almost the same as my relationship with hearing people. I relate equally with good hearing and deaf persons, likewise bad hearing and deaf persons.
CAN WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THE PROFESSION?
Bayo: Well, personally, my challenge is the feeling that I haven’t started learning Sign Language when I project what I need to know in order to be where I want to be.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE UPCOMING COLLEAGUES/DEAF PEOPLE AND SOCIETY?
Bayo: My advice for upcoming colleagues is to make self development their priority. You just have to learn more. Follow the trend of the profession. The world is dynamic, catch up with it.
To Deaf people, they should keep pushing for inclusion and support every move for inclusion for the sake of the community. It is also important to unite and reunite for common goals to be achieved.
To parents of Deaf children, in this time, please ensure you give your child your best. It is really difficult to get along with learning for the deaf children online. Just do it all the same; ensure they read as little as they can while they are home.
We are the society and the society is us. Living in harmony cost almost nothing. Let us all have a better society. Help someone in need, live in peace, be inclusive. Not just to the Deaf but to all less privileged persons around you.
Remember, tomorrow is not promised!
1 comment
Nice one.