Macau Deaf Association President Wong Kam Sun told reporters yesterday in sign language that the support and related information, such as the need for sign language interpreters in Macau, for the deaf or hearing-impaired, are “still insufficient”, hoping the government will establish guidelines on the necessity of sign language translation and subtitling in government information, and setting up specifications for sign language translation on TV, in order to re-evaluate and optimise its measures.

Wong made the remarks on the sidelines of community promotion activities organised by the association, for this year’s “International Sign Language Day and International Deaf Week” under the themes “Sign Languages Unite Us” and “Building Inclusive Communities for All” respectively, at the Macau Science Centre in Nape.

Wong said that the shortage of sign language translators lies in training mechanisms, adding that different areas of translation need sign language interpreters in various categories, which increases the difficulty of deploying sign language interpreters and providing translation services.

Referring to the occupational employment referral of the deaf and the hearing-impaired, he said, the government had opened up the recruitment of differently disabled persons. Still, it all depended on the disabled persons’ individual abilities, so there were relatively few job options for the deaf so far, Wong added.

Meanwhile, the association held community promotion activities, such as setting up game booths, a deaf sign language theatre and an inclusive bus tour, aiming to promote the rights of deaf people to use sign language, while enhancing community awareness of deaf people and sign language. 

Macau Deaf Association President Wong Kam Sun talks to reporters in sign language yesterday about the community promotion activities at the Macau Science Centre in Nape.
– Photo: Yuki Lei