56 Justice Ministry Service Providers Graduate from Six-Week Sign Language Training Course

Fifty-six Attorneys-at-law, legal aid and justice service providers from the Ministry of Justice, on Thursday (September 12) graduated from a six-week training course in Jamaican Sign Language and Deaf Culture.

The ceremony, which was held at Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, Manchester, was for the first level in a customised sign language course developed by the Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD).

In his message, read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Grace Ann Stewart McFarlane, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, noted that often when citizens’ rights are referenced, these are framed within the context of people who are able to hear, speak and communicate using spoken language.

“This programme was designed to challenge that norm, to remind us that communication is the lifeblood of justice and that our duty as legal professionals, is to bridge gaps, not widen them,” Mr. Chuck said.

He added: “Our attorneys-at-law and justice service providers who have taken part in this training have gained not only the technical skills of sign language but, more importantly, the insight that legal aid is not just a service… it’s a lifeline.”

The Minister further noted that as the world evolves, so do the needs of individuals who depend on professionals, adding that by enhancing the participants’ communication skills, they are making the justice system more accessible.

Mr. Chuck maintained that in so doing, legal services providers would ensure that every citizen, regardless of ability or disability, gets the opportunity to be understood and served.

Meanwhile, Programmes Specialist and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jamaica, Stacy-Ann Tomlinson-Knox, who spoke during the ceremony, said the course will help the participants better communicate and connect with members of the deaf community.

“These service providers play a vital role in shaping the experience of clients within the justice system. Being able to communicate in sign language and understand the communication needs of the deaf and hard of hearing are essential skills. This monumental achievement has secured a solid foundation in the right direction,” Mrs. Tomlinson-Knox said.

She said consequent on the outcome of the just-concluded engagement, another barrier to justice will now be removed, where people from the deaf community will be understood, respected and supported by the course’s participants.

Mrs. Tomlinson-Knox said the message being conveyed to persons with disabilities is that they matter, their concerns are recognised and the Government is committed to ensuring that resources will be provided for them to have equal access to justice.

Meanwhile, Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Mark Berman, said the initiative is a reminder that justice is not administered in isolation but, rather, that social justice epitomises human rights in upholding dignity for all.

“It envisions a broad spectrum of goals, through communities coming together to strengthen the fabric of society. That is why we are… celebrating this sign language training for legal aid lawyers, which is a step towards equal access to legal services – a fundamental right for all,” the High Commissioner said.

He pointed out that the facilitated would provide individuals, who often face significant barriers in legal settings and communication challenges, the opportunity to interface with lawyers who can now competently interact with them.

“Those individuals can now fully participate in legal proceedings, understanding and using sign language and helps lawyers learning about and understanding the deaf culture,” Mr. Berman said.

Additionally, the High Commissioner said the engagement would help the legal experts become more culturally sensitive and aware of the unique challenges experienced by their clients.

The Level 1 Course, which was customised for the staff of the Ministry of Justice, was designed to empower them with enhanced abilities to effectively engage with hearing-impaired clients.

The participants are now equipped with knowledge and competencies to support basic communication with the deaf in Jamaican Sign Language.

This also serves as a catalyst for promoting the sensitisation of the deaf culture, community and history.