APPENDIX

Transcript of Interview with Ms. L from NGO

(The interview was conducted on 14th April, 2018)

Legend:

K: Katrina, S: Sampras, L: Ms. L (NGO representative)

On what the organisation does for hearing impaired students…

K: What does the organisation do for [hearing impaired] members/students that go to schools with inclusive education?

L: Our organisation provides them with a network that allows them identify and socialise with one another. Hearing impaired students from various schools can connect through our organization/groups and take part in really exciting activities (i.e. war-game) that we organise regularly. Hearing impaired students don’t usually get a chance to get to know one another from different schools, or even the same schools. We started with very little but over time, we’ve casted a pretty wide net through networking and referrals from our existing members. Now a lot of hearing impaired people are aware of the services we provide.

On hearing impaired students in mainstream schools…

L: Some students [that are hearing-impaired to a lesser extent] do really well in mainstream schools. Their parents might push them harder or give them extra support which allows them to more easily adapt to their surroundings. However, students that have worse hearing capabilities really struggle. With the [previous] nine years of free education, I’ve heard of cases where students virtually sit through nine years of education and not learn much (knocks on table repeatedly). The same thing happens now with the twelve-year education. I might be half-joking but those cases [or similar ones] really do exist. These students give us feedback and let us know what we can do to help with their needs in terms of tertiary education and future development. Our organisation also provides members with scholarship opportunities to pursue higher education in Hong Kong or even in Mainland China.

On opportunities provided by the organization…

K: Other than scholarships, what are some other ways that the organisation has helped with hearing-impaired students’ struggles at schools?

L: Well, we can’t just jump in and station ourselves at schools and study alongside these students. Not possible. We have however, heard of plenty of requests for after-school tuition particularly from secondary school students, but we still do have our own reservations about how effective tuition actually is - it really depends on the individual. Some wealthier families are able to afford these services but the poorer families can’t really do much in that regard. As much as I’d like to help, I can’t act as a full-time tutor for these members either, on top of the many duties I have at the organization - I can only do so much. We can only do so much [when it comes to tutoring]. Interestingly enough, there are more opportunities/resources available for hearing-impaired students in higher education, like the scholarships I mentioned, and note-taker programs, and I’ve even heard of a case where a student has a designated real-time sign language translator. But even then, there are many difficulties! Let me show you an example - what’s your name?

K: Tam Hor Lei.

L: There’s no like-for like translation for that in sign language! Just an example that sign language translation doesn’t always convey the full, intended message.

On classroom learning…

L: Even if there is a hearing impaired student sat right next to you, he/she would just carry on with learning all the same. If by some chance the teacher is made aware, the teacher might be able to provide some support, for instance moving the student closer to the front or giving them a separate set of notes, which might help a little. Now I don’t know how often that happens, but I assume most of the time the lesson just goes on without much regard for the hearing impaired.

On inclusive education…

L: Quite frankly, I am personally against inclusive education. But our voices aren’t always heard or accounted for. Before carrying out inclusive education, the government asked for public opinion on the matter, which drew a lot of affirmative responses - "combining both communities [hearing & deaf] is a great idea!” But perhaps it only works with certain, select social elements, and not something like learning environment. I have my reservations [on inclusive education].

On public perception of the deaf community…

S: What is your view on the society’s perception of the deaf community?

L: People are a lot more open-minded now, compared to when I first started here. And I’ve been here since I graduated high school - this was my first job! Back then, people really held certain misconceptions about the deaf - “why do they use their hands [to communicate]?”, “They’re mute!” But we had to change their minds, even those within the deaf community! We have to constantly reaffirm them that they’re not mute! In fact, many of them can speak really well! Particularly with modern technology like cochlear implants, many hearing impaired people can speak fluently. With the advancement of society, the level of inclusiveness/acceptance has risen considerably whether you’re blind, in a wheel chair or otherwise impaired. We have gradually cultivated a culture of inclusiveness in which the hearing impaired are no longer seen as mute. The deaf community has received much more support from NGO’s and the government as the years have gone by. Would you be afraid of a blind person or a deaf person if you saw one?

S: (shakes head)

L: Exactly! But people used to avoid people who are disabled because there was such stigma surrounding them. At least that’s how it was when I first started at this job.

On job prospects…

L: Admittedly many hearing impaired/deaf people are working clerical jobs or jobs of similar nature. Not many of them reach top positions for example, managerial/executive level - that remains difficult. But honestly that isn’t exclusive to the deaf, it’s difficult for hearing people as well! In terms of education and social mobility, the situation has improved a lot for the deaf community from years past. We know of older members from past generations that don’t even know how to write. A lot of them worked in factories and did manual labor. But this was the case for the hearing-abled too back in those days. Comparatively speaking though, it is still undeniable that the hearing impaired have access to fewer opportunities than the hearing-able.

On interacting with the hearing world…

L: A lot of the hearing impaired really do appreciate and respect their jobs no matter the nature of their job. So what if you end up in a higher position [if you don’t have a good attitude]? I personally feel that we shouldn’t compare ourselves with others so often. This is what I tell our members as well… the world is not against you! You’ve got to take initiative to socialise, to talk, to communicate with the hearing world as well! Communication is a two-way street. I tell them not to be limited by this notion that the world discriminates against you. More often than not you’ve got to open yourselves up to the world.