Deaf awareness and the goals of the community

Once deaf awareness began to spread, it also influenced the operations of the Association for the Deaf. The national organisation wanted to prompt discussion on the topic, but its efforts were met with a lukewarm reception because not enough information was available. Because of this, only a few people were involved in the movement in the beginning.  Consequently, offering education to young people was seen as important as it would enable them to defend sign language and human rights.

In 1982, the Association for the Deaf began to arrange discussions for its employees on ways to spread deaf awareness. Materials on deaf awareness were also needed and the work to prepare them began. Training on the topic was also arranged. It was important to reach as many deaf people as possible in all age groups, as well as relatives of deaf people and people who interacted with deaf people because of their work.

The first deaf awareness course was held in 1983. The training was arranged in short courses spread over a two-year period. People who were active in associations and other suitable people were chosen to participate. They mainly represented the younger generations and went on to spread the word about deaf awareness. Later, the courses formed a complete training programme aimed at instilling a positive self-image among deaf people and giving them tools for influencing their own lives.

The courses provided information on deafness, deaf history and oralism, the development of a deaf child, language acquisition and family life. In addition, the participants learned about deaf culture, the legal position of deaf people, ethical questions and the status of sign language. Finally, the participants learned about means of promoting the goals of the Deaf Awareness movement. The Association for the Deaf adopted deaf awareness as part of its strategy and wanted to attract young people to participate in its operations and share the responsibility. Many of the people who attended the course ended up holding notable positions in the community.

At their best, the courses empowered individual deaf people and offered them an opportunity to learn about themselves. The courses also included philosophical discussions on topics that were not touched upon in schools for the deaf or at association events. The courses changed the values of many participants, making the language and community even more important to them.

In 1983, a document called Kuuron ihmiskuva (deaf self-image) was prepared and it formed the basis for the operations of the Association for the Deaf. In the document, the identity of a deaf person is described and the ways to achieve an equal status in society are discussed. The document stated that the views held by parties responsible for rehabilitation and education were not based on an understanding of deaf people or their situation, language and culture. Therefore, decisions on matters related to deaf people were made without giving them a say, and this patronising attitude prevented deaf people from becoming fully functioning members of society. For decision-makers, the document offered information on the views of deaf people concerning their situation and why they had to be involved in the development of services.

By 1984, the Deaf Awareness movement had left its mark on the discussion within the community, irrespective of whether the topic was the status of sign language, attitudes towards it or aids for deaf people. In sign language work, offering tuition in sign language, making its status official and starting research on it were set as the goals. Deaf awareness also affected the community’s cultural activities, and at the national cultural events it was clear for everyone to see how the performers’ self-confidence improved and the scripts now depicted the writers’ own experiences, in their own language.