Include Us - Zimbabwe Deaf people and Families.

For parents without sign language, it’s not easy raising a child with whom you cannot effectively communicate. Many families in the communities we work with, rely on home-signs and gestures in daily interactions with their deaf child, but this is not enough when it comes to important topics such as health and puberty. Deaf youth have shared how they have often had to navigate life situations without the guidance of the parents who do not have adequate sign language and avoid topics that are culturally considered taboo.

Our health project, “Tauriranai-Let’s Communicate” is aimed at helping families involve their deaf child in critical conversations about life using games, illustrations, comics, and drama. Trained Deaf and parent mentors visit families in their homes and help parents become more comfortable discussing sensitive issues that affect their deaf child. In a series of recent workshop 32 parents were brought together to share and reflect on their experiences using the interactive resources that the Mentors had worked with them during home visits.

The mother of a deaf adolescent girl shared, “I had never thought about talking to my child about dating but have realized it is important for my child to know.” Another parent remarked, “The relationship between me and my child should grow stronger, and I need to create a safe space for my child in a good environment.”

Finding out your child has a disability can be a difficult time for many parents. Feelings of confusion, depression, and worry plague them as they try to work out what support their child needs and what their role is. It is even harder in communities where disability is regarded as a curse, and mothers risk rejection by their families because their child has a disability. A home visit from another parent who has walked the journey can help build acceptance among families still caught in this confusion and encourage support for the child.

40 families of children with disabilities received home visit from parent and deaf mentors (21 were deaf children and 19 children with developmental delays). The mentors shared their own stories to encourage parents new to the early intervention programme. During visits, the mentors played with the children, and worked with parents to set simple goals and activities they can do through play to help their child reach developmental milestones or improve their communication skills. Fathers and other family members were also reached during home visits.

The experience of hearing another parent celebrate overcoming barriers and watching them play with their children helped the parents feel accepted and in turn develop feelings of acceptance towards their own child. One of the parents who benefitted from home visits shared her story: 

“I am a parent of a child with delayed milestones. My son is 5 years now. I joined Communication group at Nzeve and l was taught how to engage with my child for speech development and other delayed milestones. At first it was difficult for me to believe that my child would one day talk through the activities we were doing. I was taught how to engage with my child through playing. I was also encouraged to go to physiotherapy with my child for his legs which were weak when standing. With all the encouragement. At first, I thought it was wasting my time. I found myself not obeying, I started missing the sessions felt tired of doing those tasks. I stayed at home for about 7 months without attending even a lesson. They [parent mentors] conducted home visits and follow ups to check why I was not attending the sessions with my child. Then one day I thought of visiting Nzeve on a meeting day. l was very surprised to see other children who joined the group the same time with my child progressing their goals then l realised that what I am doing is wrong. Then l started to be serious. Meeting with other parents at Nzeve is so helpful because parents shared experiences with those who have less confidence. I am happy with the progress I have seen in my child. My child is now enrolled at a nearby pre-school. l am happy because I wasn’t sure if this could happen due to his condition”