Stories
Sign language breaks the news in Kosovo
8 February 2005
News for the first time
Kosovo is home to some 15,000 to 20,000 deaf and hearing-impaired people. Most are young and live in small towns and rural areas where few specialized services are available. Ramadan Gashi belongs to the Association of Deaf and Hearing-impaired People in Kosovo. "We have visited as many people as possible to collect data but we still do not know the exact number of people who suffer from impaired hearing," he said.
"There is still a lot of work to be done," Gashi added. "We know that there are a number of deaf and hearing-impaired people who are illiterate. Many we met with were not able to read newspapers - that's why this programme means a lot to us."
"Some members of our community will have direct access to information for the first time."
Sign language is a mother tongue
Deaf people object to the use of the term "deaf-mute" by the media, Gashi says. "Yes, we are deaf, but we are not mute. We have a means of communication - sign language - and that's our mother tongue. We are all very proud to finally have a TV programme in our mother tongue."
Sign language is the same across countries of the former Yugoslavia and can be understood by the hearing-impaired throughout Kosovo's ethnic communities. However, a number of dialects have developed over the past few years. To help standardize sign language in Kosovo, the OSCE provided training for two sign language interpreters who will be based at RTK.
Building a more inclusive society
Pascal Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, launched the first sign-language broadcast from RTK Studio 2. "This is a major step in building a more inclusive society," he said. "It will empower the deaf and hearing-impaired to participate in Kosovo's public life. It will help them feel more integrated into society as a whole." He also noted that the programme will raise awareness of what life is like for people with impaired hearing.
Recognizing the need for all the people of Kosovo to have access to current news, and the obligation of the public broadcaster to serve everyone, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has worked with RTK since May 2004 to plan this initiative. However the idea came from the Association of Deaf and Hearing-impaired People, who first approached the OSCE in late 2003.
RTK to further develop the programme
The programme for deaf and hearing-impaired people will initially consist of two daily news clips. It will eventually include thematic TV features and 20 minute weekly news overviews. RTK Director Agim Zatriqi recognizes the responsibility the public broadcaster has towards the whole population of Kosovo. "We have the obligation and we are willing to further develop this service and enrich our programming with one more language."
Currently, RTK broadcasts programmes in five local languages, with sign language becoming the sixth. The OSCE Mission has secured funds for the programme until the end of 2005, at which point RTK should take on full responsibility and financing.
Kosovo is home to some 15,000 to 20,000 deaf and hearing-impaired people. Most are young and live in small towns and rural areas where few specialized services are available. Ramadan Gashi belongs to the Association of Deaf and Hearing-impaired People in Kosovo. "We have visited as many people as possible to collect data but we still do not know the exact number of people who suffer from impaired hearing," he said.
"There is still a lot of work to be done," Gashi added. "We know that there are a number of deaf and hearing-impaired people who are illiterate. Many we met with were not able to read newspapers - that's why this programme means a lot to us."
"Some members of our community will have direct access to information for the first time."
Sign language is a mother tongue
Deaf people object to the use of the term "deaf-mute" by the media, Gashi says. "Yes, we are deaf, but we are not mute. We have a means of communication - sign language - and that's our mother tongue. We are all very proud to finally have a TV programme in our mother tongue."
Sign language is the same across countries of the former Yugoslavia and can be understood by the hearing-impaired throughout Kosovo's ethnic communities. However, a number of dialects have developed over the past few years. To help standardize sign language in Kosovo, the OSCE provided training for two sign language interpreters who will be based at RTK.
Building a more inclusive society
Pascal Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, launched the first sign-language broadcast from RTK Studio 2. "This is a major step in building a more inclusive society," he said. "It will empower the deaf and hearing-impaired to participate in Kosovo's public life. It will help them feel more integrated into society as a whole." He also noted that the programme will raise awareness of what life is like for people with impaired hearing.
Recognizing the need for all the people of Kosovo to have access to current news, and the obligation of the public broadcaster to serve everyone, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has worked with RTK since May 2004 to plan this initiative. However the idea came from the Association of Deaf and Hearing-impaired People, who first approached the OSCE in late 2003.
RTK to further develop the programme
The programme for deaf and hearing-impaired people will initially consist of two daily news clips. It will eventually include thematic TV features and 20 minute weekly news overviews. RTK Director Agim Zatriqi recognizes the responsibility the public broadcaster has towards the whole population of Kosovo. "We have the obligation and we are willing to further develop this service and enrich our programming with one more language."
Currently, RTK broadcasts programmes in five local languages, with sign language becoming the sixth. The OSCE Mission has secured funds for the programme until the end of 2005, at which point RTK should take on full responsibility and financing.