Dubai: The UAE’s deaf community has called for a wider recognition of sign language and better opportunities for higher education to facilitate their integration into mainstream society.

Speaking to XPRESS on the sidelines of a conference on empowering the deaf in Dubai last week, Abdullah Al Kamali, general secretary of the Al Ain-based UAE Deaf Association said: “According to estimates, the UAE has over 1,000 deaf people, of whom 450 are registered with us. Integration of this community into the mainstream is possible only if sign language is understood by more people and there are good opportunities for higher education and employment.”

He said: “Unfortunately, we do not have any universities for the deaf in the UAE. As such, deaf students cannot continue their studies beyond high school here.”

Abdulbari Al Shehari, academic adviser in the UAE Embassy in Washington, said: “Currently, 24 deaf UAE students are doing their higher education in the US. Thirteen of them are pursuing high school diplomas and eight others are pursuing degrees.”

He said deaf students from the UAE face two challenges when they go out of the country. “Firstly, they are used to the Arabic sign language here, so making a transition to a new system takes effort. Also, they need to adapt to a new culture. Eventually, they do well.”

Bedour Al Raqbani, founder of the Kalimati Speech and Communication Centre, said: “What we need to realise is that the deaf cannot be denied development just because they cannot hear or speak like others.”

She said her seven-year-old daughter Noora Al Kaabi is a prime example of what early intervention and support can do to facilitate mainstream integration. “We were in the US when she was nine months old and we were lucky to meet some prominent deaf adults who showed us the way. Today, we are proud of the fact that she is a Grade 1 student in a mainstream school here in Dubai where she manages very well with two interpreters, one for Arabic and one for English.”

The two-day conference addressed issues like vocational training for the deaf, reading strategies and human rights of deaf people worldwide.

The conference also marked the conclusion of the ‘Hear Us Sign’ roadshow campaign, which covered four emirates starting April 8.