Manitoba deaf community hosts town hall to raise awareness about language deprivation

A town hall in Winnipeg put a spotlight on an issue advocates say can have lifelong impacts on deaf children.

A gathering led by Manitoba’s deaf community has started a conversation about language deprivation, creating space to share knowledge.

On Sunday, the Manitoba Deaf Community hosted the Language Deprivation Awareness Town Hall at 285 Pembina Hwy.

The town hall focused on language deprivation — which occurs when no first-language foundation is built due to a lack of language development during the period between birth and five years old — according to Jordan Sangalang, one of the speakers.

“We just want to increase awareness about language deprivation, the phenomenon, and how we can work toward a solution by getting the community involved, as well as the stakeholders who have a stake in the future of deaf children,” Sangalang told CTV News through an interpreter.

“We’re not talking about a specific entity — it’s a system as a whole — and we’re just trying to work together toward a better understanding of language deprivation and what we can do to move forward.”

Language deprivation can affect children’s confidence, Sangalang said.

“It would be just like a non-deaf child too. For growth as a human being, you need language input to become more confident. You need to be able to communicate.”

The overarching goal of the town hall was not only to increase awareness about language deprivation, but also to empower people to speak out and share their stories with others.

Sangalang said collaboration is the best way forward.

“Nothing about us, without us. Working together - collaboration, instead of saying, ‘I’d like to do this for you, I’d like to help you,’”

For parents, caregivers and professionals involved in early-intervention services, Sangalang said it is important to look at the whole child to ensure developmental milestones are being met at the right time, while practising ethically, without bias, and offering complete information to parents.