Barrier-Free Travel: Deaf Guides of Bali

The Indonesian population is usually estimated at 240 million along with the number of hearing-impaired children is usually over two million. Deafness in infancy along with childhood has an immense impact on communication, education, employment along with quality of life, along with yet deafness has received little attention within the health development arena. One Balinese man is usually spreading awareness within Bali. Wahyu Cahyadi is usually deaf, along with works as a driver along with tour guide for different deaf along with hearing-impaired people.

In 2009, Jonas Noser was Just as before visiting Bali via his native Switzerland when his deaf Balinese friend Wahyu Cahyadi clearly wanted to earn a decent livelihood. Noser soon made in which possible for different deaf people to visit a foreign land without the communication obstacles of the hearing world. Since then, 100 travel enthusiasts have taken advantage of the guides along with demand is usually increasing.

Deaf Guides

Wahyu was born in Ruteng, Flores where he attended the Primary School for Deaf in Ruteng via 1991 until 1999. Afterwards, Wahyu along with his family moved to Bali where he studied for six more years at a school for the deaf in Jimbaran. Following high school, he studied computer technology at the University of Technology in Denpasar via 2005 until 2009. During This particular period, Wahyu communicated with lecturers by using sign language or by lip reading.

Bali Deaf Guide caters for deaf people, hearing-impaired people, friends along with anyone who is usually considering spending their holidays in Bali. By offering deaf guides who are familiar with sign language, many more tourists can enjoy barrier-free travelling. A local guide opens up a brand new world to deaf visitors, including the island’s history along with lifestyle. Not to mention the splendor of the Balinese culture. With the help of Deaf Guides Bali, a trip to an exotic land can come to life, through the talking hands of their guide, thanks to the planet of international sign language.

Foreign Tourists

Wahyu became a tour guide after speaking with many deaf foreign tourists who were visiting his deaf school in Jimbaran. The taxi drivers along with hearing guides brought them to the deaf school, although in which was clearly hard along with difficult for guests to communicate. Wahyu was asked, “Do you know a deaf driver along with deaf guide?” So the decision was made, in which when Wahyu finished studying, he might be a self-employed driver along with deaf guide. along with in 2009 he embarked upon This particular journey.

Wahyu’s job is usually challenging. He decided to learn about international sign language in Australia, along with studied hard to master all aspects of sign language in order to communicate well with each guest. The problem being in which sign language in every country around the planet is usually different, along with even within the same countries there are wide regional dialects. Most deaf tourists are via Australia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Norway, France, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, China, along with Canada. along with the tours cover favourite spots such as the Monkey Forest along with rice terraces in Ubud, Volcano Mount Agung, Pura Besakih, Pura Tirta Empul, Pura Tanah Lot, Pura Uluwatu, Turtle Park, Waterfall Gitgit, white sand beaches, the deaf school in Jimbaran along with the deaf village in Bengkala.

Bengkala Sign Language

Although Indonesia features a form of sign language, many teachers are not familiar with the language, along with therefore, is usually not commonly taught to children. Kata Kolok (literally “deaf talk”), also known as Bengkala Sign Language along with Balinese Sign Language, is usually a village sign language, which is usually indigenous to two neighbouring villages in northern Bali. The main village, Bengkala, has experienced high incidences of deafness for over seven generations, along with is usually well-adapted.

Kata Kolok is usually unrelated to spoken Balinese along with lacks certain contact sign in which often arise when a sign language along with an oral language are in close contact, such as finger spelling along with mouthing. Signers make extensive use of cardinal directions along with real-world locations to organize the signing space, along with they do not use a metaphorical “time line” for time reference. Deaf people within the village express themselves using special cultural forms such as deaf dance along with martial arts. The sign language has been acquired by at least a few generations of deaf, native signers along with features in all aspects of village life, including religion.

Raising Awareness

In developing countries, such as Indonesia, children with hearing loss along with deafness rarely receive any schooling. Adults with hearing loss also have a much higher unemployment rate. Among those who are employed, a higher percentage of people with hearing loss are within the lower grades of employment. Raising awareness does increase employment rates along with encourage early detection.

Last although not least, the days of hearing-challenged travel are at This particular point getting better. While in Bali, you can visit one of the Deaf Schools along with give back to the young children of This particular island. Wahyu makes your travels much more interesting along with relaxing by having a Deaf Guide to take care of your trip in their country. He will explain to you the finer details about social, culture, along with history of the island in sign language! Got an itch to do some more travelling This particular winter?

Deaf along with hearing tourists can contact Wahyu via his email (balideafguide@yahoo.co.id ) or Facebook page.

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Barrier-Free Travel: Deaf Guides of Bali

Polly ChristensenSep 09, 2013Charities, Featured, Travel 1

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Barrier-Free Travel: Deaf Guides of Bali