IT window opens for the deaf

By FREDRICK OBURA

In his office along Nairobi’s Mombasa Road, Andrew Wasike is busy with his daily routine.

Computer maintenance and networking among other technical services make up his day.

As a Technician, Wasike is responsible for software installation, networking, and repair of computers and printers — tasks that fall slightly below his childhood dream.

Born 24 years ago in Western Kenya, Wasike wanted to rise higher in the IT industry, for instance, build up a multinational technology firm and come up with various applications to make life better.

Andrew Wasike busy at Computer Planet along Nairobi’s Mombasa Road. [PHOTO: FREDRICK OBURA / STANDARD]

The dream was, however, shattered. Nineteen years ago, he developed a health complication, which resulted to the loss of hearing.

This has complicated the process of knowledge acquisition moreso in a field where most special schools and training institutions do not have common sign languages to help the deaf understand the jargon.

He notes that the language barrier affects the learning process and in most cases makes one take longer to obtain the required qualification.

While undertaking a course at the Nairobi’s Deaf Aid Cisco Academy, he helped develop and document about 50 IT sign languages to help teach and break the communication barrier between students and lecturers.

easier understanding

Geoffrey Abuga, IT and Youth Empowerment Programme Manager at Deaf Aid Kenya says the sign languages have been useful in the identification of gadgets like hard disk, and Internet for easier understanding.

"The progress now makes it better for students to understand what a teacher is referring to or talking about. For instance, we have managed to come up with local common sign language for names like Internet, hard disk, and floppy disk, among many others," he says.

"The sign languages have been documented in video form and would soon be presented to various industry players, communication experts and the deaf umbrella body for a possible adoption in computer teaching curriculum for the deaf."

He says the adoption of such languages would not only make it easier for interaction purposes, but also make employers fast accept deaf IT graduates into their organisations. The anticipated input from industry players, communication experts drawn from academic fronts and the deaf umbrella body would also help in the accommodation of other IT sign languages Deaf Aid plans to develop with its students.

health complication

Wasike’s problem begun at the tender age of three. It was during this period that he developed serious health complications which interfered completely with his hearing system.

"Life has never been the same again. My shortfall has blocked quite a lot in my life. Were it not for determination and interest, I would not be doing what I do today," he said in an interview.

"In so many ways, the hearing problem has narrowed down my ambitions, like that of coming up with better solutions to complement the gaps in electronic trade and other key areas in linking up businesses," he says.

Wasike attended St Anthony primary school for the deaf in Webuye for his Primary basic education.

After attaining a certificate, he went to Rev Muhoro School for the deaf in Nyeri for secondary school education. He performed pretty well as per the standards given to deaf schooling students in Kenya.

However, the points obtained could not secure him a place at a decent institution of higher learning to pursue a dream course in computer engineering.

Mr Wasike was among the many deaf school leavers who probably feel they do not have a future in joining higher learning institutions due to high cut-off points.

Last year, he learnt of Nairobi’s Deaf Aid, an organisation that helps the deaf acquire various skills in carpentry, masonry, tailoring and business. It was also during the same year that the Deaf Aid was in the process of diversifying its service offerings to cater for the present IT needs. This was to help the deaf cope with the changing demands in the society.

Through a partnership with Cisco Networks, Deaf Aid became a member of the Cisco network Academy, a partnership that was to offer the organisation an opportunity to train the deaf in IT essentials and networking.

marketable skills

According to Mr Abuga, the shift was necessary in helping the deaf gain skills in an area with potential like IT.

This, he says, would easily enable them gain marketable and profitable skills to meet the current job environment.

Wasike enrolled in Deaf Aid Cisco academy for IT Essentials in June last year in a class of about 27.

After receiving his Certificate, the academy assisted him to get internship in February this year at the Computer Planet, a firm along Nairobi’s Mombasa road.

Being among the top students in IT essentials showing exemplary skills in repairs and maintenance, the internship period was supposed to last for one month, but the management of the firm extended it to four months.

The last time Cisco and the Deaf Aid academy visited the management, they had offered to employ him permanently in the firm.