Natural disasters have become a common occurrence in many parts of the world, causing massive destruction and loss of lives. Haiti, in particular, has a long history of catastrophic weather. Unfortunately, the deaf community in Haiti is one of the most vulnerable groups during these disasters, as they face challenges that go unnoticed. In this article, we will look at the impact of natural disasters on the deaf community in Haiti and the response to them. 

Natural Disasters in Haiti: The Struggle to Rebuild

Photo by Franklin Peña Gutierrez

Haiti is located in the Caribbean and has a steep topography. It is also in the hurricane belt, which makes it susceptible to hurricanes, cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and irreversible climate change. All of these factors have a significant impact on the country’s infrastructure and lifestyle. Haiti was a rich colony, but now it’s a developing country with a weak central government, which results in a lack of stability. Recovering from disasters is therefore likely to be challenging.

The recovery after a natural disaster is critical for a community to move forward. Take for instance the earthquake in 2010. The magnitude was 7.0, the worst in the country’s history. The epicenter was 15 miles from the bustling capital of Port-au-Prince with 2 million inhabitants, but was still strongly felt in the capital. The world responded to the catastrophic damage from the earthquake that destroyed most of the infrastructure and left 200,000+ people dead and over a million people displaced. Decades later, following Hurricane Matthew 6 years later, Haiti is still struggling to rebuild. 

Countries in the Americas gave aid to Haiti. However, progress is still slow. One problem is Haiti’s political instability, too much foreign intervention, a colonial history that has a lasting negative impact, and corruption are just a few reasons why recovering from natural disasters is difficult. In addition, resources such as building materials were limited, which impeded the planning to rebuild the affected areas. 

The Deaf Community in Haiti: Broken Policies and Societal Beliefs

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Haitian Sign Language or Langue de Signes Haitienne (LSH) is the primary language of the Haitian deaf community, but ASL is also widely used, however, it is not recognized by the government. Sign language is used in deaf schools in cities like Port-Au-Prince, Ferrier, and Jacmel, but not everyone is fortunate enough to attend them. There is very little support for the Deaf community on behalf of the government. 

The Government and Failed Support

UNICEF reports that 59% of people live below the poverty line, and 29% live in abject poverty. The government fails to provide for the people, therefore, the Deaf and disabled community seems out of the question

Deaf Haitians experience a lack of access to medical care, education, and other services. The government adopted the UN Convention for Deaf People back in 2009, which led to a series of legislations to protect Deaf people and allow them to live autonomously. There is very little enforcement in these policies so it presents itself as pointless. The main driver for this was all of the natural disasters that Haiti experienced, which made the Deaf community so vulnerable. The United Nations reported in 2018, after two catastrophic events, that Deaf women and children living in post-earthquake camps and remote regions were more likely to experience violence with no support. In consequence, Haiti’s response to the Deaf and disabled community has experienced backlash from officials for the implementation of policies. 

Religious Stigma

Haiti has a deeply rooted religious and spiritualist culture, where Christianity and Voodoo intertwine. SIL International says there’s a belief amongst a lot of Haitians that God doesn’t punish you if you have lived life “correctly” Meaning that, having a disease or disability is a punishment. In Haitian culture, disabilities have nothing to do with genetic abnormalities. It has to do with the natural world taking revenge on the person. The perspective is widespread due to a lack of education, especially in rural areas and old cultural practices. 

Religious people tend to avoid the Deaf community. They believe they’ll get cursed or catch a “disease” by interacting with a Deaf person. As you might’ve guessed, this creates friction between the Deaf and society. That’s why barriers exist. In addition, lack of support doesn’t only come from the community as a whole but also family. Parents of Deaf children in Haiti have a lot more challenges, they also have this idea that people with disabilities have a bleak future so, in other words, what’s the point in trying? If the mentality of giving up already starts at home, where is the chance of a prosperous future? 

Elizabeth Parks wrote in The Deaf People of Haiti that the Haitian community needs to change as a society and its attitudes. The cultural perception of the disabled community impedes progress. Deaf Haitians are not viewed as humans, they are curses. This is why they live in the shadows. Unless the Deaf individual is born into affluent circumstances that give them access to Deaf school and medical care. The likelihood of them succeeding means jumping through hoops and experiencing a lot of adversity. 

Natural Disasters and the Deaf Community in Haiti

Photo by Denniz Futalan

Haiti has been enduring a lot of natural disasters, which have caused significant damage to the land and infrastructure. This situation has put many Haitians, especially the Deaf community, in survival mode. Unfortunately, being an impoverished nation, it is challenging for Haiti to keep up. Consequently, opportunities for growth and development for the Deaf have become limited.

Despite these challenges, some NGOs are working towards assisting the Deaf community in Haiti. These organizations include Centre D’Aide Aux Personnes à Problemes Auditifs (CAPPA), Love, Deaf, Haiti, and Off-the-Grid Missions. They are fighting to provide access to education, health, and self-defense or sports training. 

In addition to these organizations, some NGOs help with the aftermath of natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes. These include UNICEF, Project Hope, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and World Vision. While there is no specific data found that these programs target the Deaf community, there are some faith-based organizations that provide medical supplies for Haiti, including hearing aids and other related equipment.

Can Haiti Do Better?

The earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010 taught the Haitian government some valuable lessons about how to recover sustainably. Haiti has since strengthened its national and local recovery management, assisting displaced people to find shelter in areas that are less affected by environmental disasters. This initiative, done in partnership with the United States, promotes awareness of severe weather conditions and provides information, jobs, and evacuation routes, particularly in poorer areas. However, there’s a group that’s often left out – the Deaf community.

During disasters, the Deaf community is frequently left stranded unless resources are available to keep them safe. The communication barriers and general neglect of the Deaf community are areas where Haiti can do better.

Visit https://www.unspokenasl.com/ to learn more and support the Deaf community. 

Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Holger Wulschlaeger