Poland is a country in central Europe with a population of 37 million, with 1 million registered as hearing impaired or Deaf. So, how is it to be deaf in Poland? Well, Deaf people experience marginalization all over the world, whether it is by society or their government. The government is the ruling body that protects and cares for its citizens. Does that include every human being? In this post, we’ll learn about the changes in the political systems and the Deaf community in Poland. 

Polish Deaf Community

Hearing people are the majority of society, and they are the ones who set the rules of conduct. But, the Deaf community is a unique part of society in their linguistic and cultural ways. Their distinctive culture rarely makes them questioned as a community, but this has downsides in Poland. This lack of questioning or curiosity in the Deaf community leads to social exclusion. The differences in communications can put Deaf people as outliers in society. 

Polish Sign Language

Polish Sign Language is the official language of the Deaf community in Poland. It dates back to 1880, by a Polish priest named  Władysław Mazurek. He wanted to use it as a means for the Deaf to communicate. It descends from the German Sign language. There’s also a manually coded version used in schools, known as Signed Polish.  

By 2012, the Polish government established the Sign Language Act, which made PJM (Polski Język Migowy) or Polish Sign Language an official language. Like so many, this was a monumental change for the Deaf community. Not only to strengthen them linguistically and as a minority community, but they also earned recognition. 

Distinct Communication in Polish Sign Language

One key feature and the most encompassing is contact using touch and eyes. It is a critical first step when initiating conversation, especially in the Polish Deaf community. According to a report by Urszula Bartnikowska, things like pointing are often normal gestures in the Deaf community but are perceived as rude by the hearing. Another aspect worth noting about communication is that only specific body parts can be used or touched. Going outside of this norm puts someone in an awkward position. 

Therefore, it’s crucial to understand these norms and rules, especially when Deaf children attend schools heavily based on oralism. Understanding the rules of Deaf society helps to create effective communication in life and education. Most of these norms apply to the Deaf community as a whole, but it is important to note that regions of Poland might differ somewhat on social norms formed in smaller communities. 

The Political Climate in Poland

Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels

Poland’s political landscape has various parties representing a range of ideologies and interests. They recently experienced a resurgence of democracy in a recent election. The victory of the liberal opposition was narrow between the two candidates. The population feared slipping backward after recovering from post-USSR. There were significant challenges to a fully democratic government. But feelings of stability have been restored to the newly in charge government. 

Laws for Deaf People

Polish Sign Language became an official language in 2012. The Polish Constitution and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities were also ratified in the same year. The bill prohibits discrimination. It aimed to provide equal access to education, healthcare, and more. However, the legislation didn’t reflect the reality of the situation, especially in schools.

Government Audits Uncover the Reality

The language of the Deaf community is not an official subject in Polish schools. Teachers are supposed to know Sign Language and be licensed to teach it.  What is more disheartening is there are only around 39 deaf schools in Poland, as stated by deaf education worldwide. It doesn’t necessarily mean that education is accessible to all families with Deaf children. Sometimes, parents have to pay extra fees for their children to attend. It might be the case that they cannot afford it.

That’s why the government must use the audits as a baseline expectation for what public schools can provide to Deaf and special needs students. An audit was conducted by NIK, an independent organization that audits services provided by the Polish government, between 2019 and 2022 to test how effective teaching was for Deaf students. They found that teachers in public schools aren’t trained or have little knowledge of Polish Sign Language. 

The issue is that schools need to start recognizing Polish as a Sign Language since the government has. Therefore, it could help tremendously to tailor the curriculum to the students’ needs. 

Shedding Light on Policies that Fall Short

While there is a committee on the rights of Deaf people in Poland. It’s evident that Deaf people are still marginalized, according to Sylwia Spurek, Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights of Poland, said that many Deaf people still don’t enjoy the same freedoms. It also pours over into the fact that Deaf people cannot run for public office, vote, or have parental rights due to restrictions with the definition of incapacitation. 

Non-Profit Programs for the Deaf

Established in 1946, the Deaf Association has served the community as a non-profit for around 100 years. The regional offices all over Poland help the Deaf communities in many ways, such as culture, education, the healthcare sector, social life, and more. The mission is to show that Deaf people can do everything but hear. That shouldn’t impede them from participating in life as ordinary citizens. 

The other part is ensuring equal access to all facets of life for the Deaf community, lacking in many parts of the world. As a member of the European Union National Deaf Association, the Deaf Association of Poland organizes different projects at the national and international levels for the Deaf community. Ongoing projects from the association include supporting the labor market, education and development, and consumer rights. In addition, at their learning centers, they also offer Polish Sign Language classes to those who are interested or Deaf people who never had the chance to learn as a community-building incentive.

We can say that the Polish government has come a long way in improving the lives of Deaf people. Recognizing Sign Language is a crucial first step to gaining access to all aspects of public life. Unfortunately, the EIPA (European Institute of Public Administration) suggests that there is more work to do, in terms of social services. It pertains to emergencies. Polish Sign Language is an official language, most people still can’t use it to communicate. Olsztyn Voivodeship Office and deaf associations created a new program that makes it easier for Deaf people to report emergencies. Using their phone number and app, they can seamlessly use it. Since its creation in 2017, it has been expanding to be part of the emergency services system in Poland. 

The Future of the Polish Deaf Community

Photo by urtimud.89: 

There are a lot of concerns about establishing governmental programs for the Deaf in Poland. The remarks center around choosing the wrong approach to successfully create programs that give Deaf people equal rights to hearing society. Among them include the Accessibility Plus Programme (a continuing project) and the launching of a new program for higher education. But Jonas Ruskus, Committee Rapporteur,  stresses making the programs a human-rights-based approach rather than making Deaf people feel like a charity case. 

Learn more about the Deaf communities fight for human rights all over the world by visiting, https://www.unspokenasl.com/

Photo Credit to: Photo by Caio