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<p>The Jamaica Association for the Deaf is encouraging corporate
Jamaica to have workers trained in sign language, in light of members of the
deaf community experiencing difficulties when conducting transactions.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/08/Sherlock-Marriott-Blake-Sign-Language-682x1024.jpg" alt="Executive Director of  the Jamaica Association for the Deaf, Kimberley Sherlock Marriott-Blake speaking at a JIS Think Tank event." class="wp-image-6316" /><figcaption> Executive Director of  the Jamaica Association for the Deaf, Kimberley Sherlock Marriott-Blake </figcaption></figure>
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<p>“If your organisation is providing a service to the public, we are encouraging you to learn sign language. Begin to help break down the discriminatory assumptions persons may have (about the deaf) by engaging with us to make your organisation deaf-friendly,” said Executive Director of the Association, Kimberley Sherlock Marriott-Blake.</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p> The deaf community is approximately 70,000 persons across the island.</p><cite>—   Executive Director of  the Jamaica Association for the Deaf , Kimberley Sherlock Marriott-Blake </cite></blockquote>
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<p>Mrs. Sherlock Marriott-Blake said the Association offers sign
language training to corporate entities at a cost, and interested entities may
contact them. </p>
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<p>She highlighted that sign language can be just as valuable to any
organisation as a foreign language and should be perceived as such by
entities.&nbsp;</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>If you can teach a deaf person life or entrepreneurial skills, we would love to partner with you.</p><cite> —   Executive Director of  the Jamaica Association for the Deaf , Kimberley Sherlock Marriott-Blake  </cite></blockquote>
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<p>“We believe in the need for us to have more persons who can communicate with and provide services for the deaf community. The deaf community is approximately 70,000 persons across the island, and we are talking about persons of different ages who will require different services,” Mrs Sherlock Marriott-Blake pointed out.</p>
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<p>She is also encouraging persons to volunteer with the Association.</p>
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<p>“Give of your time. If you can teach a deaf person life or
entrepreneurial skills, we would love to partner with you, because there are so
many skills we would like to teach our students,” Mrs. Sherlock Marriott-Blake
said.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Interested volunteers may email the Association at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:admin@jamdeaf.org.jm" target="_blank"><strong>admin@jamdeaf.org.jm</strong></a>.</p>
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