How and why is that knowledge important for the local deaf population?

Raises awareness of how the media can promote misinformation and discrimination caused by audist attitudes. Can also identify language discrimination.
- Equips deaf individuals with the vocabulary and concepts to identify and describe real-world experiences.

Strengthens ecosystem understanding for more effective advocacy. Systemic barriers identified (e.g. Challenges faced by the Singapore Association for the Deaf especially in Deaf education)

Develops awareness of organisational and individual language policing - the impact on individuals in the SgSL communities (refer to PhD defence presentation slide).

The Big Picture

The English-Bilingual Policy shapes the key tensions and systemic challenges.

Language policy barriers

English/ASL dominance and uneven resource allocation. Success and achievement in hearing society in Singapore is dependent on fluency in English.

Language policy as a tool for oppression and linguistic discrimination.

Lack of resources and systemic barriers in Deaf education

Deaf education faces a lack of resources due to volunteer/charity mindset as it is under SADeaf.

There is progress in recent years with a deaf teacher becoming an MOE teacher. See 2025 Straits Times article - Deaf teacher hopes to build bridge between the hearing and deaf communities

Audist attitudes in the system

Use of terms such as "deaf and dumb", "deaf mute", "hearing impaired" which reveals audist beliefs.

Lack of systems-level thinking

Awareness of blame narratives and scapegoating of individuals and organisations

Building Deaf Awareness: Opportunities for Change in Singapore

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