Category Archive Uncategorized

More than Words – Walk with a Difference

🚶‍♂️Come join us for a Walk with a Difference on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Marina Barrage.

What’s so different about this walk?

1. Be part of setting a new Singapore Record!
2. Learn some cool Singapore Sign Language signs
3. Match your signs to the spectacular views of Gardens by the Bay and Singapore’s skyline and win some great prizes!

👟 So step up for a 3km/5km walk and a fun-filled mini-carnival from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Don’t miss out:
Zumba
Airbrush Tattoos, Caricature Art, Kite Colouring, Shadow Cutting and more! 🎨
You’ll love our event T-shirt & Door Gift 🎁

🐦 Early Bird discount from now until April 15

Click here to learn more: https://walk.sadeaf.org.sg/

Let’s make it a Walk with a Difference!

Time for Dental checkup?

Mount Alvernia Outreach Clinic (MAOC) has been collaborating with SADeaf to provide subsidised primary healthcare and dental services to create a healthier community and a positive health impact. 

• Services Available: Basic routine scaling, polishing, fillings, and extractions.
• Location: Mount Alvernia Outreach Dental Clinic @ Enabling Village
• Address: 20 Lengkok Bahru #02-03, Block Playground, Singapore 159053
• Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM
• Appointments: Required. Please call or WhatsApp at 6473 9100. Be sure to indicate that you are deaf so the staff can provide the appropriate assistance.

Cost: $30 per visit. This flat fee covers any number of fillings or extractions during your visit.
What to Bring: CHAS card, PWD card (CAC or PWDCC).

Flag Day 2025

✨ Come volunteer on Sat, 15 Feb 2025 to help collect Flag Day donations to serve the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard-of-hearing! 👨‍👨‍👦‍👦

1. Sign up as a Group of Volunteers – https://forms.gle/ouj8iMu5qWAFi2Md6

2. Sign up as an Individual Volunteer – https://forms.gle/yxrUPw1CzXAWUcz77

Thank you for your kind support! 💞

SADeaf Featured on DETIK Semasa: Raising Awareness of Sign Language and Deaf Culture

SADeaf was recently featured on Mediacorp’s DETIK Semasa, a popular Malay-language program, in a segment titled “Bahasa Tanpa Bicara” (Language Without Words). This captivating episode explores the importance of Sign Language in bridging communication gaps for the Deaf community in Singapore and highlights the cultural significance of this vital language.

Highlighting the Deaf Community’s Experiences

The segment follows Amirul Afiq, a young Deaf individual who has seamlessly integrated Sign Language into his everyday life.. His ability to engage with friends and family through Sign Language emphasizes its role in fostering connection and understanding within the community. The episode showcases how Singapore Sign Language differs structurally from spoken languages like English, adding richness to the Deaf community’s communication.

Communication at Home and Beyond

The episode also explores how Amirul’s family navigates communication, blending text messaging with Sign Language to connect with him. While his parents have limited proficiency in Sign Language, his sister plays a pivotal role in helping bridge the communication gap. This unique family dynamic highlights how modern technology, alongside Sign Language, ensures meaningful interaction and strengthens family bonds despite hearing differences.

Watch the Full Episode

To learn more about Amirul’s inspiring journey and the role of Sign Language in the Deaf community, be sure to watch the full DETIK Semasa segment here.

We are grateful to Mediacorp for featuring SADeaf and for helping raise awareness about the cultural significance of Sign Language and the experiences of the Deaf community in Singapore.

See the Impact of Services here!

Meet Wen Qing.

She may be small for her 8 years, but she has a big appetite for learning and for social activities. Her challenges are many, but so are her hobbies and interests. 

Wen Qing enjoys painting and art, and is good at reading. 

At the Little Hands Bilingual Bicultural Programme that her mother takes her to, she participates actively in speech and drama activities, and attends classes in phonics, English and math. She also receives art therapy and learns Singapore Sign Language.

She may have only one kidney, hearing loss, deformed fingers and Fanconi anemia, a rare bone marrow disorder that has led to her undergoing a bone marrow transplant. She may require frequent hospital visits and need assistance for movement and transportation.

But the powerful dynamo is a joy to have at Little Hands, an early intervention programme run by the Singapore Association for the Deaf, and you can help us to give her and other students these activities and learning.

Be part of her story today.

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Meet Zahin. 

At just 9 years old, Zahin is already showing the world that hearing loss cannot stop his confidence and communication.

From the moment he joined the early intervention programme at SADeaf, Zahin’s love for learning and enthusiasm for growth has shined brightly and he has learned to express himself fluently in sign language and English, opening doors to endless possibilities.  

Today, Zahin is thriving in Mayflower Primary School, where he happily mingles with his peers and embraces every opportunity to learn and play. His cheerful presence and ability to bridge two languages inspires everyone around him.  

Zahin’s journey wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people like you, which allowed SADeaf to provide financial assistance to his family. 

Together, we’ve empowered Zahin to pursue his dreams with dignity and confidence. Your continued support can make stories like Zahin’s a reality for more children. 

Help us create brighter futures today.

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Meet Arika.

Arika’s journey is one of discovery, connection, and growth. Living with moderate to severe hearing loss and CHARGE syndrome, she faces unique challenges, yet continues to break barriers and make strides toward a brighter future.

Since enrolling in the Little Hands Bilingual Bicultural Programme (LHBBP) at SADeaf, Arika has learned Singapore Sign Language (SgSL), which has transformed the way she communicates and learns. With SgSL, Arika can better understand others and confidently respond to greetings and questions, opening doors to meaningful interactions.

Her joyful exchanges with teachers and peers are helping Arika develop essential socio-emotional and cognitive skills, nurturing her confidence and independence along the way.

Arika’s progress is a beautiful reminder of what is possible with the right support, care, and encouragement.

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Becoming a Sign Language Interpreter to Help People with Disabilities (Berita Harian)

Saturday, December 14, 2024 ( Published in Berita Harian)

Ms. Suhaila Sulaiman finds another way to contribute to society as a sign language interpreter at the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) since August 2022.
Photo by BH / SHAFIQ APANDI

Becoming a Sign Language Interpreter to Help People with Disabilities

By Insyirah Mohd Shukor

When Ms. Suhaila Sulaiman came across a poster for a “silent” religious class on her university campus, she was moved to join it.

Overcome with emotion, she shed tears as she witnessed a deaf woman recite Surah Al-Fatihah in sign language. That experience opened her heart to learn more about sign language.

Today, Ms. Suhaila, 27, serves as a sign language interpreter at the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf)—a career path she never imagined taking.

In an interview with Berita Harian, she shared that her initial ambition was to become a religious teacher. She achieved a degree in Quranic and Sunnah Studies from the Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) in 2016.

However, her desire to assist the deaf community and create a more inclusive environment—especially for their access to religious knowledge—was too strong to ignore.

Ms. Suhaila, who is also certified under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) and qualified to be a religious teacher, explained:
“I decided to shift my career direction because I realized I could play a different role and help society in another way. As a sign language interpreter, I have the opportunity to give the deaf community a voice, ensuring their views are heard and appreciated.”

“They (the deaf community) may not communicate or speak like us, but their faith and devotion can still be deeply felt through sign language.”

Recalling the moment that sparked her interest, Ms. Suhaila—who began learning sign language as a volunteer with a disability outreach group at her university, Sekretariat Sahabat FAQEH USIM—expressed admiration for the resilience of the deaf community in seeking religious knowledge despite communication barriers.

When asked about a particularly unforgettable moment, Ms. Suhaila, who has interpreted religious lectures at mosques, said:
“During a program teaching the deaf about religious knowledge through sign language called the Silent Dakwah Course (KDTS), a participant who initially struggled with sign language and understanding it was able to recite prayers in sign language by the end of the program.”

“That moment reminded me that the greatest challenges often bring the most rewarding outcomes,” said the youngest of five siblings.

After returning to Singapore in 2020, Ms. Suhaila deepened her knowledge of sign language.

This was because Malaysian Sign Language (BIM), which she had previously learned, differs from Singapore Sign Language (SgSL), which has its own unique structure and signs. SgSL is a combination of Shanghai Sign Language, American Sign Language, and signs developed specifically in Singapore.

Ms. Suhaila finds her role as a sign language interpreter for the deaf community in Singapore over the past two years deeply meaningful and fulfilling—not just translating words, but also conveying emotions.

“Every day, I remind myself that my job isn’t just to translate words but also to convey the emotions they wish to express,” said Ms. Suhaila.

Article link: https://www.beritaharian.sg/singapura/jadi-jurubahasa-isyarat-demi-bantu-orang-kurang-upaya

Singapore Sign Language: The unique, visual language of Deaf Singaporeans

For Deaf Singaporeans, Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) is more than a set of gestures, and more than a way to communicate.

“It is a distinct language that embodies the cultural identity of the Deaf community in Singapore,” explains Josh Lye, executive director of The Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf).

Phoebe Tay, a PhD candidate in linguistics who is deaf, describes SgSL as a natural sign language of Deaf Singaporeans with its own grammar and structure. It is a language that conveys meaning through a combination of hand shapes, movements and facial expressions, and has a grammatical structure that is distinct from spoken and written English.

For Deaf Singaporeans, SgSL is their language.

The term “deaf” (lower-case “d”) refers to the medical condition of hearing loss – in varying degrees. “Deaf” (capital letter “D”) describes people with hearing loss who identify as part of the Deaf community and prefer to use sign language.

SgSL evolved organically within the Deaf community and is “a unique reflection of Singapore’s national heritage and multilingual culture”, says Lye.

SgSL has roots in Shanghainese Sign Language (SSL), which was taught in Singapore’s first school for the deaf, the Singapore Chinese Sign School for the Deaf in the 1950s, alongside written Chinese, which was the other language of instruction of the school. Peng Tsu Ying, one of the school’s founders, taught the techniques and the sign language he had learnt while growing up in Shanghai.

In the 1970s, Lim Chin Heng, a former student of Peng’s who studied in America, brought back American Sign Language (ASL) to the local Deaf community, as well as Signing Exact English, which is not a language in itself, but a manual code that represents English grammar visually.

With the help of four Deaf Singaporeans – Andrew Tay, Shariffah Faaiqah, Amirul Afiq and Lisa Loh – we’ll discover how these varied influences have shaped their language and how some of these signs have changed over time.

Click here to find out more!

BY ALEXIS GABRIELLE, ALYSSA KARLA MUNGCAL, CHARLES TAMPUS, HANNAH ONG, KHOO ZI QI | PUBLISHED: DEC 18, 2024

Swing For The Deaf, SADeaf Charity Golf

Thank You, our generous Donors and Supporters for making the “Charity Golf & Dinner” on 27 Sept 24 a huge success!

From the excitement on the golf course to an enjoyable evening filled with delicious food and wonderful entertainment. Golfers enjoyed a truly delightful day of golf, friendship and giving amid the lush greenery of Seletar Country Club!

The evening continued with a delectable dinner, performances by renowned local artistes and talented performers, and the presentation of the Deaf Achievers’ Awards, coinciding with the International Week of Deaf Persons. There were also fabulous lucky draw prizes, and an exclusive charity auction featuring high-value and unique items.

Heartfelt gratitude to our Patron Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law, for being our honoured guest.

A big thank you to our main sponsors: Lee Foundation, Mr Cavinder Bull SC, Ms Denise Phua, Providence Law, Philip Securities, Dr Lim Soon Hock, Woh Hup, HyperCom, AM Global, Mr Robert Soo and many other donors, as well as to our wonderful golfers, for their earnest support. Your contributions are making a huge impact in improving the lives of the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing community.

To all the participants who came out, thank you for being a part of this special day. Your enthusiasm and support were the heart of the event, making it a joyful and memorable experience for everyone.

View images here: https://www.facebook.com/SADeafSG/posts/965345298964820?rdid=pZ7AeMi8zRw4JgIR