Adventist Sign Language Trainers Help Interns Bridge Gaps with the Deaf

A local college institution in the south Philippines has recently organized a transformative training session on Filipino Sign Language (FSL) to equip social work interns with the essential skills needed to communicate effectively with the Deaf community. The training, which took place at Aurelio Mendoza Memorial College on September 11, emphasized the importance of breaking down communication barriers and providing better services to the Deaf, who are a vital part of the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) sector, event organizers said.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zamboanga, Philippines, alongside Deaf trainers Clyde Santuyo, Carren Balandra, Jaireh Parbaquel, and Jomar Canabano, spearheaded the initiative to equip interns with the tools needed to build relationships and communicate effectively with the Deaf community.

“These dedicated educators provided invaluable insights into Deaf culture and the intricacies of Filipino sign language,” regional leaders explained. “Their commitment to sharing their language with the hearing community played a crucial role in helping participants gain a deeper understanding of the Deaf community’s perspectives and experiences.”

In addition to the Deaf trainers, Adventist hearing interpreters Princess Rhea Caberte and Paulmarc Arbe Caberte, a married couple and long-time advocates for the Deaf, also contributed to the training. “Their expertise in bridging communication between the Deaf and hearing communities offered valuable insights to the interns,” organizers said. “Their dedication to promoting understanding and inclusion provided the interns with essential skills for future interactions with the Deaf community.”

Regional leaders emphasized that the Adventist Church remains deeply committed to serving and being a blessing to all, including the Deaf community. “The church feels especially grateful for the growing collaboration with government institutions and schools, which are opening new opportunities for partnership in this shared mission,” they said. “Together, they strive not only to share the gospel with the Deaf but also to advocate for their right to accessibility in all areas of life.”

Leaders also explained that the training session aimed to ensure that the interns, who will eventually work as social workers, are well-prepared to cater to the needs of the Deaf. “Through this initiative, participants gained practical communication skills and a deeper understanding of Deaf culture, setting a new standard for inclusivity in the field of social work,” they said.

About Adventist Possibility Ministries

Adventist Possibility Ministries (APM) is grounded in the belief that the gospel transforms the way we see ourselves, others, and God. How we perceive personal value while having bodies that are less than perfect is changed when we understand the implications of the gospel message. APM recognizes disabilities and loss, but it does not stop there. Rather, it views these through the transforming lens of possibilities — what individuals can do and what they can become because of God’s grace.

APM advocates for the recognition of dignity and respect of every person and helping to make possible the discovery of unrealized abilities despite stigmas associated with a disability or loss. It affirms that all are gifted, needed, and treasured, that people go where they are welcomed but stay where they are valued, and that value is inherent through Creation and not determined by what a person can or cannot do. It also affirms that each person is unique and has a God-given purpose and that included in that purpose is the call to enrich the lives of others which flows out of a sense of gratitude for what they have received.

The ministries cater to seven unique people groups, including the deaf, the blind, the physically immobile, and those who have mental health challenges. It also includes orphans and vulnerable children, those mourning the loss of a spouse, and caregivers.

This version of the story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.