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Straits Times
09-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Deaf teacher hopes to build bridge between the Deaf and hearing communities
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr David Lee, a deaf teacher, at the Teachers' Investiture Ceremony 2025 at Nanyang Technological University on July 9. SINGAPORE - When David Lee was in Primary 3, he had a mathematics teacher with a hearing impairment similar to his who fluently and clearly explained mathematical concepts in sign language. The teacher's 'passion for learning and his dedication to sharing knowledge with students left a deep impression on me', Mr Lee, 56, told The Straits Times. 'It was then that I began to dream of becoming an educator like him.' On July 9, Mr Lee was among 721 students who graduated from the National Institute of Education (NIE) and the Nanyang Technological Universit y, receiving the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary). He currently teaches m athematics and science at Mayflower Primary School, which is one of many mainstream schools in Singapore that take in students with hearing loss. There, he works alongside subject teachers to ensure Deaf and hearing students can learn together in the same classroom. 'I hope to nurture an inclusive environment where hearing and deaf communities collaborate, learn from one another, and celebrate differences,' he said. Mr Lee's journey to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a teacher took a few detours, as he worked in different industries as a mechanical and an electrical engineer, as well as a quantity surveyor. Throughout that time, the itch to teach gnawed at him. In 2000, he decided to pursue a Diploma in Special Education, after which he had two stints teaching at the Singapore School for the Deaf, which he believed was his calling. When the school closed in 2017 due to a decrease in student enrolment, he transferred to the Lighthouse School, which serves students with different special needs. At NIE, where Mr Lee enrolled in 2023, it supported him with advance access to lesson notes, voice-to-text assistive technologies, and sign language interpreters. Mr Lee said sign language allows him to explain academic concepts visually, which helps students. With hearing students who are unfamiliar with sign language, he communicates with them through the written word. During discussions and meetings in school, the use of assistive technology like the app, which converts speech to text in real time, enables him to be engaged. Mr Lee also teaches students and colleagues simple conversational Singapore Sign Language to build a bridge between the two communities. 'I see such moments as opportunities to improve communication and foster mutual understanding,' he said. 'I want every student – regardless of their hearing ability – to feel seen, heard, and empowered.'
New Paper
21-06-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Tea chain 'Chagee'-ng towards inclusivity with new NUS outlet
As the second-oldest among four siblings, Mr Muhammad Salahuddin Omar was the only child in the family born deaf. The 27-year-old picked up sign language in kindergarten and now works at Chinese tea franchise Chagee's signing store located in the National University of Singapore (NUS). The store is staffed by Deaf and hard-of-hearing baristas employed through a partnership with SG Enable and the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf). The term "Deaf", with a capital letter D, refers to people with hearing loss who prefer to use sign language, and identify as a part of the Deaf community. Speaking to The New Paper in Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) with the help of a sign language interpreter, Mr Salahuddin shared that he, fortunately, did not experience bullying growing up. "I feel like maybe it's because of my face," he signed with his nimble fingers before letting out a chuckle. Though a little anxious, Mr Salahuddin was very enthusiastic while sharing his experiences. TNP PHOTO: SEAH JUN DE The Deaf barista attended the Singapore School for the Deaf and Lighthouse School where he grew up alongside children with hearing disabilities and supportive teachers, he shared. Before joining Chagee, Mr Salahuddin worked in retail and F&B, roles he secured with support from SG Enable, a government agency aimed at assisting persons with disabilities and their caregivers. However, during his time at his previous two jobs, he did not have anybody he could communicate with as there was no one else who could understand sign language. When he first received the offer to work at Chagee's signing store last year through SADeaf, he was looking forward to being in a work environment where everyone could understand each other. "I thought it'd be interesting - I wanted the job because it'd be easier to communicate," he signed. Mr Salahuddin underwent three weeks of training conducted in sign language and aided by resource videos with closed captions before being deployed on the ground. Prior to the opening of the Chagee NUS store, Mr Salahuddin was working at the Orchard Gateway outlet - a high-volume store with long queues every day. "I need to be very focused at work because it's quite busy over there." Other Deaf and hard-of-hearing staff members at the signing store have also been previously attached to another store, ensuring a smooth transition to the newly opened NUS outlet that serves a large student crowd. Mr Lawrence Wen, general manager of Chagee Singapore, noted that the prior experience has equipped the team well for the high demand at the NUS outlet. "This store is actually a very high-volume store for us as well - there's a lot of delivery orders. Our store partners are more than capable of handling the high volume during lunchtime." The store is staffed by 14 baristas. TNP PHOTO: SEAH JUN DE The signing store had its soft launch last month and Mr Salahuddin has already become acquainted with some of the store's regulars. Faculty members visit the store so often that they have slowly picked up sign language, making it easier to communicate with them, he explained. Chagee NUS had its official launch on June 19, becoming the tea chain's first signing store in South-east Asia. The franchise has three signing stores in China. "Siting it at NUS was a deliberate choice - this is where future leaders are shaped, and we want to inspire more inclusive mindsets through everyday experiences," said Mr Wen in his opening address. The store was designed with the staff in mind. Walls are lined with cork to soften ambient noise and the open brewing area keeps the staff visually connected. "An inclusive society is one where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Initiatives like the Chagee signing store remind us that accessibility is not just about infrastructure - it is about mindset and intent," said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua who was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony. To introduce customers to basic SgSL, a custom-made flip chart on the wall was developed with the help of SG Enable and SADeaf. Simple terms like "hello" and "thank you" in SgSL are displayed on the wall. Mr Salahuddin standing in front of the flip chart, signing the letter C. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAGEE The store also features a mural by award-winning Deaf artist Angeline Chen Ziyue and photos taken by Singaporean Deaf photographer Isabelle Lim. "I hope that customers will be able to learn a bit more about sign language after their visit and be inspired to go for courses to pick it up," Mr Salahuddin signed in SgSL with a smile.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Some 1,500 join charity walk to raise more than $320,000 for the deaf community
Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong (second from left) with participants at the charity walk on May 25. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Some 1,500 join charity walk to raise more than $320,000 for the deaf community SINGAPORE - As a D eaf student in a mainstream secondary school in the 1990s , Ms April Chia struggled to communicate with her peers, who did not know sign language. Unfazed, Ms Chia continued attending workshops for deaf individuals by the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf), which her parents had taken her to when she was a child. She also received help from SADeaf's resource teachers, who are specially trained to provide sign language interpretation and address the learning needs of Deaf students. Deaf, with a capital D, refers to people with hearing loss who use sign language as their preferred communication mode, and identify as members of the Deaf community. Such programmes and resources helped her to become more confident and made her more comfortable to express herself, said Ms Chia, who is in her 40s . Some three decades later, Ms Chia, who recently landed a new job as a public servant, has come full circle and teaches sign language and serves as a community interpreter at SADeaf. Programmes by SADeaf that Ms Chia has engaged with throughout her life will get a boost following the association's fund-raising of more than $320,000 through a charity walk – with 3km and 5km routes – along Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay on May 25. SADeaf, which marks its 70th anniversary this year, estimates that there are about half a million people here with some form of hearing loss. Ms April Chia said the programmes and resources by the Singapore Association for the Deaf helped her to become more confident and made her more comfortable to express herself. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Besides deaf education courses, the charity also provides sign language interpretation and employment support – among other services – to people with hearing loss. Speaking through an interpreter, Ms Chia told The Straits Times: 'SADeaf has helped deaf people like me enjoy more equal access to information. 'When I take my parents to the doctor, having an SADeaf interpreter by my side allows me to get fuller details and makes me feel more included compared with when the doctor has to communicate with me in writing.' Addressing about 1,500 participants before he flagged off the walk, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong thanked SADeaf for its work in raising awareness and advocating for the deaf community over the last seven decades. He added that everyone in society – not just the deaf community – has a role to play in building a more inclusive Singapore. 'All the plans, all the programmes that we have won't take us very far if you and I are not invested, (if) we are not aware, and we are not inclusive,' said Mr Tong. At the event, participants wore T-shirts with the Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) alphabet emblazoned across the back. Participants wore T-shirts with the Singapore Sign Language alphabet emblazoned across the back. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG SgSL, which contains uniquely Singaporean signs and colloquial expressions, is the native sign language recognised and used by the deaf community here. During the walk, participants tried their hand at learning basic SgSL phrases like 'wow' and 'Marina Bay Sands' with the aid of signboards at different points along the route. The association's executive director Josh Lye said sign-ups for SADeaf's SgSL classes have increased over the past three years, particularly in the last year. In its 2023-2024 financial year, SADeaf had more than 3,000 students, both deaf and hearing, in its SgSL classes, up from about 2,700 in the previous financial year. Mr Lye said SADeaf plans to open more classes to meet the growing interest in SgSL, including from beyond the deaf community. Ms Rashidah Zulkifli, a senior sign language interpreter at SADeaf, pointed to the video-relay service launched by SADeaf in December 2024 as another example of the inroads made in promoting accessibility for deaf individuals. The service connects deaf individuals with interpreters on video conferencing platform Zoom to help them communicate with banks, hospitals or businesses over the phone. However , the 33-year-old interpreter expressed that more needs to be done to 'create a society where deaf people feel more included, not just accommodated,' such as by providing sign language interpretation at more events, the creation of more media content, and raising awareness of interpretation as a viable professional career. Ms Rashidah Zulkifli pointed to the video-relay service launched by SADeaf in December 2024 as another example of the inroads made in promoting accessibility for deaf individuals. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG A study by the National Council of Social Service revealed a decline in positive attitudes towards people with disabilities here in 2023, largely due to a dip in positive sentiments at the workplace. Calling on employers to give deaf individuals an equal shot, Ms Rashidah said: 'Employers play a big role in giving deaf people ways to contribute instead of assuming they cannot help.' Participants of the charity walk , which was sponsored by property agency ERA Singapore, also set a new record in the Singapore Book of Records for the largest mass walk in SgSL T-shirts. SADeaf was established by the government in 1955 to oversee the welfare of the deaf community in Singapore. After its formation, SADeaf called for deaf individuals to register themselves with the association as it studied plans to build a school for deaf children staffed by specially-trained teachers. In 1963, it opened the Singapore School for the Deaf for deaf children aged six to 16. It then started the Vocational Institute for the Handicapped for deaf students aged between 16 and 21 to learn basic technical skills in 1975. Moving forward, SADeaf will work on supporting the growing number of seniors who are hard of hearing as Singapore's population ages, said Mr Lye. 'We have about 400,000 to 500,000 seniors who already have hearing loss. That number doubles by 2030, so we don't have a lot of time to address it... and we will work with our partners to address this.' Wong Yang is a journalist at The Straits Times, covering housing, property, land use and community stories. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
