|
|
The PDRC was founded in 2001 on three cornerstones: research, information and networking. This is rooted in the belief that research-based advocacy for, and by the Filipino Deaf community is a key to its struggles. The PDRC is a non-stock, non-profit corporation. Fields of focus include sign language linguistics and interpreting, employment and livelihood, education, media and technology, health, policy and legislation, and Deaf culture and the arts.
Information and telecommunications technology play an important role in the workings of the PDRC. As a resource center, it goes beyond the convention of being a static repository of materials. Much of its know-how and services that it has available to share is brought out to the community and aims to build a strong virtual presence at the grassroots.
Our goals
To serve as a nationwide center for the Filipino Deaf community, and its individual and collective stakeholders, in the various needs, challenges and issues that concern it, by:
- encouraging, conducting and commissioning RESEARCH, particularly on sign language linguistics and interpreting, employment and livelihood, education, health and counseling, policy-making and legislation, media and technology, and Deaf culture and the arts;
- gathering and providing INFORMATION through the development of materials, and their publication and dissemination by print or electronic means; and
- serving as a NETWORKING support for caregivers of the Deaf, advocates for the community, and Deaf organizations.
What we believe in
The PDRC is guided by the following principles and progressive philosophies:
- Deafness is viewed as a culture. Thus, Deaf individuals are considered members of a cultural / linguistic minority.
- There exists a natural language used by the Filipino Deaf community, and that is Filipino Sign Language. It is the recommended language of choice in all their linguistic domains.
- Bilingualism is the educational goal for Deaf Filipinos, recognizing Filipino Sign Language as their first language, and aiming to develop literacy skills in a written language.
- Members of the Filipino Deaf community are held together by their support for common values and goals, particularly the use of sign language.
- Deaf Filipinos possess human rights equally as any Filipino.
- Deaf Filipinos, individually and collectively, need empowerment rather than charity.
|
|
