Deaf in Latvia

Introduction / History

In many situations, Deaf people are viewed as disability group, but a more accurate approach is to consider them as a distinct people group. They have their own unique languages and cultures. While many Deaf people have some degree of bilingualism, for most of them, it is impossible to learn a spoken language that they cannot hear fully. It is becoming more common around the world for Deaf people to learn more than one sign language. That includes those in Latvia.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are many everyday experiences shared by Deaf people around the world that contribute to Deaf culture. Since most Deaf people are born to hearing parents, and very few of those parents learn to sign, many Deaf people are isolated from their family and the broader community. Instead of acquiring language from their parents, many acquire language from other Deaf in the community or from a Deaf school. Oppression by the hearing community is also commonplace; decisions are made for the Deaf without Deaf input; laws are established forbidding Deaf people to marry; education may be provided only in the spoken language without interpreting. All of these shared experiences serve to unite Deaf people across cultural and political lines.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Deaf in Latvia are usually traditional Christians like the majority. However, they seldom understand much of the gospel message because of their communication needs.

What Are Their Needs?

While many Deaf people have some degree of bilingualism, for most of them it is impossible to fully learn a spoken language which they cannot hear. It is becoming more common around the world for Deaf people to learn more than one sign language.

Because of lack of access to the spoken language, many Deaf people have a difficult time participating in church services and activities; relatively little Bible translation work has been done in sign languages and interpreted church services provide only the most basic of access to the Deaf community. Just like spoken languages, sign languages are not universal and vary widely from country to country and often even within a country. For Deaf people to have full access to scripture, they need both Bible translation in their heart language and services in sign language.

For many Deaf people, the Bible is out of reach. Limited access to education makes learning a spoken language well enough to read scripture exceedingly difficult, and only a small percentage of Deaf people have access to scripture in a sign language.

The global Deaf community is very much in need of missionaries, but the best people to reach a Deaf person is another Deaf person. Providing training for Deaf leaders and Deaf missionaries is crucial.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to prepare and send out Deaf missionaries to Latvia.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of Deaf people in Latvia to respond to the gospel.
Pray for many Deaf to be healed as a testimony of God’s power and goodness.

Text Source:   Joshua Project