1. Reaching Deaf Communities
A Workshop on Bridging the Gaps
AIDS 2008, Mexico City
August 7, 2008

2. Format of Session Introduction and Overview, Leila Monaghan
Deaf HIV/AIDS Services in Quebec, Donald Pilling
VCT services in Kenya, Washington Opiyo Sati
Working with Brazilian Deaf adolescents, Claudia Bisol
VSO and Disability Advocacy, Jessica de Ruijter

3. Breakout sessions with Leila, Donald, Washington, Claudia, Jessica
Time to ask questions, get information you need on specific issues
Come together at 15:40 to discuss bigger picture

4. Presenters Leila Monaghan, University of Wyoming, USA
Donald Pilling, CSSQ, Canada
Washington Opiyo Sati, Liverpool VCT, Kenya
Claudia Bisol, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Jessica de Ruijter, VSO, Netherlands

5. Leila Monaghan Anthropologist Overview of issues
Presentation of demographic information
Introduction of some of the solutions

6. Donald Pilling President, Coalition SIDA des Sourds du Quebec
Long time AIDS activist
Part of only Deaf run AIDS organization in the world
Years of experience doing outreach to Canadian Deaf communities
Has examples of outreach materials

7. Washington Opiyo Sati Director, Deaf Outreach, Liverpool VCT, Kenya
Organizes regular stationary and mobile counseling and testing units (MVCT)
Made Kenya a model for many other countries

8. Claudia Bisol Psychologist
Teach at University of Caxias do Sul, Brazil
Coordinator of program for Deaf students
Research about Deaf adolescents and sexuality including narratives about sex

9. Jessica de Ruijter
Advocacy Officer, Voluntary Service Organization (VS0), Netherlands
Before starting at VSO in October, worked on prevention at UNFPA in China and for Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Will speak about challenges VSO has in doing work supporting programs for HIV & AIDS and disabilities.

10. HIV/AIDS and Deaf People
Deaf people are often cut off from mainstream communication methods
Can’t get information from television, radio
Often also have trouble with complex literacy
Natural language for most Deaf people is sign language
Deaf people often part of close knit communities
Sexually active but don’t have information about protection
Governments often ignore needs of Deaf people

11. US Example CDC does not keep statistics Only state of Maryland does
Results from public testing data since 2003 show Deaf people are twice as likely to be HIV+ as hearing people.
In African American population of MD, hearing rate 3.4%, Deaf rate 6.4%
Epidemic is different in Deaf community, almost 1:1 male to female.
Differences between Deaf and hearing get worse as people getting tested get younger.

12. Many attempts to help Deaf community are cosmetic
TTY phone numbers listed don’t work
provides ASL as language but not searchable
Small centers often served community but support has dwindled in last 8 years

13. More information at:
Can contact Leila at:
Also see package of materials, includes range of sources and information