Deaf in Jamaica


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The members of the Jamaican Deaf community are located on the Caribbean island of Jamaica. The highest population is found in the capital city of Kingston with other significant populations found in Mandeville, St. Elizabeth parish, and Montego Bay. Though the exact number of signing Deaf people is uncertain, the national Deaf association has estimated that there are 27,000 people with hearing loss.

There are twelve Deaf schools and two vocational training programs. The national Deaf association runs seven schools and one vocational program and religious entities operate the other five schools and vocational program. The association-run schools are pursuing a bilingual approach using both written English and Jamaican Sign Language (JSL), a natural signed language with a distinct grammar from English. Three of the religious schools, which are affiliated, use a Signed English/Total Communication approach (manual signs following English grammar and signing and speaking at the same time) while the other schools use Jamaican Sign Language. Few Deaf students are mainstreamed into hearing classrooms.

Deaf Jamaicans often gather at Deaf associations, Deaf clubs, social gatherings, and religious services where they use Jamaican Sign Language. There is one national Deaf association, headquartered in Kingston. There are several Deaf clubs and regular gathering places where Deaf people socialize during the weekends. There are eleven Deaf religious services—three are evangelical and eight are Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Halls. Some churches provide interpreted services. There are few, or no, resources available in JSL although there are English-language books with biographies of Deaf Jamaicans.

Many Deaf Jamaicans have difficulty securing employment, but the people who do have jobs are often employed in Deaf education, association-related, or manual labor positions. The Jamaican Deaf community is unified with a common identity and is very proud to have its own Jamaican Deaf culture. Jamaican Deaf people indicate that their primary community development needs are more skilled interpreters, a Jamaican Sign Language dictionary, and improved education.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Deaf in Jamaica.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Deaf
People Name in Country Deaf
Pronunciation def
Alternate Names
Population this Country 14,000
Population all Countries 50,266,000
Total Countries 216
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 0  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 19007
ROP3 Code 114916
Country Jamaica
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Jamaica
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
82.91 %
Ethnic Religions
10.39 %
Hinduism
0.65 %
Islam
0.30 %
Non-Religious
4.65 %
Other / Small
1.10 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Jamaican Sign Language
Language Code jls   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Konchri Sain
Primary Language Jamaican Sign Language
Language Code jls   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Konchri Sain
People Groups Speaking Jamaican Sign Language

Primary Language:  Jamaican Sign Language

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source David Bennett 
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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