Deaf in Panama


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Deaf Panamanians often feel oppressed and discriminated against. Disability laws have been made but they have not assisted the Panamanian Deaf community as much as they have benefited other disabled groups. Many Deaf Panamanians are not aware of the opportunities they are missing because of the lack of communication and knowledge of what is happening in the hearing world around them. Deaf people want the opportunity to learn and become independent.

The majority of Deaf students are integrated into hearing classrooms with little or no signing. They believe that clear communication will provide them access to a better life. Because of this, there is a desire for schools to be conducted in Panamanian Sign Language or the provision of educational interpreters. There is also a great need for interpreters in other public services such as courts, hospitals, media, etc. Currently, interpreters are hard to find in Panama and they are unaffordable to Deaf Panamanians.

It is difficult for Deaf Panamanians to find jobs, unless they are literate in Spanish and able to voice. Most often they work in factories where communication is not required. Religion of any sort does not appear to be adhered to by many Deaf Panamanians. Deaf people socialize mostly on weekends in local malls or central parks. Panama City and David have the largest Deaf communities. There is a fair amount of interaction between Deaf people in Costa Rica, the USA and Panama which gives reason to the idea that Panamanian Sign Language is related to Costa Rican Sign Language and American Sign Language. An interesting note is that the Deaf community in Chiriquí province believe they are culturally and linguistically distinct from the rest of Panama.

The greatest needs mentioned in the Deaf community are for more Panamanian Sign Language publications and access to better education for Deaf people. There is also the need to train parents how to help their Deaf children.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Deaf in Panama.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Deaf
People Name in Country Deaf
Pronunciation def
Alternate Names
Population this Country 23,000
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

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.


Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.80 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
90.54 %
Ethnic Religions
1.47 %
Hinduism
0.03 %
Islam
0.70 %
Non-Religious
4.30 %
Other / Small
2.16 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Panamanian Sign Language (23,000 speakers)
Language Code lsp   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Panamanian Sign Language (23,000 speakers)
Language Code lsp   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Panamanian Sign Language

Primary Language:  Panamanian Sign Language

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

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


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024