Deaf in Indonesia

Introduction / History

The Deaf are found evenly distributed throughout Indonesia, except that there is a small village on Bali with about 25 Deaf in a population of 300-400 people. There are only 79 Deaf schools for over two million Deaf students. The largest school has less than 1000 students. Rich people's Deaf children can go to hearing schools, but without interpretation. Only 2/3 of the provinces have schools for the Deaf, meaning that 1/3 of the Deaf children have no access to schooling. Schooling is paid for by the parents.

What Are Their Lives Like?

If someone is born Deaf, they must communicate in other ways. There is the Indonesian Sign Language, but very few understand it. Most were taught to use American Sign Language which seems to be becoming a "holy language". Almost all, if not all, the Christian Deaf are Chinese or mixed with Chinese.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Like the general Indonesian population, most Deaf are Muslim.

What Are Their Needs?

There are no special subsidies for the Deaf. Until recently sign language was banned in schools, and the children were required to learn to speak. The system used exaggerates the movements of the lips and tongue, so that some hearing people are repulsed by the strange faces the Deaf make to produce sounds correctly.
There are a few churches with ministry to the Deaf, at least four in the capital, Jakarta, where most of the adult Deaf reside, and one in Bandung (about 60 miles away). There is one Deaf pastor in the country. Apart from him, the Deaf rely on an interpreter to understand the message.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to communicate with the Deaf in Indonesia through dreams and visions.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to drive Christ followers to reach them for Jesus Christ, the only savior.

Text Source:   Joshua Project