Inclusive Ramadan School Teaches the Quran in Sign Language to the Deaf

This is a program created specifically for the holy month of Ramadan, the participants are friends with hearing disabilities, known as tunarungu. In Gorontalo City, Gorontalo Province, Taman Pendidikan Al Quran Tuli Gorontalo, together with Komunitas Rangkul Asa and the Gerakan untuk Kesejahteraan Tuna Rungu Indonesia (Gerkatin) Gorontalo, organised the Inclusive Ramadan School at Masjid Al Muqarrabin.

The teacher at the event, Nabila Salsabila Robot, in Gorontalo, said on Friday that 40 deaf participants attended lessons on the Quran in sign language, fiqh of wudu and prayer, the Rukun Islam, and daily etiquette, up to completing the Quran.

“This is a program we created specifically during Ramadan, the participants are friends with hearing disabilities or the deaf, known as tunarungu,” said Nabila.

“The initial plan for this activity came from our observation that during Ramadan people are enthusiastic about creating religions programs. But there are very few programs specifically for the deaf. In fact, if we look at their understanding of Islam, it is quite limited,” she said.

“The adult deaf participants focus their learning on increasing their understanding of Islam, while for children it focuses more on the Quran in sign language and the Rukun Islam. So the learning is simpler,” she added.

The activity, she said, has been running for two weeks, with three core programmes. The first is the adult class, the second is a class for deaf children, and the third is the closing sequence and an inclusive discussion.