FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Olive Osmond Hearing Fund Hopes Mandela Memorial Sign Language Controversy will Inspire People to Learn; Appreciate Signing

Ephraim, UT - - December 16, 2013  Throughout the deaf and hard of hearing community, people are voicing their anger about the man hired as a sign language interpreter for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa.  The Olive Osmond Hearing Fund hopes people will channel that anger into an opportunity to educate people about the importance of sign language.

“Nelson Mandela had such an amazing impact on the world that the whole world was watching the memorial service in his honor,” says Justin Osmond, Founder & CEO of Olive Osmond Hearing Fund.  “The controversy surrounding this sign language interpreter and whether he even knew sign language, is forcing people to talk about the importance of sign language.  This is an opportunity to bring greater respect for the art of sign language and to create higher standards for sign language interpreters.”

The controversy centers on Thamsanqa Jantjie, who stood on stage beside leaders from around the world at the Mandela memorial, appearing to translate their messages for the deaf and hard of hearing.  Jantjie has since been branded “a fake” and organizations that service the deaf and hard of hearing call his “self invented gestures” a “mockery.”

The World Health Organization estimates 360 million people around the world are deaf or suffer from a disabling hearing loss.  “That means potentially 360 million people have no idea what those world leaders had to say about Nelson Mandela’s contribution to world peace and equality,” Osmond explains. “It seems to me that someone would have better vetted a potential sign language interpreter before putting them in such a high profile position, like the Nelson Mandela Memorial.”

Osmond founded the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund in 2010.  Since then, it has provided hearing aids to 2,400 children around the world, and has outfitted several school districts with equipment to help teachers better communicate with deaf students.  The organization also provides musical instruments and lessons to deaf children.

Olive Osmond was the matriarch of the world-famous Osmond singing family.  Two of her children were deaf and she devoted her life to helping people with hearing loss.  “The reason the original Osmond Brothers started singing in the first place, was to raise money to buy hearing aids for their deaf siblings,” Osmond says. 

To learn more about Olive Osmond Hearing Fund, visit www.hearingfund.org.  Visitors may also complete an online application for assistance.

ABOUT OLIVE OSMOND HEARING FUND

Founded in 2010, the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund (www.hearingfund.org) serves both the deaf and hard of hearing communities with education, resources, and cutting-edge hearing equipment and devices. Justin Osmond started the organization in honor of his grandmother, Olive Osmond, the matriarch of the world-famous singing Osmond family.  Justin Osmond, an accomplished violinist, is himself 90% deaf.  Since 2010, Olive Osmond Hearing Fund has provided hearing aids to 2,400 children, and has outfitted several school districts with equipment to help teachers better communicate with deaf students.  The organization also provides musical instruments and lessons to deaf children. 

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