Deaf in Belgium


Population
Sign Languages
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In many situations Deaf people are viewed as disability groups, but a more accurate approach is to consider them as a distinct people groups. They have their own unique languages and culture. Unlike most people groups, Deaf people can be found in every country in the world and often blend in with the broader community around them. That is true of Belgium.


What Are Their Lives Like?

There are many common experiences shared by Deaf people around the world that contribute to Deaf culture. Since most Deaf people are born to hearing parents, and very few of those parents learn to sign, many Deaf people are isolated from their family and the broader community. Instead of acquiring language from their parents, many acquire language from other Deaf in the community or from a Deaf school. Decisions are made for the Deaf without Deaf input; laws are established forbidding Deaf people to marry; education may be provided only in the spoken language without interpreting.

While many Deaf people in Belgium have some degree of bilingualism, for most of them it is impossible to fully learn a spoken language which they cannot hear. That illustrates why sign language is so important.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Like the majority of the people in Belgium, the Deaf are Christian. However, given their limits of communicating the gospel, they probably don t entirely understand it. For example, they might attend church services and only understand rituals.


What Are Their Needs?

Relatively little Bible translation work has been done in sign languages and interpreted church services provide only the most basic of access to the Deaf community. Just like spoken languages, sign languages are not universal and vary widely from country to country and often even within a county. For Deaf people to have full access to scripture, they need both Bible translation in their heart language and services in sign language.


Prayer Items

Pray for the Deaf in Belgium to have full access to the Bible in sign language, especially those from a German background.
Pray for some from Belgium s Deaf community to be thrust out as missionaries to others.
Pray for many to be discipled to make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Deaf in Belgium.


References

https://www.eud.eu/member-countries/belgium/
https://www.eud.eu/da/member-countries/belgium/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

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 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 19007
ROP3 Code 114916
Country Belgium
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Scattered in Wallonia   Source:  International Mission Board / SBC
Country Belgium
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Scattered in Wallonia.   Source:  International Mission Board / SBC

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.30 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
62.72 %
Ethnic Religions
0.43 %
Hinduism
0.05 %
Islam
4.40 %
Non-Religious
32.05 %
Other / Small
0.05 %
Unknown
0.00 %

Primary Language:  French Belgian Sign Language

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Kate Nelson/AusAID - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.