Mia Le Roux became the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa following a divisive competition that saw one finalist withdraw after being trolled over her Nigerian heritage. 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adet-Shina pulled out of the competition following allegations that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman. Report by Kalden Ongmu.

First deaf crowned as Miss South Africa 2024

A little girl from Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom is able to hear for the first time in her life after she underwent a pioneering gene therapy. Here’s what we know about the therapy.

Gravitas | UK toddler born deaf can now hear, thanks to gene therapy

A first-of-its-kind football helmet will allow coaches at Gallaudet University, a school for deaf and hard of hearing students, to transmit plays to their quarterback via an augmented reality screen.

New football helmet enhances communication for deaf players

Google Doodle celebrated the 77th birth anniversary of Kitty O'Neil. She was an iconic stuntwoman from the United States. However, the super-fast vehicle driver and daredevil became deaf in childhood due to multiple illnesses.

Google Doodle celebrated the 77th birth anniversary of Kitty O'Neil. She was an iconic stuntwoman from the United States. However, the super-fast vehicle driver and daredevil became deaf in childhood due to multiple illnesses. Meeya Tijang, a Washington DC-based guest artist, illustrated her google doodle on her 77th birth anniversary on Friday, March 24. Kitty O'Neil once held the title of the fastest woman in the world. She never looked at her deafness as a hindrance, but she referred to it as an 'asset.' Moreover, she was the first woman to join Stunts Unlimited, an organisation for Hollywood's most prominent stunt performers. Here's everything you need to know about March 24's Google doodle star, Kitty O'Neil and her inspiring life. Kitty O'Neil: Deaf Stuntwoman & Daredevil Kitty O'Neil was born on March 24, 1946. Her mother was a Cherokee Native American, and her father was Irish. Her birthplace is Corpus Christi, Texas. When Kitty O'Neil was a few months old, she contracted multiple diseases, which caused an intense fever leaving her deaf permanently. However, she never saw her deafness as an obstacle in her dreams. Kitty O'Neil was fluent in several modes of communication and adapted for different audiences throughout her life. Later, she preferred speaking and lip reading. O'Neil was fond of diving, but she could not pursue it due to a wrist injury. However, Kitty never gave up on her dream to become a professional athlete. She experimented with high-speed sports like water skiing and motorcycle racing. Kitty O'Neil Career Kitty O'Neil performed difficult stunts, like falling from heights while being 'on fire' or jumping from helicopters. She made it to the big screen as a stunt double for films and TV series in the late 70s. Kitty was in The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman and The Blue Brothers. Furthermore, she received the title 'fastest woman alive' after she zoomed across the Alvord Desert at 512.76 miles per hour. Kitty O'Neil broke the record by almost 200 mph in her rocket-powered vehicle. It was evident that she could break the men's record too. However, the sponsors did not allow her to break the overall one, saying it was not apt for her status. But the real reason was they wanted to reserve it for a male driver. Her biopic Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story got released in 1979. It reviews the impressive Alvord Desert feat. Kitty O'Neil passed away in 2018 at the age of 72 due to pneumonia. In 2019, the Academy honoured her with the Oscars in Memoriam award. ALSO READ | Shazam star Zachery Levi confirms his cameo in Black Adam was blocked by Dwayne Johnson

Kitty O'Neil Google Doodle: Meet America's daredevil deaf stuntwoman once titled 'fastest woman alive'

Do you listen to music at loud volumes for longer periods of time? A new study shows 1 billion young people are at risk for hearing loss

1 billion youngsters are at risk of going deaf

A study suggests that more than a billion young adults may be at risk of hearing loss. Any idea why? Because of their use of headphones, earbuds. Priyanka Sharma tells you more

Gravitas: Do you listen to loud music? You could be risking hearing loss

Bhutan is home to almost 20 different languages and dialects. Yet, the country does not have a standardised sign language. The Wangsel Institute for the deaf is hoping to change that. Mariam Wardak gets you a report.

South Asia Diary | Bhutan's first-ever sign language being developed

A movement to make sign language a human right

A deaf woman on Wednesday won a court case against the UK government for failing to provide sign language interpreters at televised COVID-19 briefings.

The ruling is the latest setback for the UK government in its legal battles against citizens suing over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Michael Fordham ruled in favour of citizen Katie Rowley against the Cabinet Office for not providing the interpretation during broadcasts on September 21 and October 12 last year.

Fordham said the omission constituted "discrimination" as it breached the "reasonable adjustments duty" but found the government was not "in present or continuing breach".

Campaign group The Good Law Project took it to court amid accusations of inadequate transparency and cronyism relating to the procurement of contracts for personal protective equipment.

In June, the High Court ruled against senior minister Michael Gove for unlawfully awarding a contract worth more than £560,000 ($777,000, 658,000 euros) for virus-related communications to a firm without going through proper procedures.

And state auditors last year found the government failed to account clearly for spending on supplies and services during the pandemic worth £18 billion.

Rowley, a self-employed actor and writer in her thirties from Leeds in northern England, wanted compensation for "injury to feelings".

Her lawyers claimed she should receive thousands of pounds in compensation, and a lower court will award damages at a later date.

Only two of more than 170 COVID-19 briefings were unlawful because British Sign Language was not provided, according to officials.

"Our priority has always been to reach the largest possible audience with important public information," said a government spokesperson.

"We will continue to ensure that British Sign Language interpretation is made available during COVID-19 briefings."

Televised pandemic briefings by the UK's devolved authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have included British Sign Language interpreters on screen.

The London High Court case comes at an inopportune time for the UK government, which on Tuesday launched plans to improve access to public transport and taxis for people with disabilities.

A deaf woman on Wednesday won a court case against the UK government for failing to provide sign language interpreters at televised COVID-19 briefings. The ruling is the latest setback for the UK government in its legal battles against citizens suing over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

A deaf woman on Wednesday won a court case against the UK government for failing to provide sign language interpreters at televised COVID-19 briefings. The ruling is the latest setback for the UK government in its legal battles against citizens suing over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Judge Michael Fordham ruled in favour of citizen Katie Rowley against the Cabinet Office for not providing the interpretation during broadcasts on September 21 and October 12 last year. Fordham said the omission constituted "discrimination" as it breached the "reasonable adjustments duty" but found the government was not "in present or continuing breach". Campaign group The Good Law Project took it to court amid accusations of inadequate transparency and cronyism relating to the procurement of contracts for personal protective equipment. In June, the High Court ruled against senior minister Michael Gove for unlawfully awarding a contract worth more than £560,000 ($777,000, 658,000 euros) for virus-related communications to a firm without going through proper procedures. And state auditors last year found the government failed to account clearly for spending on supplies and services during the pandemic worth £18 billion. Rowley, a self-employed actor and writer in her thirties from Leeds in northern England, wanted compensation for "injury to feelings". Her lawyers claimed she should receive thousands of pounds in compensation, and a lower court will award damages at a later date. Only two of more than 170 COVID-19 briefings were unlawful because British Sign Language was not provided, according to officials. "Our priority has always been to reach the largest possible audience with important public information," said a government spokesperson. "We will continue to ensure that British Sign Language interpretation is made available during COVID-19 briefings." Televised pandemic briefings by the UK's devolved authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have included British Sign Language interpreters on screen. The London High Court case comes at an inopportune time for the UK government, which on Tuesday launched plans to improve access to public transport and taxis for people with disabilities.

UK govt loses court case over sign language interpreters

As Belgium obliges people to wear face masks on public transport and recommends them elsewhere to limit the spread of the coronavirus, deaf people are calling for transparent masks to allow them to communicate with others.

Deaf Belgians demand transparent masks for lip-reading during coronavirus

Coke Studio, known for bringing musicians from every corner into the mainstream, recently took a different kind of initiative in its Pakistani edition. 
 
Titled &quot;Coke Studio for the Deaf&quot;, this special program tried to make the Coke Studio experience accessible to the deaf community of Pakistan, reports the Dawn. According to Ibrahim Khan, Coca-Cola brand manager, &quot;Coke Studio reaches millions around the world, but not the nine million hearing-impaired people in Pakistan. We wanted to bring a small change in that regard.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The makers used a combination of lights and vibrations to make some members of the hearing-impaired community experience music. This initiative has been established in partnership with the Deaf Reach program of the Family Education Services Foundation (FESF).&nbsp; 
 
According to Deaf Reach founder Richard Geary, &quot;Working together with Coke Studio has been a really amazing experience. Not just because we got to see the experience the young people enjoyed, but to create awareness in the country and internationally about the need to provide more opportunities for the deaf community.&quot; 
 
&quot;This is what we try to do at Deaf Reach with our school program, vocational training program and jobs program. And we&#39;d like to engage with other forms of sectors who can make a difference to these kids&#39; lives,&quot; he added. Sharing her experience, a happy listener said, &quot;Whatever my body felt, whatever my brain thought, even though we can&#39;t hear the music, we can feel it.&quot; 
 
(ANI)

A combination of lights and vibrations allow some members of the hearing-impaired community to experience, or 'feel', music

Coke Studio, known for bringing musicians from every corner into the mainstream, recently took a different kind of initiative in its Pakistani edition. Titled "Coke Studio for the Deaf", this special program tried to make the Coke Studio experience accessible to the deaf community of Pakistan, reports the Dawn. According to Ibrahim Khan, Coca-Cola brand manager, "Coke Studio reaches millions around the world, but not the nine million hearing-impaired people in Pakistan. We wanted to bring a small change in that regard." The makers used a combination of lights and vibrations to make some members of the hearing-impaired community experience music. This initiative has been established in partnership with the Deaf Reach program of the Family Education Services Foundation (FESF). According to Deaf Reach founder Richard Geary, "Working together with Coke Studio has been a really amazing experience. Not just because we got to see the experience the young people enjoyed, but to create awareness in the country and internationally about the need to provide more opportunities for the deaf community." "This is what we try to do at Deaf Reach with our school program, vocational training program and jobs program. And we'd like to engage with other forms of sectors who can make a difference to these kids' lives," he added. Sharing her experience, a happy listener said, "Whatever my body felt, whatever my brain thought, even though we can't hear the music, we can feel it." (ANI)

Pakistan studio makes music for deaf people

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