Dario Nightengale is a videographer and co-founder of Broad Street Media, a deaf-led information and news service for the Barbados deaf community.
For our session, I met Dario at Bridgetown’s Builders of Barbados Wall – an incredibly moving sculpture made from thousands of red bricks inscribed with the surnames of all the Bajan people who over the past 600 years helped to build this proud and independent nation. “You can see my Nightengale family name right here,” he says.
“I’m proud of my country,” says Dario, “but I feel it could still do much more to include me, as a deaf person, in its future.”
When I finished at my local deaf school, they just gave us students a ‘certificate of attendance’ for good behavior and work, but with zero qualifications on it. On graduation day, the teachers gave out the scrolls to each of us students, but said you can’t open them until you get home. It was because the scrolls were empty, no CXC grades at all. The teachers were embarrassed too. It felt like they just wanted us to keep quiet about this.”
“The teachers were never interested in finding out what we deaf pupils were good at. They just kept teaching us the same things over and over again, like we were all idiots.”
“It’s no preparation for life after school. You need good English and Maths to be able to get good jobs.”
“So, when I left school I couldn’t find a job. For a long time, I just helped the family at home. I looked after our backyard allotment. Planting seeds and cutting the grass.”
‘When I was 25, Barbados’ Ministry of Youth and Culture offered deaf people the chance to attend a videography course. So, I learnt about filming and editing there. About 12 deaf people attended with Bonnie Leonce, our island’s only qualified and full-time interpreter. It was the first time I’d attended a truly accessible classroom in my life!”
“I was inspired by this to set up my own videography and photography business. I called it D-SCOPE. I felt it was so important that deaf people are making films about their own lives, language and culture.”
‘I started out by assisting my friend with filming weddings. The most exciting job I’ve had so far was to fly to Trinidad to my first time filming a deaf wedding by myself.) I was so proud to do that. I showed people that deaf people can do a professional job.”
“I’ve also learnt how to make crafts using coconut shells. My wife Joy is an artist and jewelry maker. We go to crafts and flea markets together. Joy is hard of hearing and also able to interpret for me when hearing people come to our stall. We’re a great team.”
“I have a dream: When I was a teenager my dreams kept changing: I wanted to be a fireman or a policeman. But people would say: “What? You? A policeman?” It was always the same, hearing people would simply disbelieve that deaf people can do anything at all.”
“Now I’m a grown up, I’d like to expand my D-SCOPE business – I’d love to do more weddings, do work in the other Caribbean islands too. I would like to spread the message that deaf people can make good films.”
“I also have a business called KOKONUTZ making beautiful crafts from coconut shells.”
“My motto is “never give up”. My true education only really started once I left the deaf school. I’m always open to new experiences. I’d like to be able to learn to drive a truck. It would be a useful skill, for example, when Barbados is hit by a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, then I could play my part and help out with the disaster relief efforts.”
“I’m a Nightengale. My hearing family ancestors helped to build Barbados, and as a deaf person, I want to play my part in its future too.”
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To find out more about The Calypso Project go to https://www.thecalypsoproject.com
To see more of Dario’s D-SCOPE work, visit Instagram at:
To see Dario’s crafts work, visit: www.instagram.com/kokonutz_246/
To see Dario’s videos for the deaf-led Broad Street Media, visit their Facebook site at: www.facebook.com/bsmedia17
Ever heard the saying “it’s better to give than to receive” well that also applies to time. By volunteering we support an organization or cause and make a great difference in our communities. It’s also a great way to meet new people and learn about the challenges they face daily. Consider giving more than just money, give your time !
