DEAFNESS IN INDIA PRESENTED BY Arun Rao Executive Director -The Deaf Way Foundation President - Association of Sign Language Interpreters

DEAFNESS IN INDIA

PRESENTED BY Arun Rao

Executive Director -The Deaf Way Foundation

President - Association of Sign Language Interpreters

EDUCATION The educators of the deaf in India have used a single methodology for the past 30 some years. The admitted penetration is at 1% of the total population of which 2% are successfully rehabilitated and educated. The others are left to fend for themselves, without the skills they enrolled to obtain.

The educators of the deaf in India have used a single methodology for the past 30 some years.

The admitted penetration is at 1% of the total population of which 2% are successfully rehabilitated and educated.

The others are left to fend for themselves, without the skills they enrolled to obtain.

EDUCATION 1. Most schools in India do not have a clear communication or language policy 2. They either emulate old teachers or devise their own methods. 3. We have a total of 30 special schools above 8 th grade of which 8 schools are above 10 th grade level for a population which possibly exceeds half a million.

1. Most schools in India do not have a clear communication or language policy

2. They either emulate old teachers or devise their own methods.

3. We have a total of 30 special schools above 8 th grade of which 8 schools are above 10 th grade level for a population which possibly exceeds half a million.

THE DEAF WAY …… WE HAVE A TWO PRONGED APPROACH 1. INFORMATION ACCESS AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE TEACHERS. 2. MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

WE HAVE A TWO PRONGED APPROACH

1. INFORMATION ACCESS AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE TEACHERS.

2. MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

Conducting seminars on current/modern educational practices for the teachers. Enriching the experience of school students by hosting interschool events such as painting, drama and dance, quiz and other competitions, fun fairs, adventure sports, summer camps etc. TEACHERS/STUDENTS AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THE DEAF WAY ……

Conducting seminars on current/modern educational practices for the teachers.

Enriching the experience of school students by hosting interschool events such as painting, drama and dance, quiz and other competitions, fun fairs, adventure sports, summer camps etc.

TEACHERS/STUDENTS AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

SIGN LANGUAGE THE STATUS OF SIGN LANGUAGE IS VERY POOR. SIGNING DEAF PERSONS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE MENTALY DEFICIENT AND ILL EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH LIFE. SIGN LANGUAGE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEARING HANDICAPPED IN THE YEAR 2001, 17 YEARS AFTER ITS CREATION BY OUR HOSTING A NATIONAL LEVEL EVENT ON SIGN LANGUAGE AND BILINGUALISM IN DEAF EDUCATION.

THE STATUS OF SIGN LANGUAGE IS VERY POOR.

SIGNING DEAF PERSONS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE MENTALY DEFICIENT AND ILL EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH LIFE.

SIGN LANGUAGE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEARING HANDICAPPED IN THE YEAR 2001, 17 YEARS AFTER ITS CREATION BY OUR HOSTING A NATIONAL LEVEL EVENT ON SIGN LANGUAGE AND BILINGUALISM IN DEAF EDUCATION.

INTERPRETING INTERPRETERS AND INTERPRETING SERVICES ARE VIRTUALLY UNHEARD OF UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE DEAF WAY STARTED ATTENDING EVENTS AND ASKING TO BE ALLOWED TO INTERPRET. GRATIS. DISABILITY ORGANISATIONS DID NOT HAVE PROVISION FOR INTERPRETERS IN THEIR MEETINGS NEITHER DID THE GOVT.

INTERPRETERS AND INTERPRETING SERVICES ARE VIRTUALLY UNHEARD OF UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

THE DEAF WAY STARTED ATTENDING EVENTS AND ASKING TO BE ALLOWED TO INTERPRET. GRATIS.

DISABILITY ORGANISATIONS DID NOT HAVE PROVISION FOR INTERPRETERS IN THEIR MEETINGS NEITHER DID THE GOVT.

INTERPRETERS THE SITUATION WITH IAN STILLMAN’S ARREST AND INCARCERATION. THE FIRST EVER PROTESTS BY THE DEAF COMMUNITY WERE LED BY THE DEAF WAY. 19000 POSTCARDS WERE SENT WITH A VARIETY OF APPEALS TO THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER.

THE SITUATION WITH IAN STILLMAN’S ARREST AND INCARCERATION.

THE FIRST EVER PROTESTS BY THE DEAF COMMUNITY WERE LED BY THE DEAF WAY.

19000 POSTCARDS WERE SENT WITH A VARIETY OF APPEALS TO THE PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER.

A DEAF PERSON’S RIGHTS THIS WAS NEVER IN ANYONE’S MIND. IAN WAS REFUSED AN INTERPRETER THE SUPREME COURT SAID HE WAS HEARING BECAUSE HE COULD SPEAK DEAF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WERE TERRIFIED GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MANY IANS ARE STILL IN JAIL SOMEWHERE.

THIS WAS NEVER IN ANYONE’S MIND.

IAN WAS REFUSED AN INTERPRETER

THE SUPREME COURT SAID HE WAS HEARING BECAUSE HE COULD SPEAK

DEAF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WERE TERRIFIED

GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MANY IANS ARE STILL IN JAIL SOMEWHERE.

HIV/AIDS AWARENESS WORKED WITH PROJECT SIGN POST FROM 1997 TO 1999 K.A.B.P. RESEARCH DISMAL FINDINGS ON INFORMATION LEVELS PREVALENT IN URBAN AREAS CREATED TWO TEAMS OF PEER EDUCATORS WHO CONDUCT 4 DAY RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTH WORKSHOPS.

WORKED WITH PROJECT SIGN POST FROM 1997 TO 1999

K.A.B.P. RESEARCH

DISMAL FINDINGS ON INFORMATION LEVELS PREVALENT IN URBAN AREAS

CREATED TWO TEAMS OF PEER EDUCATORS WHO CONDUCT 4 DAY RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTH WORKSHOPS.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING NONE OF THE REHAB / VOCATIONAL CENTERS IN INDIA RUN BY THE GOVT FOR THE DEAF ARE CERTIFIED BY THE MINISTRY THAT RUNS THEM. THE DEAF WAY RUNS SIX CENTERS TEACHING COMPUTERS AND ENGLISH AND PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS. CONDUCTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOPS

NONE OF THE REHAB / VOCATIONAL CENTERS IN INDIA RUN BY THE GOVT FOR THE DEAF ARE CERTIFIED BY THE MINISTRY THAT RUNS THEM.

THE DEAF WAY RUNS SIX CENTERS TEACHING COMPUTERS AND ENGLISH AND PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS.

CONDUCTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOPS

PLACEMENT GOVT JOBS ADVT FOR THE DEAF HAVE NO PROVISION FOR INTERPRETERS DURING THE INTERVIEWS. 1% OF GOVT JOBS ARE RESERVED FOR THE DEAF. WE DO PLACEMENTS THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACTS AND RECENTLY THROUGH AN AGENCY WITH MODERATE SUCCESS.

GOVT JOBS ADVT FOR THE DEAF HAVE NO PROVISION FOR INTERPRETERS DURING THE INTERVIEWS.

1% OF GOVT JOBS ARE RESERVED FOR THE DEAF.

WE DO PLACEMENTS THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACTS AND RECENTLY THROUGH AN AGENCY WITH MODERATE SUCCESS.

DEAF FRIENDSHIP CLUBS SET UP FIRST “SELF HELP GROUPS” WE CALLED “FRIENDSHIP CLUBS” IN DELHI IN 1988, AND CONTINUED TO DO SO. WE NOW RUN 56 SUCH CLUBS IN 11 STATES IN INDIA COUNTERING THE ISOLATION EACH FEELS AND PROVIDES A PLATFORM TO SHARE TO GROW TO MEET INTERACT COUNSELLING FOR PARENTS.

SET UP FIRST “SELF HELP GROUPS” WE CALLED “FRIENDSHIP CLUBS” IN DELHI IN 1988, AND CONTINUED TO DO SO.

WE NOW RUN 56 SUCH CLUBS IN 11 STATES IN INDIA

COUNTERING THE ISOLATION EACH FEELS AND PROVIDES A PLATFORM TO SHARE TO GROW TO MEET INTERACT

COUNSELLING FOR PARENTS.

OTHER PROGRAMS MATRIMONIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CAMPS SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING TO EMPLOYERS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LAMAZE TRAINING FOR WOMEN AND LABOUR ROOM INTERPRETING.

MATRIMONIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CAMPS

SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING TO EMPLOYERS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

LAMAZE TRAINING FOR WOMEN AND LABOUR ROOM INTERPRETING.

OTHER PROGRAMS SOCIAL WORK ORIENTATION FOR THE DEAF RELIEF WORK WITH A DEAF TEAM - ORISSA 1999 FOR 14 DAYS - GUJARAT 2001 FOR 21 DAYS

SOCIAL WORK ORIENTATION FOR THE DEAF

RELIEF WORK WITH A DEAF TEAM

- ORISSA 1999 FOR 14 DAYS

- GUJARAT 2001 FOR 21 DAYS

DEAFNESS AND LAW STARTED EDUCATION ON THE LAW AND VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE LAW IN 2004 FORMALISED IT INTO A SERIES OF CLASSES FOR WHICH WE GOT RESOURCE PERSONS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW NETWORK

STARTED EDUCATION ON THE LAW AND VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE LAW IN 2004

FORMALISED IT INTO A SERIES OF CLASSES FOR WHICH WE GOT RESOURCE PERSONS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW NETWORK

TOOLS FOR GROWTH WE ARE CREATING VCD’S OF CLASSES AND LECTURES ON THE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS WE COVER. THESE ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FRIENDSHIP CLUBS WE RUN WE WISH TO SET UP A FULL FLEDGED VIDEO STUDIO AND DUPLICATION UNIT.

WE ARE CREATING VCD’S OF CLASSES AND LECTURES ON THE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS WE COVER.

THESE ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FRIENDSHIP CLUBS WE RUN

WE WISH TO SET UP A FULL FLEDGED VIDEO STUDIO AND DUPLICATION UNIT.

CIVIL RIGHTS THE NEED FOR RIGHTS BASED ACTION IS OBVIOUS THE PARADIGM OF CHARITY HAS TO BE ERADICATED DEAFNESS TO BE VIEWED AS A SOCIO-LINGUISTIC ISSUE, NOT A MEDICAL ONE

THE NEED FOR RIGHTS BASED ACTION IS OBVIOUS

THE PARADIGM OF CHARITY HAS TO BE ERADICATED

DEAFNESS TO BE VIEWED AS A SOCIO-LINGUISTIC ISSUE, NOT A MEDICAL ONE

A NEW FACE TO SPEARHEAD THE DEAF MOVEMENT WE NEED LEADERSHIP AS LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT WE FELT A NEW ORGANISATION SHOULD BE FORMED NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF.

TO SPEARHEAD THE DEAF MOVEMENT WE NEED LEADERSHIP

AS LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT WE FELT A NEW ORGANISATION SHOULD BE FORMED

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF.

N.A.D. WAS LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 3 RD 2005 THE ONLY WORK IT DOES IS RIGHTS BASED ACTIVISM AND LITIGATION. CURRENTLY FILING PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN THE SUPREME COURT ON DRIVING LICENCES, INTERPRETING, EDUCATION.

WAS LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 3 RD 2005

THE ONLY WORK IT DOES IS RIGHTS BASED ACTIVISM AND LITIGATION.

CURRENTLY FILING PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN THE SUPREME COURT ON DRIVING LICENCES, INTERPRETING, EDUCATION.

ASSOCIATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS SET UP IN 2008 STILL FLEDGLING ORGANISATION SLOWLY GATHERING MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER INDIA. WILL BE WORKING TO CREATE A CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR INDIAN INTERPRETERS

SET UP IN 2008

STILL FLEDGLING ORGANISATION

SLOWLY GATHERING MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER INDIA.

WILL BE WORKING TO CREATE A CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR INDIAN INTERPRETERS

THE WAY FORWARD INGO’S NEED TO LEAD THE WAY PROVIDING RESOURCES OF VARIOUS TYPES PROVIDING ROLE MODELS IN TERMS OF NON DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AND PRACTICE PROVIDE TRAININGS FOR POLICY MAKERS WITH REGARD TO DISABILITY PROGRAMMING.

INGO’S NEED TO LEAD THE WAY

PROVIDING RESOURCES OF VARIOUS TYPES

PROVIDING ROLE MODELS IN TERMS OF NON DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AND PRACTICE

PROVIDE TRAININGS FOR POLICY MAKERS WITH REGARD TO DISABILITY PROGRAMMING.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE