Legal Provisions in India Education Sign Language Role of Sign Language Interpreters

What we will cover … Look at the current legal provisions in India relating to the Deaf in the areas of: Education Sign Language The role of Sign Language interpreters Consider what is lacking

Look at the current legal provisions in India relating to the Deaf in the areas of:

Education

Sign Language

The role of Sign Language interpreters

Consider what is lacking

Legal Provisions in India The Constitution of India Prior to 1995 there was no ‘disability status’ Remedies had to be sought under the principles of the Constitution All statutes derive from the constitution Where statutes fall short due to the limitations of their provisions the constitution can be invoked

The Constitution of India

Prior to 1995 there was no ‘disability status’

Remedies had to be sought under the principles of the Constitution

All statutes derive from the constitution

Where statutes fall short due to the limitations of their provisions the constitution can be invoked

The Constitution of India Relevant Articles Right to Equality (Article 14) Right to Affirmative Action and Positive Discrimination (Articles 14, 15 and 16) The right to life (Article 21) Including the right to live with human dignity Directive Principles of State Policy Some of these specifically mention rights of persons with disabilities

Right to Equality (Article 14)

Right to Affirmative Action and Positive Discrimination (Articles 14, 15 and 16)

The right to life (Article 21)

Including the right to live with human dignity

Directive Principles of State Policy

Some of these specifically mention rights of persons with disabilities

The Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 This Act outlines the rights to be provided to people with disabilities, and how the Government will provide these rights Provisions of the Act are applicable to people with hearing impairment which is defined as a “loss of sixty decibels or more” (s.2(l)) Yet the provisions of the Act is lacking with regard to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

This Act outlines the rights to be provided to people with disabilities, and how the Government will provide these rights

Provisions of the Act are applicable to people with hearing impairment which is defined as a “loss of sixty decibels or more” (s.2(l))

Yet the provisions of the Act is lacking with regard to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Act provides for 1% reservation in government jobs for people with hearing impairment (s.33(ii)) But no mention at all about: sign language in schools Appropriate signage Interpreters in all public forums The need for research in communication methods

The Act provides for 1% reservation in government jobs for people with hearing impairment (s.33(ii))

But no mention at all about:

sign language in schools

Appropriate signage

Interpreters in all public forums

The need for research in communication methods

Education The PWD Act reserves 3% seats for disabled students in all Government educational institutions Every child with a disability should have access to free education until 18 years (s. 26(a)) Promotes research into developing new assistive devices, teaching aids and materials (s. 28) Promotes teacher training programmes (s. 29)

The PWD Act reserves 3% seats for disabled students in all Government educational institutions

Every child with a disability should have access to free education until 18 years (s. 26(a))

Promotes research into developing new assistive devices, teaching aids and materials (s. 28)

Promotes teacher training programmes (s. 29)

Mandates that the Government should prepare a comprehensive education scheme (s. 30) This includes the restructuring of the curriculum for the benefit of hearing impaired children – they only have to take one language! (s. 30(h))

Mandates that the Government should prepare a comprehensive education scheme (s. 30)

This includes the restructuring of the curriculum for the benefit of hearing impaired children – they only have to take one language! (s. 30(h))

Education of the Deaf Yet despite the legislation the state of education of the deaf is extremely poor Teaching in deaf schools is not adequate Mainstream schools remain closed to deaf pupils due to attitudes and communication barriers

Yet despite the legislation the state of education of the deaf is extremely poor

Teaching in deaf schools is not adequate

Mainstream schools remain closed to deaf pupils due to attitudes and communication barriers

Sign Language Unlike other countries ISL has no status in Indian education ISL not standardised across India Few efforts made to understand the nature of Indian Sign Language Some efforts to compile Indian Sign Language dictionaries – but often not much more than 2000 words Yet Sign Language used by the deaf certainly consists of more than that!

Unlike other countries ISL has no status in Indian education

ISL not standardised across India

Few efforts made to understand the nature of Indian Sign Language

Some efforts to compile Indian Sign Language dictionaries – but often not much more than 2000 words

Yet Sign Language used by the deaf certainly consists of more than that!

Sign Language Interpreters Major concern is to break down communication barrier But no current legislation on this No mention in the PWD Act about sign language or the provision of sign language interpreters in schools and public forums

Major concern is to break down communication barrier

But no current legislation on this

No mention in the PWD Act about sign language or the provision of sign language interpreters in schools and public forums