Deafness In India!

An overview of deaf issues in India and how the organisations I am involved with are working to tackle problems and needs we encounter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. OTHER PROGRAMSOTHER PROGRAMS
MATRIMONIAL ASSISTANCE MATRIMONIAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMPROGRAM
ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CAMPS ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CAMPS
SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING TO SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING TO
EMPLOYERS AND HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYERS AND HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTSSTUDENTS
LAMAZE TRAINING FOR WOMEN AND LAMAZE TRAINING FOR WOMEN AND
LABOUR ROOM INTERPRETING. LABOUR ROOM INTERPRETING.

15. OTHER PROGRAMSOTHER PROGRAMS
SOCIAL WORK ORIENTATION FOR THE SOCIAL WORK ORIENTATION FOR THE
DEAFDEAF
RELIEF WORK WITH A DEAF TEAMRELIEF WORK WITH A DEAF TEAM
- ORISSA 1999 FOR 14 DAYS- ORISSA 1999 FOR 14 DAYS
- GUJARAT 2001 FOR 21 DAYS- GUJARAT 2001 FOR 21 DAYS

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

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

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

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

20. N.A.D. N.A.D.
WAS LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 3WAS LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 3
RDRD

20052005
THE ONLY WORK IT DOES IS RIGHTS THE ONLY WORK IT DOES IS RIGHTS
BASED ACTIVISM AND LITIGATION.BASED ACTIVISM AND LITIGATION.
CURRENTLY FILING PUBLIC INTEREST CURRENTLY FILING PUBLIC INTEREST
LITIGATION IN THE SUPREME COURT LITIGATION IN THE SUPREME COURT
ON DRIVING LICENCES, ON DRIVING LICENCES,
INTERPRETING, EDUCATION. INTERPRETING, EDUCATION.

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

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

23. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR
THIS THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARESHARE