DEAFNESS IN DEAFNESS IN INDIA INDIA

PRESENTED BY Arun Rao PRESENTED BY Arun Rao Executive Director -The Deaf Way FoundationExecutive Director -The Deaf Way FoundationEx-President - National Association of the DeafEx-President - National Association of the Deaf

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.

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 20 schools above 8We have a total of 20 schools above 8thth grade of which 8 schools are above 10grade of which 8 schools are above 10thth grade level for a population which grade level for a population which possibly exceeds half a million.possibly exceeds half a million.

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

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

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

3.3. TEACHERS/STUDENTS AWARDS and TEACHERS/STUDENTS AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMSCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

THE DEAF WAY ……THE DEAF WAY ……

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, BY OUR HANDICAPPED IN THE YEAR 2001, BY OUR HOSTING A NATIONAL LEVEL EVENT ON HOSTING A NATIONAL LEVEL EVENT ON SIGNLANGUAGE AND BILINGUALISM IN SIGNLANGUAGE AND BILINGUALISM IN DEAF EDUCATION.DEAF EDUCATION.

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.

INTERPRETERSINTERPRETERS

THE SITUATION WITH IAN STILLMAN’S THE SITUATION WITH IAN STILLMAN’S ARREST AND INCARCERATION 2001.ARREST AND INCARCERATION 2001.

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.

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.

HIV/AIDS AWARENESSHIV/AIDS AWARENESS

WORKED WITH PROJECT SIGN POST WORKED WITH PROJECT SIGN POST FROM 1997 TO 1999FROM 1997 TO 1999

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.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING VOCATIONAL TRAINING

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

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

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOPSWORKSHOPS

PLACEMENTPLACEMENT

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

1% OF GOVT JOBS ARE RESERVED FOR 1% OF GOVT JOBS ARE RESERVED FOR THE DEAF. THE DEAF.

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

DEAF FRIENDSHIP CLUBSDEAF FRIENDSHIP CLUBS

SET UP FIRST FRIENDSHIP CLUB IN SET UP FIRST FRIENDSHIP CLUB IN DELHI IN 1988.DELHI IN 1988.

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

COUNSELLING FOR PARENTS. COUNSELLING FOR PARENTS.

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.

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 FOR 14 DAYS- ORISSA FOR 14 DAYS

- GUJARAT FOR 21 DAYS- GUJARAT FOR 21 DAYS

- TSUNAMI FOR 10 DAYS- TSUNAMI FOR 10 DAYS

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

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.

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

DEAF TO BE VIEWED AS A SOCIO-DEAF TO BE VIEWED AS A SOCIO-LINGUISTIC ISSUE, NOT A MEDICAL LINGUISTIC ISSUE, NOT A MEDICAL ONEONE

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.

N.A.D. N.A.D.

WAS LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 3WAS LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 3RDRD 20052005

THE ONLY WORK IT WILL DO IS THE ONLY WORK IT WILL DO IS RIGHTS BASED ACTIVISM AND RIGHTS BASED ACTIVISM AND LITIGATION.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.

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.

THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR THIS THIS

OPPORTUNITY TO OPPORTUNITY TO SHARESHARE