Celebrating International Week of the Deaf
This week is the International week of Sign Languages. When I watched a few years ago the Oscar winning short movie "The Silent Child", it made a big impression on me: everywhere in the world many deaf children grow up without a language at all. What a tragedy!
In recent years more attention has been given to sign languages. Including in India. Still we have a long way to go!
The International Day of Sign Languages, observed on September 23, promotes awareness of sign languages in ensuring equal rights for the deaf community and the last week of September is observed as the International week of the Deaf. This year’s theme for the International Day of Sign Languages highlights inclusivity and accessible communication for all. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 63 million people in India have significant auditory impairment, which is roughly 6.3% of the population.
The National Education Policy 2020(NEP 2020) recognizes the importance of promoting Indian Sign Language (ISL) to ensure inclusivity in education. A few highlights on sign languages from the NEP 2020 are the recognition of Indian Sign Language (ISL) and its standardisation, inclusion of ISL in the regular curriculum, teacher training in ISL, textbooks and Digital Content in ISL, inclusive Education that includes ISL. These provisions reflect a step towards the inclusivity of children with hearing impairments in the Indian education system.(NEP 2020)
A very useful technical tool for sign languages is the Bloom Library online, which holds a collection of 540 books in 14 different sign languages including ISL(7 books). One can create one’s own books in the Bloom Library, which helps people create, adapt, and share books in a variety of languages including sign languages. One simply has to go to the Bloom Library website and download the Bloom software. It's free and available for Windows.
The promotion and recognition of sign languages are essential for ensuring equal rights and opportunities for the deaf community worldwide. As we continue to advance in technology and awareness, it is crucial to foster inclusivity and accessibility in all forms of communication. Observances like the International Day of Sign Languages highlight the importance of these efforts, advocating for the linguistic and cultural rights of deaf individuals. By supporting innovation, education, and policy changes, we can work towards a future where every individual, regardless of hearing ability, can fully participate in society.
Regards,
Karsten, in collaboration with with Upasana Lepcha
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