REPORT

On

Workshop on Communication with the DeafBhalukpong, Dist: West Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh)

From 13th to 17th February 2017

Organised by:National Youth Project

Sponsored by:Ali YAvar Jung National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD)

Under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India

The Indian Sign Language Community:

There are about 12.3 million people in India with moderate to complete hearing loss. Only four and a half million of these would not be able to succeed in a school for hearing but could obtain an education in a school for the deaf if available. These deaf would then be exposed to sign language and might become part of the Deaf community.

The Indian Sign Language (ISL) is a language of broader communication in most metropolitan areas in India and may be the mother tongue among the Deaf in several of these metropolitan areas. Previously it has been thought that the Deaf of India speak various dialects of ISL. But current research among Bengali and other Deaf communities shows that in many places the Deaf use a completely different language. Those who can, try to use ISL with researchers because it is more prestigious, but most in these communities do not know ISL at all.

There are 478 schools receiving government funding and approximately 372 private schools for the deaf scattered throughout India. Most of these schools use the “oral approach” in the classroom. It is a rare school that uses signs in the classroom. Rural Indian Deaf often do not receive an education due the distance that must be traveled to go to school and to being needed as laborers at home.

Most of the major organizations, gatherings, and schools for the Deaf are in the larger urban areas. Many migrate to the cities for education and jobs. Jobs are likely to be either unskilled or a manual trade. Male Indian Deaf are more likely to go to school and to stay in school longer than females. There are about sixty-five evangelical Deaf churches or Christian fellowships in India, but they are mostly in the larger cities. The Deaf would benefit from a Bible training program that is geared to their needs. One organization has started such a training program in India.

There is a need for qualified interpreters in medical fields, businesses and offices. National Youth Project in collaboration with Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disabilities serve as interpreters in most parts of the North Eastern Region through various workshops and trainings. The current workshop was conducted at remote Bhalukpong circle of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh. Participants from all sections of society took keen interest and learn sign language efficiently.

Communication tips:A conversation with a Deaf person is just the same as having a conversation with a hearing person. The key is to discover what techniques work best. Deaf people use different communication tools and there are several ways you can communicate with Deaf people to effectively get a message across. Deaf people communicate visually so gesturing, facial expression and body language is very important. Here are some tips that will help you communicate easily with Deaf people:

Face the Deaf person and get their attention before speaking. Remember to maintain eye contact. Don’t turn away when watching them sign to you.

If you didn’t understand what a person signed to you get them to sign it again. It's okay to check, clarify, tell them to slow down.

Keep lips and face clear of obstruction (e.g. hands, cups, large moustaches, etc). Deaf people ask for attention by waving, stamping, touching or tapping one another, or

switching lights on and off. In conversation, every contact is very important and people need sufficient personal

space for arm movements. Deaf people can’t interrupt conversations the way hearing people can. They need to see

what is being said, so they can only pay attention to one person at a time. Deaf people wait for the person who is signing stops before the next person signs.

Dim light makes it hard to see facial expressions and sign language. Make sure the light is in front of you – try not to stand in front of a window.

Avoid background noise when communicating with someone with a hearing aid. Speak clearly and a little more slowly and rephrase rather than repeat. Use simple gestures, write information down and point of indicate subjects or objects. Learn NZSL! There are culturally polite ways to interrupt a signed conversation. For example: Wait for a small pause before interrupting. Wave or tap the shoulder lightly and then wait for the person to look. If it is urgent, tap harder. Before breaking off a conversation, tell the person you are talking with to ‘hold’, or point

to the interruption so they can see why you will look away. Deaf people get annoyed when they are signing and the other person looks away

breaking eye gaze. That is not a polite way to handle an interruption. When two people are signing, it is alright to walk quickly between them. It is not

necessary to bend down.

Inaugural Ceremony:Five day workshop was inaugurated by Sri Kumsi Sidisow, Hon’ble Parliamentary Secretary, PHED, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. He was accompanied by Sri Ranjit Bhattacharya, HoD, Nodal Office North Eastern Region of AYJNISHD, Mumbai along with Dr Prosenjit Mazumdar, Social Welfare Officer, Sri Deepak Kumar Aich, Lecturer and Ms Indra Ghosh, Interpreter all from ERC, Kolkata region. Sri Tamo Riba, EAC Bhalukpong, public leaders and from NYP H.P Biswas President and Pradeep Kumar Vice President attended with other dignitaries.

\While appreciating Mumbai-based Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disability (AYJNISHD) for its initiative for people with special abilities (PwSAs), particularly in India's remote areas of Tawang, Dirang and Bhalukpong, Hon’ble Parliamentary Secretary assured whole hearted GoAP support in achieving its goal.

Addressing a collaborative awareness-cum-five-day training event, being organized by the AYJNISHD and National Youth Project (NYP) here, he recalled extending assistance to hundreds of PwSAs. Proactively identify district's PwSAs to offer disability certificate as a camp to offer instruments to the needy will be held here soon, he exhorted GoAP officers concerned to applause of the gathering including senior officers including DFO Vinit Kumar Jawal.

"We are all handicapped in one way or other. I became disable if unable to understand your language. Thus, categorizing those with some identified disability as disable is social injustice," said Mumbai-based AliYavar Jung National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disability (AYJNISHD) HoD (socio-economic rehabilitation department) Sri Ranjit Bhattacharya in his key note address.

Enlisted various Govt of India schemes to benefit the (PwSAs) through 239 empanelled hospital across India, he urged the GoAP, the local MLA Sidisow to get state's few hospitals empanelled to extend all benefits. He lauded working partner NYP to provide a platform in the state. The AYJNISHD offers Rs one crore for NE region annually, said Bhattacharya, also NE region nodal officer, adding "We want details of the PwSAs".

Though Arunachal's PwSAs stood at 1.78% against India's 2%, but regrettably state's only 5% have disability certificate against 47% national average, AYJNISHD social welfare officer PrasenjitMajumdar said. Lot of works have to be done, h added.

Kolkata ERC center AYJNISHD lecturer Deepak Kumar Aich and sign language interpreter Indira Ghosh, both resource persons enlisted the training syllabus. Exhorting AYJNISHD and NYP to maintain the spirit to serve the humanity, EAC TomoRiba assured all support.

The NYP as empanelled national skill trainer has so far skilled 2,738 PwSAs in eight districts and working with 850 target this fiscal, said its president H P Biswas while vice president exhorted the gathering not to denigrate as handicapped as they are all indivisible part of the society.

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

DAY / DATE

SESSION I09.30 AM to

11.00 AM

SESSION II11.30 AM to 1.00 PM

SESSION III2.00 PM to 3.00

PM

SESSION IV3.15 PM to 4.00

PM

13-02-2017 Monday

Registration

Inauguration (Chief Guest Sri Kumsi Sidisow, Hon’ble Parliamentary Sectary Govt. of AP

Introduction to Programme (RB)

Overview of Legal Provisions - PWD Act 1995 (PM)

Sign Language – An Introduction

(DA)Basic

Communication Concept & Theory

(IG)

14-02-2017 Tuesday

Demonstration of sign language in

Class room(IG)

Understanding Deaf Culture (DA)

Communicate through Signs(Practice sessions)

(IG & DA)

15-02-2017 Communicate

Wednesday

Communicate through Signs

(Practice sessions)

(IG)

Role of Sign Language in facilitating Inclusive Education

(DA)

Tips to Communicate with

Deaf(IG)

through Signs(Practice sessions)

(IG & DA)

16-02-2017 Thursday

Welfare Schemes for the Disabled

(PM)

Parent Counseling & Legal Provisions

(PM)

Communicate through Signs (Practice sessions)

(IG)

17-02-2017 Friday

Evaluation – Practical Test

(IG)

Programme Feedback ( PM & IG)

Valedictory Session

Tea Break: 11.00 to 11.30 AM and 3.00 to 3.15 PM & Lunch 1.00 PM to 2.00 PM

RB - Shri R.Bhattacharyya, HOD/SERD, AYJNISHD, MumbaiPM - Dr. Prosenjit Majumdar, SWO, ERC-AYJNISHD, Kolkata (Programme Coordinator)DA - Shri Dipak Aich, Lecturer, ERC-AYJNISHD, KolkataIG - Ms. Indira Ghosh, Coordinator and Sign Language Interpreter, ERC-AYJNISHD, KolkataList of Participants:

Valedictory Celemony:The five-day workshop on Communication with the Deaf concluded on 17th February 2017 will serve as a great respite for the parents of suffering children. Appreciating the move, EAC Tamo Riba, addressing the valedictory function, said that it aimed at imparting physical training and behaviour procedures. Though there are few institutions in the region which were cost prohibitive for admission, but NYP initiative deserves appreciation, he said as chief guest and lauded the PRI leaders for their interest in brining beneficiaries from remote areas.

Everyone can built road, bridge and other infrastructure but social work is a yeoman service for the humanity, said Upper Bhalukpong ASM Jevan Yame as guest of honour while lauding the efforts. He urged the NYP to arrange more programmes in other remote areas to benefit those left out, especially children with disabilities.

Bhalukpong Bazar Welfare Association representative Kumsi Jabisow thanked for selecting one child for operation worth more than six lakh which was not possible for the parents.

NYP presidents H P Biswas (Arunachal), Deepa Moni Goshwami (Assam), secretary Diganto Misra, Thrizino ASM Rinchin Dema Sagro, Kolkata AYJNISHD social welfare officer Dr. Prasanjit Majumdar, interpreter Indira Ghosh, West Kameng Nature & Native Wildlife Protection Society president Miali Sidisow address the gathering. The participants were given certificate for completion by the dignitaries.