Indian Sign Language [ ISL]
This language has not been recognised as an official language in India. Yet millions of deaf and hearing people sign and understand each other around the world!
There is no institute in Pune which teaches ISL. There are no fully qualified interpreters or instructors in Pune. Yet, very recently, there was THIS article in the TOI !!!
We have, in our team, the only ISL interpreter in Pune who's completed two of three levels of training at the Ali Yavar Jung Institute.
The need of the hour is more awareness about ISL.
We all sign...we may not understand the discipline of sign as a definite language, but we do what we have to in order to be understood. We sign when we meet someone who doesn't speak the same languages as us. We sign when we're on two sides of sound proof glass. We sign when we don't want someone to hear what is being communicated. We sign when we're talking on the phone..even though the other person cannot see us gesticulating.
Indian Sign Language is not about miming or gesticulation or dance mudras. It has a definite grammar and syntac.
All along we've marginalised those who cannot speak due to deafness or other conditions. People in India have always prefered speech therapy over ISL. Why teach the deaf to speak? Because it is easier. For whom? Those who can hear.
Speech therapy is wonderful. Lip reading is great too. But Signing is natural. Two deaf people left alone will take their hearing aids off and sign. Visit any school for the deaf and watch the children revert to signing the moment the 'hearing' teacher steps out of the class.
Here is a fantastic link to explain. We'd like you to read most if not all of it.
Why must we all learn to sign?
Why do some of us learn German? Or Japanese? To converse with those who speak that language. Why then isn't it necessary to learn to converse with the deaf? They are not less intelligent than us. They just don't always speak the same language.
There is a need to educate and employ the deaf...mainstream them in every sense of the word. Wouldn't it be lovely to see deaf kids playing with hearing kids in a park and having no trouble communicating?
It happens in most developed countries, why not ours?
Take THIS article for example.
Who MUST learn to sign?
People who work with or teach children who have learning or speech related issues with or without deafness.
Teachers of the deaf.
Teachers in inclusive schools
Staff in medical centres such as clinics and hospitals
Those looking for careers as interpreters for the deaf.
Deaf instructors.
Those who'd like to be friends with the deaf.
.........
We're beginning classes in ISL on the 29th of November, 2009 with the help of some deaf friends and our interpreter. We're hoping for sensitive and open minded participants who sign up for:
a) Basic conversational ISL skills.
b) Understanding ways the Deaf and Hearing people can communicate.
c) An exposure to the deafness and issues related to it.
d) Exploring ways ISL can be used to break barriers in the education, employment and social scenario
Related Links