Empowering the Deaf Community: The Impact of India's ISL Dictionary Launch

Introduction

The recent release of the Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary by Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks a significant step forward in accessibility and inclusion for India's deaf community. This effort, marked during Shikshak Parv 2021, is a giant leap towards breaking communication barriers for a hitherto marginalized and underserved group in education, employment, and everyday interactions.

Getting to Know the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC)

Set up on September 28, 2015, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. ISLRTC was set up by the push of sustained advocacy by the deaf community as a step towards meeting their unique requirements. The primary objectives of ISLRTC are to study, standardize, and disseminate ISL, train interpreters and instructors, and develop resources for empowering the deaf community.

ISLRTC's Major Activities and Achievements (2023-2024)

All-around Dictionary Development

The development of the ISL Dictionary has been remarkable. From 3,000 terms in its initial edition (2018), it expanded to 6,000 in the second edition (2019), and now has around 10,000 terms in the third edition (2021). This dictionary, presented in video format, includes signs for everyday, educational, judicial, medicinal, technical, and agricultural words, and geographical expressions. It is available online and on the DIKSHA portal and serves as a helpful learning and communication aid.

Innovative Learning Resources

Partnership between ISLRTC and NCERT has led to the incorporation of ISL video materials into school textbooks (classes 1-5) and the development of self-learning modules and flipbooks with voice and subtitles. Following Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, the resources are not only accessible to the deaf community but also to teachers, parents, and the general public.

Diploma and Training Programs

ISLRTC has the Diploma in Indian Sign Language Interpretation (DISLI) and the Diploma in Teaching Indian Sign Language (DTISL), both of which are approved by the Rehabilitation Council of India. Currently, 116 candidates are enrolled in DISLI and 87 in DTISL. Regular nation-wide tests are held to help alleviate the serious shortage of qualified interpreters and ISL instructors in India.

Interpretation and Video Relay Services

ISLRTC offers interpretation services to government departments, media (including Doordarshan News), and organizations nationwide. In 2023, a Video Relay Service free of cost was initiated, allowing real-time ISL interpretation via WhatsApp and serving over 850 users within just nine months.

Skill Training and Awareness Initiatives

ISLRTC has initiated skill training courses under the PM DAKSH scheme to provide basic ISL communication training to hearing-impaired youth. Competitions, workshops, and awareness events like the Sign Language Day annually and the International Week of the Deaf are also conducted by the centre to facilitate community involvement and awareness.

Strategic Partnerships and Outreach

ISLRTC has also entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with bodies like NIOS, JIIT, and CSIR-IMTECH with the objective of developing high-quality ISL learning material and popularizing ISL in regular and special schools. Participation in national events and book fairs also enhances awareness of ISL.

Resource Directories

Public directories for deaf schools and certified ISL interpreters exist to assist families and organizations in finding qualified assistance.

India's Deaf Community brings forth the Demographics and Needs

According to the Census 2011, more than 5 million Indians have hearing disabilities, nearly 2 million have speech disabilities, out of a total population of 26.8 million people with disabilities. This data reflect a rising prevalence of hearing impairment among urban dwellers, pointing towards the need for higher accessibility solutions. But the education, employment, and information requirements of the deaf community are satisfactorily unserved.

Key Challenges

Acute Shortage of Interpreters and Teachers: There are fewer than 300 certified ISL interpreters available to work for millions of people who require them, creating a critical shortage of communication in education, healthcare, and government services.
Limited Awareness and Resources: The vast majority of deaf children are taught without ISL, and parents are merely unaware of its importance. The lack of ISL learning materials and inclusion in standard curricula adds to the issue.
Lack of Data and Certification: Insufficient government data on the deaf population, together with a lack of standardized certification of interpreters, is hindering policy-making and service provision.

India's Legal and International Commitments

As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), India is obligated to provide equal opportunities and accessibility to persons with disabilities, including the presence of trained sign language interpreters. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, is reaffirming these promises, compelling the government to ensure accessible communication and inclusive education.

Global Perspectives and Best Practices

Globally, organizations such as the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (USA), PEN-International, and Sense International India have set benchmarking standards for enabling the deaf population through leadership development and education. For instance, Sense International India works in 23 states to offer early intervention and vocational rehabilitation to deafblind individuals. All India Federation of the Deaf has facilitated deaf women and young people empowerment programs for over half a century.

Recent initiatives, like the Scaling Inclusive Early Learning in Rwanda, Kenya, and Malawi, demonstrate the groundbreaking impact of sign-language-rich environments on early childhood education, introducing improved communication, self-esteem, and academic success for deaf children.

Recent Developments and Human-Centered Initiatives

Celebrity Inclusion in ISL Dictionary

The newly launched ISL Dictionary has added popular Indian celebrities' signs such as Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Amitabh Bachchan. This inclusion not only personalizes the language but also renders users more engaging; Shah Rukh Khan's sign, for example, carries a special gesture so that fans are able to talk about their stars in ISL.

Community-Driven Validation

The development of the ISL Dictionary involved input directly from Indian Deaf professionals, which ensured the authenticity and cultural appropriateness of signs. National-level workshops validated the signs, which reflect the Indian deaf population's linguistic heterogeneity.

Video-Based and Digital Access

The ISL Dictionary is more than a traditional printed material; it is a multimedia tool, with videos available online and on government education websites, for both formal and informal learning environments.

Recommendations for an Inclusive Future

To empower India's deaf community effectively, the following are recommended:

Enhance Interpreter and Teacher Training: Grow enrollment and geographic reach of DISLI and DTISL while providing incentives for careers in ISL interpretation and ISL teaching with scholarships and job placement.
Insert ISL in Mainstream Education: Collaborate with the Ministry of Education and the state governments to incorporate ISL in school curriculum and train teachers in ISL methods.
Augment Data Collection and Certification: Develop robust mechanisms for tracking the deaf population and certifying interpreters to strengthen policy planning and service delivery.
**Leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Promote private sector involvement in initiatives for deaf education, accessible technology, and employment opportunities through CSR initiatives with targeted focus.
Enhance Public Awareness and Community Engagement: Organize national campaigns, competitions, and cultural festivals to spread deaf culture and raise awareness regarding ISL, thereby dispelling societal stigma and encouraging inclusiveness.

Conclusion: Creating an Inclusive India

People with hearing disabilities have enormous potential. If India invests in accessible resources, quality education, and inclusive policies, it can actualize this potential, benefitting its economy as well as social fabric. ISL Dictionary is not only a means of communication but a reflection of progress, dignity, and the social responsibility to make every Indian, regardless of their capabilities, able to communicate, learn, and succeed.