Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre(Sponsored by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India)

Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan Garhi, New Delhi-110 068www.ignou.ac.in

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Education is a liberating force, and in our age it is also a democratising force, cutting across the barriers of caste and class, smoothing out inequalities imposed by birth and other circumstances.

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Indira Gandhi National Open University

Indira Gandhi National Open University was established in 1985 by an Act of Parliament with a view to democratize higher education in the country. The aim was to provide cost-effective quality education to large sections of the society, particularly those groups of society who are deprived and remotely located. The University adopts learner centric approach in its programmes and has successfully implemented Open and Distance Education. IGNOU has emerged as one of the largest universities of the world.

The University offers a wide range of programmes from Certificate to Doctoral level, catering to the needs of all sections of society. In its programme delivery mechanism, the University has extensively used the multi-media

mode such as Self Instructional material, Radio, Television, Audio-Video, satellite channel, Gyan Darshan, Gyan Vani and Edusat. The University has also reached more than 8 million homes through DTH service. The University has 21 Schools, 3347 Study Centres, 10 Divisions, and offers 490 Programmes through its 67 Regional Centres and 81 overseas centres in 43 countries with a total enrollment of 2.7 million learners.

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Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre

Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

(Sponsored by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India)

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, has been playing a very proactive role in catalyzing the services for persons with disabilities through various programmes and schemes. In its endeavors, it was instrumental in bringing out of 3 legislations to meet the diverse needs of PWDs i.e. PWD Act 1995, RCI Act 1992 and National Trust Act 1999. The new feather in the cap of the Ministry of Social Jus t i ce & Empowermen t i s t he establishment of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC).

The foundation stone of ISLRTC was laid at IGNOU Campus on October 4, 2011with proper plan, budgetary provision and 35 positions.

Over 5 million deaf people use Indian Sign Language (ISL). Although ISL has been used for centuries, it was not formally and systematically researched until 1977. The use of ISL in social, cultural, educational and vocational setting will help enrich the lives of deaf people in India.

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The establishment of ISLRTC is a major historical initiative of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and will result in strengthening the identity of ISL as a bona fide language and its use in educational and social setting.

ISLRTC, IGNOU will work collaboratively with other organizations and the Deaf community to implement and realize the goals stated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

To promote the use of Indian Sign Language(ISL)

To carry out research in ISL and create linguistic record/ analysis of the language

To carry out and promote research on bilingual approach in education of Deaf Children

To train persons in Sign linguistics and other related areas at various levels

To design, promote and offer programs in ISL interpreting and bilingual education, at various levels, through various modes including the distance mode

To develop and offer courses aimed at training teachers to teach ISL

To develop and create resources for use in teaching of ISL to children, parents, teacher and e general pubic

To facilitate educational use of ISL in special schools, as the first language and medium of instruction, and in mainstream schools, as second language or as interpreter mediated language of classroom communication

To provide guidance in innovative education methodology for institutions providing education to the Deaf

The Objectives of ISLRTC are:

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Accomplishments

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To collaborate with other institutions and organizations of the Deaf to promote and propagate ISL

To collaborate with universities and other educational institutions in India and abroad in sign language research, deaf studies and related areas

To produce and promote visual material in ISL story telling of both Indian and global literature and deafness related issues

To create and promote literature in and about ISL

To facilitate Print and Visual Media in promoting the use of ISL

To foster the development of Deaf identity and culture

To act as a clearing house of information on ISL, deafness, education of the hearing impaired and related areas

ISLRTC has initiated several activities under short term plans in four regions to take stock of the situation in the field of deafness. Based on the feedback received from these regional meetings, the long term plans will be formulated. The following activities have been carried out by ISLRTC:

National meeting of Deaf leaders representing various organizations to brainstorm ideas and prioritize goals in ISL training interpreting and bilingual education.

Interpreters Needs Assessment: Regional meetings of selected interpreters were needs to create ideas for resolving the national problem of interpreter shortage and enhancing the quality of interpreting.

Chief Advisor, ISLRTC

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Activities Planned under Long-term Goals:

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Needs Assessment Meeting of ISL Teachers: Current ISL teachers meet to discuss present teaching practices, curriculum and instruction. ISLRTC will use this input to develop a master plan for training ISL teachers for use in educational and professional setting.

Meetings of Parents of Deaf Children: Meeting of parents of deaf children in four major regional cities were held to identify areas of need for parent education and ways and means to provide ISL training to parents and children.

The process for the activities planned under long term goals has been initiated. Based on the feedback from various stakeholders, ISLRTC will provide research and training on an ongoing basis and plans to implement the following projects:

Orientation to deafness and sign language to various communities across the country

ISL classes at various levels will be provided at IGNOU, other universities and colleges, schools, and general public all over India

Academic Programmes: Training to Professionals, Graduate, Post Graduate and Ph.D. level degrees in linguistics, bilingual education, deaf studies and interpreting on IGNOU campus and satellite programs around the country

Preparing audio-visual materials for public awareness, disseminating ISL literature, bilingual education, deaf studies, ISL curriculum, instruction and interpreting

Helping with the licensing of interpreters, sign language teachers and bilingual educators

Establishing and maintaining a research laboratory with focus on ISL linguistics, interpreting and bilingual education

Establishing and maintaining a clearinghouse for information on deafness, sign language, bilingual education and deaf studies.

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On Going Programmes:

Bachelors Preparatory Programme for Deaf Students (BPPDS)

BA Applied Sign Language Studies (BAASLS)

IGNOU already has a Bachelors Preparatory Programme for Deaf Students (BPPDS) programme and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sign Language Studies (BAASLS) programme operating in collaboration with the University of Lancashire. These programs have been housed in ISLRTC. 70 deaf students from different counties namely India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Uganda, China, Mexico, Burundi and Burma are following the BPPDS and the BAASLS degree programs.

The BPPDS programme (Foundation Entry) is taken prior to the degree programme in BA Applied Sign Language Studies . It provides Deaf students with an introduction to the realities of study at Higher Education (HE) level and aims at compensating for deficit in the areas of their literacy and general study skills.

The BAASLS programme is designed to generate graduates with an excellent understanding of the different approaches and methodologies used in language acquisition, language teaching and learning so that the number of sign language teachers, teacher trainers, literacy support teachers and project workers in the specialized area of sign languages and deaf communities can be increased to cater the needs of the society for skilled human resources in sign language.

The BAASLS programme will be further enriched with inputs from experts and institutions working in the area.

Programme CoordinatorBAASLS

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Coordination-cum-Monitoring CommitteeIndian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC)

1. Secretary, Chairperson

2. Vice Chancellor, MemberIndira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-68

3. Representatives of National Level Organizations of the Deaf:

Member

Member

Member

Member

4. Members, Ex-officio

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi

(i) Shri Zorin Singh,President, National Association of the Deaf, New Delhi

(ii) Dr. Onkar Sharma, Gen. SecretaryAll India Federation of the Deaf, New Delhi

(iii) Shri K.MuraliDirector, Deaf Leaders, Coimbatore

(iv) Ms. Uma KapoorNational Foundation of Deaf Women, New Delhi

(i) Director, Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi

(ii) Joint Secretary & FA, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

(iii) Joint Secretary (Disability Division), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

(iv) Director, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai

(v) Shri Javed Abidi, Hony. Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, New Delhi, will be a Special invitee to the Committee

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Standing Advisory CommitteeIndian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC)

1. Vice-Chancellor Chairperson

2. Director Member-Secretary

3. Joint Secretary Member

4. Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser Member

5. Representatives from national level organizations of the Deaf:

Member

Member

Member

Member

IGNOU

IGNOU

ISLRTC, IGNOU

Disability Division, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi-110001

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi - 110001

(i) Mr. A.S. NarayananGen. Secy., National Association of the Deaf, 65 - Lodhi Road Complex, New Delhi - 110003

(ii) Representative of Deaf Leaders59-VOC Nagar, Arun Nagar Extension, TVS Nagar,Thadagam Road Coimbatore - 641025, Tamil Nadu

(iii) Mr. Champak Kumar SenGen. Secy., Society for the Deaf, 131/3 Ashoke Nagar, P.O. Ashoke NagarDistrict - 24 Parganas (North), West Bengal - 743222

(iv) Ms. Jayshree Raveendran

Founder and Executive Director, Ability Foundation

26, Second Cross Street, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai - 600 020 Tamil Nadu

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6. Two representatives from national level organizations of sign language interpreters:

Member

Member

7. Three Linguists working on ISL from three different universities/academic institutions:

Member

Member

8. Director Member

9. Director Member

10. One representative of the Board of Management of IGNOU: Member

(i) Mr. Arun C. Rao, PresidentWorld Association of Sign Language Interpreters India, 803, Sahyog BuildingsNehru Place, New Delhi - 110019

(i) Prof. Shreela BoseVanni Deaf Children Foundation, 9-D, Annapurna Apartment68, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata- 700019

(ii) Dr. Arun Banik, DirectorNational Centre for Disability StudiesIGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110068

(iii) Mr. Sunil SahasrabudheDirector, Ishara Foundation Nadia Marriage Charitable Trust BuildingChembur East, Mumbai - 400060

Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicappd BandraReclamation, Bandra West, K.C. Marg, Mumbai - 400050

All India Institute of Speech and Hearing Manasgangotri, Naimishan Campus, Mysore - 570006, Karnataka

Dr. Srikant Mohapatra, DirectorRegional Services Division

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11. Two independent experts in Indian Sign Language: Member

Member

Member

11. One international Expert in Indian Sign Language:Member

12 One representative of Rehabilitation Council of India Member

13 Prof. Madan M. Vasistha Member

(i) Mr. Mohd. ShafiqueFaculty (Indian Sign Language)Northern Regional Centre, AYJNIHHLajpat Nagar-II, Near Central Market, New Delhi - 110029

(ii) Mr. Bijay Krishna Parida, Gen. Secy.Orissa Association for the Deaf,Plot No. A-105, Palashpalli, Aerodrome Area, Post. Bhubaneswar, Orissa

Prof. Ulrike ZeshanDirector of UCLan's iSLanDsInternational Institute for Sign Langauges & Deaf StudiesHarrington Building - HA120, University of Central LancashirePreston, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Expert Committee on Hearing Impairment:Member-SecretaryRehabilitation Council of IndiaB-22, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi

Chief Advisor, ISLRTC

ISLRTC in News

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Avadhesh Kumar Singh Surinder Randhawa Parveen Sachdeva

Madan Vasishta Preeti Saini Merrin George

Hemlata Atiya Hajee

Director (I/c) Sr. Consultant Jr. Consultant

Chief Advisor Jr. Consultant Jr. Consultant

Programme Coordinator Jr. Consultant

Asst. Registrar JAT

Section Officer Attendant

Office Staff

Lalita Sharma

K.K. Sharma Anil Kumar

Ghanshyam

For further information, please contract:

Director

Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityMaidan Garhi, New Delhi-110 068

www.ignou.ac.in

Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre

Telephone: 011-29571101, 29571102, 29534064

Email: islrtc@ignou.ac.in

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