Rachel Zemach’s Post

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Writer, Former teacher of the Deaf

Some questions about Deaf education presently in India: Any statistics or info, especially from Deaf people or those closely involved with Deaf community appreciated: How many Deaf children are there under age 18? How many are taught in Deaf schools, versus how many in regular schools, and how many not getting an education? For those who are in regular schools, do they have interpreters/specialist services? Thanks so much! It is for a forward I am writing for a children's book about a Deaf boy, from India, attending a US public school. I want to make sure I'm including accurate information. Approximate answers are helpful too.

Pallavi Kulshrestha

Associate Director - National Partnerships, Dream A Dream

2mo

The data around disability is not really accurate or up to date. The last census was done in 2011, and not sure how helpful that data would be. The 2021 census was postponed due to Covid19 & not sure when it would be done. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 63 million people in India have significant auditory impairment, which is about 6.3% of the population. Based on the experiences of deaf community, less than 5 % of deaf students in India have access to quality school education. A very small percentage is in mainstream schools, and even the ones in deaf schools as well are not exactly getting quality education as the teachers mostly do not know sign language - it is mostly missing from their training. There are no interpreter services in regular schools, but there are special educators in some states (where the government has started recruiting special educators due to Supreme Court directions ) but then again they are not really fluent in Indian Sign Language, and are often catering to a wide range of disability needs.

Orkid (eh) Sassouni

Lib. Tech I (part-time), council member with the Mayor's Disability Council (MDC) in cooperation with the Mayor's Office of Disability (MOD), visual artist (photography) & and some experts in art history topic.

3mo
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