THE GOAN
PANAJI
International Day of Sign Languages, observed on September 23, is more than a day to learn a few basic signs. It is a reminder of the role sign language plays in communication, education, access to services and the everyday independence of deaf people. This year, the day is being observed under the theme ‘Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights’, placing the focus on making these rights a reality. In Goa, however, accessibility remains a work in progress. Anant Joshi, Chairman of the Goa Association of the Deaf and a former Indian Navy serviceman, says that while awareness around the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and the rights of deaf people has grown, access to services remains a challenge. “We still find a lot of gaps in accessibility because we don't have sign language interpreters deputed in government offices,” he remarks.
For a deaf person, accessing a hospital, police station, bank or other public service can be difficult when no one understands Indian Sign Language (ISL). Joshi says they may have to approach an office and arrange for an interpreter when needed. The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities have begun sensitisation and training programmes for government staff, including basic ISL and deaf awareness. But Joshi says more people need to understand the language. “We need more interpreters and more hearing people to understand and use sign language,” he says, adding that this is essential for making public services accessible.
The extent to which ISL is understood also varies within Goa’s deaf community. While many deaf people use it for their daily conversations and communication, Joshi says some have had limited exposure to the language. Yet for those who have had little formal education or have grown up isolated from other deaf people, communication can be even more difficult. “Some deaf people have not undergone any formal education and were kept isolated,” he says, adding that such individuals may rely largely on gestures and a few natural signs. This gap becomes particularly visible when they need to access essential services. Hearing people who do not understand sign language can make communication difficult, while the limited number of interpreters adds another barrier. “Whether it is a hospital or a police station or at home, there are a lot of hurdles that the deaf undergo till today,” Joshi says.
Education is another area where Goa still has considerable ground to cover. The state has schools catering to deaf students, but Joshi points out that there are no dedicated colleges for deaf students. After Class XII, students generally have to enter regular colleges, where the absence of an interpreter can make higher education difficult. Although there are success stories of deaf students from Goa pursuing higher education outside the state, such opportunities are not easily available to everyone. “The lack of trained interpreters and educators who can work effectively with ISL remains a major hurdle,” he states. Goa has also introduced ISL as a subject in the curriculum, but Joshi says its reach needs to extend beyond schools for deaf students. “True inclusion will happen when regular schools also take Indian Sign Language as a subject,” he says, comparing it to the way students learn languages such as French, Portuguese or Sanskrit.
For Joshi, inclusion also needs to extend beyond classrooms and government offices. Public transport, healthcare, legal services and other public spaces need systems that allow deaf people to access them without having to depend on someone else to communicate. Private businesses and community organisations, too, can play a role through interpreters, visual alerts and more accessible workplaces. Employment remains yet another concern. Deaf people continue to face barriers because of misconceptions among employers, communication concerns and limited access to skill training. While organisations such as the Goa Association of the Deaf, the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities work towards welfare and livelihoods, Joshi believes that more vocational training and targeted employment opportunities are needed.
For Goa’s deaf community, therefore, inclusion cannot stop at awareness campaigns or a handful of people knowing basic signs. It means being able to communicate at a hospital, apply for a job, use public services, and participate in society without constantly having to overcome a communication barrier. As International Day of Sign Languages turns attention to deaf people’s rights, Joshi’s message is straightforward: accessibility has to move from awareness to everyday practice. “It is a long way to go,” he says, “but we have to keep moving forward.”
