The News

Implementing and promoting Pakistan Sign Language (PSL)

Reported by: M.Akram - meATkhi@yahoo.com

Way back in 2000, in a meeting at PAD we realize the need of educational material in Sign Language, and the need of standardization of Pakistan Sign Language. After that meeting we arrange a sign language committee, consisting 10 members (8 deaf, and 2 hearing) to work on the idea of publishing more and more books in sign language.

This committee start work, first this committee work on a dictionary, during development of this dictionary we try to get input from every available source, and try not to alter any existing sign, unless it conflict with standardization, Main problem was, translating the sign into Urdu / English, as sign language have its own way of expressing the idea. For example in deaf community, there are many signs that we didn't know in Urdu or English, also these signs not equal to a word but the whole idea, some time single sign express a whole sentence. For ease we decide to select commonly use signs for the dictionary, to make this dictionary more useful. (still there are lot more signs that need research to document them). 2ndly we realize there are may common Urdu words that we do not have sign for, so we had to develop new signs too.

After developing sign language dictionary, we emphases on developing more material in sign language, there was nothing for deaf kids, so we decide to develop two books for kids, one Urdu quida and another English writing. Both books contain alphabets, the sign of alphabet, a common word that begin with that alphabet and sign for that common word in Pakistan Sign Language. We believe this not only make kid interested in the books, but also develop their sign language skill at very start, so they will be able to express their mind in sign language, that they couldn't in absence of a language.

Another book we try to develop was Urdu grammar in Pakistan Sign Language, this book is to develop CORRECT Urdu writing skill among deaf student as most of them face trouble in regard and fail to acquire any reasonable Urdu writing skill even after passing their bachelor degree. We are hoping this book will help but after launching this book we need to study the out come also we realize the need to educate the teacher of the deaf. (my personal suggestion is PAD should set a follow up research on outcome of this book)

You may or may not know this, that legally deaf person is not allowed to drive and Govt. not issue license to deaf people. Though in many country Govt. realize this that a deaf person can drive safely, and start issuing legal driving license to deaf people. But in Pakistan deaf community is still struggling to get their right to drive. Many officials promise to look in to the matter but seems there are many red tapes. PAD sign Language committee took a bold step and develop a book of traffic signs in Sign Language so it'll help training deaf drivers.

It took more than an year's efforts to be able to develop these 5 rough/proposed Sign Language books.

In April 2002, we send a Pakistan wide call to deaf association/school and arranged a 3 days seminar on Pakistan Sign Language, and it was first of its kind seminar in Pakistan. The main aim was to get approve our work and get input from nation wide deaf community. So the work will be standard and easy to implement. 

From every part of Pakistan, deaf association / schools' representatives attend this conference and give their input and finally we were able to get the work approved and standardize, as representative from every part of country attend and approved the work.

After that seminar sign language committee finalize the books, and start looking for fund to get these books print.

So in total it took more than 2 year to get these 5 book and 1 CD developed. And on 8th May PAD arrange a lunching ceremony. That attended by large number of deaf people attend this launching ceremony, including the affiliated member of PAD, from all around the Pakistan. launching ceremony of these books were held at PAD park Clifton, on 13th may, around 200 people attended the program, following the summer of guests' speeches.

PROFESSOR ANITA GHULAM ALI commended PAD'S EFFORTS and she will support the PSL project and its research. She said that Deaf people are very intelligent and hardworking they too should be give EQUAL opportunities to better their life through Quality Education, they should be given LEGAL DRIVING LICENSE and also these research books will be sent all over Pakistan where there are Government schools dealing with deaf education. She was very supportive of PAD's efforts.

MR. ZAIGUM - CEO-PAK KUWAIT BANK Appreciated PAD's efforts towards promoting Sign Language and the books will be a very good resource for deaf students and teachers. He works with the deaf in Islamabad and is very familiar with deaf people's abilities. He was full of praise for PAD and the good work it is doing to improve the Quality of life of deaf people in Pakistan.

MR. ZAFFAR IQBAL-Inspector of Police was very happy to be invited to PAD's Book Launching ceremony and was very impressed with the PAD PARK and the arrangements. He promised to support the DEAF Cause and also look into the old Traffic Laws which were discrimanatory towards deaf drivers. He appreciated the SIGN LANGUAGE BOOKs and hoped that PAD will continue to do good work and he will support PAD whenever he could.

MRS. LAILA DOSSA Gave an overview of PAD's workings and also high lighted DEAF people's problems in Pakistan. She also informed the audience about the Problems faced by the Parents of the deaf children. Deaf Education will hopefully improve through PAD's research books and deaf children will learn to read and write in complete sentences and these books will also be resource materials for teachers of the deaf. She welcomed all the participants from all over Pakistan and hoped this linkages will continue in the future and someday we will have a NATIONAL BOARD for Sign Language Research in Pakistan led by PAD's Experts.

She thanked all the donors and sponsors who have supported PAD's Research efforts and prayed for UNITY AMONGST THE DEAF OF PAKISTAN

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