Volume 3 Issue 7

Feature

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  Talking hands
  The world of sign language is all about hands that talk and eyes that speak a fluid, graceful speech. Sadly, however, the absence of a standard language is often a barrier in communication between deaf/hearing impaired people and others, says D.S. Chauhan.

Interview

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  "Advocacy is most important"
  "Provide the opportunity to deaf people and give them the time to adapt," says Dr. Abdul Hameed, Chairman, Department of Special Education, University of Punjab, Lahore, to Chitra S. Shankar.

News

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  Arjun Singh announces plan to make education disabled-friendly by 2020
  "It should, and will be our objective, to make mainstream education not just available but accessible, affordable and appropriate for students with disabilities," promises Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh.
• IIT Delhi shows its true colours
  In a shocking incident of discrimination and injustice, the Indian Institute of Technology dismisses the services of disabled scientist Dr. S.K. Jain, just because he asked for an accessible laboratory.
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  GAIL dismisses disabled employees
  Four disabled GAIL employees receive termination letters, without warning or even substantial reasons.
• U.D.S.P.A. threatens mass agitation
  The government's lackadaisical attitude to filling backlog posts sparks protests in Guwahati.
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  Advertising gimmick or sheer insensitivity
  Creative advertising is becoming insensitive. A brief review of the Bajaj CT 100 advertisement.
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  ‘Public interest' advertisement on road safety outrages sensitivity
  A public interest advertisement issued by the Department of Road Transport and Highways hurts the sentiments of several disabled people in its interpretation of the wheelchair.
• Towards a disabled-friendly Lucknow
  Legal Rights and Access workshops in Lucknow aim to make the city disabled-friendly.
• N.C.P.E.D.P. launches training programme in Mumbai
  N.C.P.E.D.P. starts special training programmes to recruit disabled people for B.P.O.s and other organisations.
• Legal cell in Orissa to support disabled people
  Swabhiman to launch Legal Cell in Orissa to give special legal support and advice to disabled people in all 30 districts of the State.
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  Tsunami-affected families to get psychosocial relief
  Still working on providing aid to tsunami victims, Chennai is now directing its funds towards providing psychosocial relief to families in Tamil Nadu.