NINAD Newsletter
FROM CHIEF EDITOR’S DESK
CONTENTS
From Chief Editor .........................01
Revised ADIP Scheme Launch....02 Dear Reader,
ISHACON 2015 at Manipal............03
Greetings from NIHH!
Best Paper Awards ......................08
Courses in the Year 2015-16........09
Let me thank you for the support and begining this year
NCED-2015.....................................10 with great expectations.Many of our staff members and
Media & Accessibility....................11 students participated in various national level conferences
in the field of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology,
Training in MSL Validation...........14 and Education for children with hearing disability.
Collaboration with SIDR...............15 We had an inspection visit of our Hon’ble Union Minister
for Social Justice & Empowerment, (MSJ&E)
Shri.Thawarchand Gehlot. He launched Cochlear Implant
(CI) program at AYJNIHH, Mumbai, in presenece of Dr. Kirit
Somaiya, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Shri
Pakash Mehta, Hon’ble Minister for Housing Labour &
Mines, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri Lov Verma, Secretary,
Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthy, Joint Secretary, Shri M.L.
Meena, Deputy Secretary, Dept. of Empowerment of
Persons With Disabilities, MSJ&E, on 5th April 2015.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Chief Editor: Dr. A.K.Sinha
Editors:Alka S. Joshi (English)
R.P.Sharma&
Dr. T.S.Dunbale(Hindi)
Aquisition Editor, Designing &
Publishing: Dr.P.J.Mathew Martin
E-Publishing: N.Karthikeyan
P.M.Mathew
The views expressed in this newsletter
are not essentialy that of AYJNIHH. All
comments & contributions may be sent
by post to: Chief Editor, NINAD Newsletter,
AYJNIHH, Bandra (W),
Mumbai-50, India.
OR
Email: [email protected]
Publisher: Dr. A.K.Sinha
On behalf of AYJNIHH, Mumbai-50, India.
NINAD-2014 Vol.2. April-Oct’14.
(For private circulation only)
NINAD
On the occasion, paper advertisement having theme of
“Empowering Persons with Disabilities using Modern
Technology along with photograph of Hon’ble Prime Minister
was released in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi and English in leading
Newspapers. So far 80 Cochlear Implant surgeries have
been done across India under ADIP scheme of Govt. of
India.
Staff and students participated in 47th ISHA Conference
held at Manipal and International NCED at Bhubaneswar. I
am happy to share with you that ISHA honored me with
Prof. Kameswaran Endowment Oration award 2014.
Thanks to all the members of ISHA. I congratulate Dr.
S.B.Rathna Kumar, Lecturer in Audiology who received the
best paper awards at NCED 2015, Bhubaneswar and
World Congress on Ear & Hearing, 2015, New Delhi.
Coming months are full of challenges including
strengthening of CI, pre and post implantation rehabilitation
of recipients of cochlear implants under ADIP scheme and
setting up of ISLRTC, New Delhi.I once again request all
speech and hearing professionals, AVT professionals,
Special Educators (HI) to join hands with AYJNIHH to make
ADIP-CI program a success. Wish all of you a great year
2015!
(Dr. A.K.Sinha)
Chief Editor
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REVISED ADIP SCHEME OF GOVT.
OF INDIA
In connection with the launch of revised
Assistance to Disabled Persons
(ADIP) scheme of Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment (MSJ&E),
Govt. of India, a mega camp was
organised at Bhandup West, in Mumbai
on 5th April 2015. The program was
organised in order to empower the
persons with disabilities using modern
technology. The MSJ&E, Govt. of India,
Department of Empowerment for the
Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD),
under revised ADIP scheme launched
the implementation of Cochlear Implant
(CI)to the needy.
Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Union
Minister of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Govt. of India launched
this revised scheme at a function, on
5th April, 2015 at Sahyadri High School,
Shivaji Talao, Bhandup(W), Mumbai. Dr.
kirit Somaiya, MP, Lok Sabha and Shri
Prakash Mehta, Minister for Housing,
Labour and Mines, Govt. of Maharahtra
also graced the occasion.The
programme was organised jointly by
AYJNIHH and Yuvak Prathistan
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Mumbai.During the programme, a
camp was held for diagnosis and
fitment services where 468 patient
were registered and 50 people were
provided.
Cochlear
Implant
processors
and
Digital
programmable behind the ear(BTE)
Hearing Aids by AYJNIHH and
orthotics and prosthotics aids by
Otobox company, Mumbai were
distributed. Shri Lov Verma,
Secretary, MSJ&E, Govt. of India,
Dept., EPWD, Shri Awanish Kumar
Awasthy, Joint Secretary, Shri M.L.
Meena, Deputy Secretary and Dr.
A.K. Sinha, Director, AYJNIHH, were
also present the occasion.
Union Minister Shri Thawar Chand
Gehlot and Dr. Kirit Soumiya, MP,
Govt. of India also visited AYJNIHH,
Mumbai and inaugurated the CI post
rehabilitation unit at AYJNIHH. The
minister appreciated the activities of
the Institute. Teaching Materials,
books and laptops were also
distributed to SC/ST students by the
Minister during the function.
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ISHA CON - 2015 AT MANIPAL
Manipal Chapter of Indian Speech
and Hearing Association(ISHA)
hosted the 47th ISHACON, the
Annual Convention of ISHA at the
International University TownManipal, Karnataka, from 1st to 3rd
January 2015. During the ISHA
CON 2015, Dr. A.K.Sinha, Director
AYJNIHH was honoured with Prof.
Kameswaran Endowment Oration
award 2015.
During the program many scientific
papers were presented. According
to one of the research papers, the
personal music systems should not
be used louder than 60% of its
volume and one should refrain from
its constant use to prevent damage
to the ear, said experts at the threeday 47th ISHA conference.
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Efforts Achieve Miracles’ (TEAM) and
on building a team. Later during the
conference, Dr Prathibba Karanth took
over as the president of the ISHA. One
of the sessions included hearing loss
in traffic police and bus drivers due to
high levels of noise.
Prof William Hall Martin of National
University of Singapore spoke about
tinnitus, (the ringing sensation in the ear
without any external sound) which is
experienced by 47 million Indians of
which 94%have normal hearing. He
suggested cost effective options to
manage tinnitus such as the use of
mp3 players and mobile applications
on phones. K S Prema Rao introduced
perspectives in telehealth service
delivery
for
persons
with
communication problems such as easy
video calling apps on mobile phones
without the use of 2G or 3G networks.
Excerpts of Prof. Kameswaran
Endowment Oration-2015
Dr. A.K.Sinha in his Prof.
Kameswaran endowment oration
demonstrated the significance of the
role of Management of Clinical
Audiology (MCA) for the benefit of the
professionals as well as the clients.
The conference began with dean of According to him Audiology is a
school of allied health sciences, B. dynamic and helping profession.
Rajashekhar accentuating the theme Advancements in the field of audiology
of the annual convention, ‘Team
have opened up new venues for clinical
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audiologists. According to Dr. Sinha,
we have additional challenges to
meet the needs of the entire nation
in terms of providing services to
persons with hearing disabilityhealthy hearing to our children, adults,
and elderly population.
The basic tests of hearing
assessment are pure tone
audiometry, speech audiometry, and
acoustic immitance measures. The
origin of Audiology, way back in the
years of Second World War, was of
rehabilitative in nature. Audiological
services were given to people who
were trying to cope up with war
induced hearing loss. The 1970’s
was an era of diagnostic Audiology,
with
commercialization
of
instruments to measure acoustic
immitance.
Next to puretone audiometry,
acoustic immitance measures were
still one of the most popular tests
conducted for assessment of middle
ear function. The field of Audiology
then
moved
from
manual
measurement of acoustic immitance
to automatic instruments. Dr. Sinha
feels that manual methods provided
better insight into the concept of
acoustic immitance measures rather
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than the automatic instruments even
though automatic instruments are time
savers and more objective.
Based on the basic tests battery
results, we make a judgment of normal
sensitivity of hearing or degree and
nature of hearing loss. Two important
aspects of basics hearing test battery
are equipment calibration and test
environment. Audiometer calibration is
set procedures and most of the
manufactures of audiometer do
support calibration. Test environment
vary from center to center especially
acoustical environment.
He said that his first responsibility of
constructing an Audiometry Test
Room (ATR) was at Eastern Regional
Center of AYJNIHH, Kolkata. After
having constructed the institute own
building, ATRs were constructed by
Central Public Works Department,
Kolkata with the guidance of
Engineers who built All India Radio
studio and auditorium for the National
Library, Kolkata. AYJNIHH developed
specifications of materials used in
construction of ATRs and had
elaborated drawings for the
construction of ATRs as outcome of
the one day seminar attended by
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different organization’s acoustic
engineers. To this effect, his paper
was accepted and was presented in
Chandigarh ISHA conference of
1998. He thinks that, as a practicing
Audiologist we must be able to have
enough knowledge of construction of
ATRs, so that guidance can be given
for construction of ATRs to meet the
specifications as per ANSI 1999
specification for the Maximum
permissible ambient noise in ATRs.
According to him there is no point in
having one room ATR as speech
audiometry, which is an essential part
of basic hearing test battery.
Minimum requirement for carrying out
audiometry test must be double
rooms ATRs. Can we think of
National Agency including ISHA to
certify our ATRs in order to keep the
test environment uniform? For
assessment of hearing outside
clinics can we think of cost effective
portable ATRs? He asked.
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more scientific and quality services
can be provided in unreached parts
of our country.Practicing modern
Audiology is more dependent on
electrophysiological tests such as
OAE, ABR, ASSR, and other Evoked
Potential tests. We have enough skill,
equipment, and network to implement
Rule 1-3-6. The beneficial effects of
early identification of hearing loss and
intervention on the outcomes in
communication have been proven
beyond doubts in all parts of world.
However, we still do not have any
legislation framed for new born hearing
screening. Advocating for early
identification of hearing loss and
influencing policy makers must be our
first priority. Some of the states have
come up with programmes to
implement
early
intervention
programme for the hearing impaired,
providing subsidized, hearing aids and
cochlear implants. Cochlear Implants
and post-operative rehabilitation
services are being provided by some
of States such as Kerala, Madhya
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra
Pradesh.
National Program
Research project for designing and
development of cost effective
portable ATRs has been approved
at AYJNIHH, ERC, Kolkata. Any
interested professional may get
associated in this research project so Use of Cochlear Implants (CI) for the
that assessment of hearing become children with deafness is ‘reversing
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trend’ worldwide. Children using CIs
with strong family support and postoperative rehabilitation develop
adequate verbal language and move
on to regular educational set up.
Govt. of India supports the inclusive
education policy for all including the
persons with hearing disability. Govt.
of India, MSJ&E, Department of
Disability Affairs, in October 2014
issued guidelines for the
implementation of revised Scheme
of ADIP for CIs and Hearing aids.
This is a paradigm shift for practicing
Audiology. MSJ&E, Department of
Disability Affairs sanctioned
additional funds for the subsidized
CI surgery. 100% subsidy will be
provided for CI surgery for children
of parents having family income of
less than Rs 15000/- per month.
Others have to pay 50% of the cost
of the implant which will be around
2 lakh and 20 thousand only.
AYJNIHH has been made the nodal
agency to implement the CI
scheme.
He said that, we can do it, but not
without the support of different
professionals. All the members of
ISHA either in private or public
services must be involved in the
national CI scheme. Pre-operative
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audiological test, fitting of the
conventional hearing aids, deciding on
the candidacy of the CI surgery,
intraoperative monitoring of the
electrode placement, switch on,
mapping, and auditory verbal therapy
are likely to become routine practice
for the audiologists. I am sure this trend
will bring back rehabilitative audiology
in forefront of our clinical practice.
Digital BTE and Assistive Listening
Devices
Another highlight of the revised ADIP
Scheme is introduction of Digital BTE
and other styles of hearing aids
including body level hearing aids. So
far Audiologists have been practicing
diagnosis of hearing loss, trial of
hearing aids, and prescription of
hearing aids.With revised ADIP
scheme, with reference to hearing aids,
a new dimension has been added for
providing Assistive Listening Devices
(ALDs) including Hearing Technologies
(HTs) for the persons with hearing and
without disability. Are we practicing
clinical assessment of ALDs? Are we
prescribing listening devices? He
asked the professionals. As a part of
curriculum, tinnitus management is fast
becoming area of specialization of
clinical practice. Tinnitus matching,
masking, counselling, tinnitus retraining
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therapy or whatever name we can
give is a good practice to relieve a
patient from stress of tinnitus. He
thinks that I think we must generate
enough awareness about tinnitus and
its management. Audiologists must
take lead roles in management of
medical resistant tinnitus and can
incorporate tinnitus management in
regular clinical practice. Similarly
clinical practice for the management
of vertigo, central auditory
processing disorders, and auditory
neuropathy need not be restricted to
institutional set up but be more
visible in private, medical
department, nursing home set
ups.benefit of the persons with
hearing impairment.
Practicing
Audiology
Institutional Setup
in
Practicing Audiology in training
institute is an additional challenge
where one has to incorporate all
aspects of audiology practice. For the
benefit of students, practicing various
aspect of clinical audiology one may
develop interest in particular area
leading to emergence of expertise.
Team of audiologists got interested
in working with cases reporting
tinnitus at AYJNIHH, ERC, Kolkata to
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the extent that they enrolled temselves
for Ph.D programme in Audiology in
the area of tinnitus. Anchored Hearing
Aids and continue to do cost effective
innovation for thegraduate and postgraduates. He also said that all of us
have been taught about ALDs.
Audiologist must incorporate in their
clinical
practice
evaluation,
prescription, and counselling for ALDs
for the hearing aids/CI users. Revised
ADIP scheme will add a new
dimension to our practice and improve
the quality of life of our clients. I wish
more and more organizations;
become partners to the Government
in implementing the ADIP scheme. I
am sure clinical practice in audiology
in India along with speech language
pathology will reach new heights.
Cost Effective Innovation
He also said that he had the
opportunity to develop cost effective
CROS hearing aid way back in 2000.
He thanks ISHA, for accepting and
awarding the Paper as best paper in
Audiology related to design and
development of cost effective CROS
hearing aid on two occasions. Papers
were
presented
under
the
Chairmanship of Dr. Asha Yatiraj and
Dr. Mallikaarjuna. These presentations
became instrumental in getting the
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research funds for developing CROS
hearing aids from AYJNIHH. Now
assessment, prescription, and fitting
of CROS hearing aid are routine
clinical practice. The youngest child,
who has been fitted with CROS
hearing aid, is of four years old.
CROS hearing aids not only
improved directional hearing but also
ability to hear in background noise.
Probably due to this, even the
academic improvement was
observed in number of children using
CROS hearing aids.
Helping people with single sided
deafness became a passion for me.
Must thank Dr M. N. Nagaraja and Mr.
R. Rangasayee, the then Directors
of AYJNIHH for their continued
support to the CROS hearing aid
project. Practicing amplification for
the single sided deafness has been
so satisfying exciting that the design
and development of wired and
wireless CROS hearing aids fetched
me, National Technology Award for
the Welfare of the Persons with
Disability in 2002.It was his best day
of being Audiologist and Speech
Language Pathologist to receive the
Award from the then Honorable
President of India Dr. A.P.J Abdul
Kalam on 3 rd December- the
International Day of Disabled. In his
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oration he tells us to add amplifications
options for single sided deafness in
your practice including modern
technology of Bone conduction.
AYJNIHH FACULTY RECIEVES
TWO BEST PAPER AWARDS
In the 1st World World Congress on
Ear and Hearing Care 2015 held at
New Delhi, on 12 to 14th Feb. 2015,
Dr. S.B.Rathna Kumar, Faculty from
AYJNIHH recieved two best paper
awards.
The awards were given as recognition
for his research paper on ‘Speech
Identification Test in Telugu:
Considerations for High Frequency
Sloping Hearing Loss’ and ‘Lowfrequency Acousting Information
Contributes to Bimodal Stimulation in
Children with CI’. The awards were
given by Dr. Arun Aggarwal, Additional
Director General, DGHS, Ministry of
Health and Family Welare, Govt. of
India.
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COURSES IN THE YEAR 2015-16
Institute graded as ‘Excellent’ by
the Rehabilitation Council of
India, has started admission to
the nrew courses. It imparts
professional training in the areas
of Audiology & Speech Language
Pathology, Special Education
(Hearing Impairment), Indian
Sign Language and Media &
Disability Communication.
AYJNIHH provides clinical,
educational and rehabilitation
services in a whole life
perspective for persons with
hearing impairment and
communication disorders and is
also engaged in research and
development in respective areas.
Applications are invited for
admission for the Academic Year
2015 -16 for the following
courses at AYJNIHH, Mumbai and
its Regional Centres at Noida,
Kolkata, Secunderabad and
Bhubaneswar and Composite
Regional Centres at Bhopal and
Ahmedabad. Application forms
can be downloaded online.
The courses include:
Master of Education (Hearing
Impairment) M.Ed.(HI),
Bachelor of Education / (Hearing
Impairment)[B.Ed.(HI)/
B.Ed.Special Education (HI),
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Diploma in Education Special
Education (Deaf & Hard of Hearing)
D.Ed.SE(DHH)]
Diploma in Sign Language
Interpreter Course[DSLIC]
(Rs. 2,000/- p.m.stipend for
candidates with 50% and above
marks in 10+2 ),
Master of Audiology & Speech
Language Pathology (MASLP)
Bachelor of Audiology &
Speech Language Pathology
[BASLP] Diploma in Hearing,
Language & Speech (DHLS)
Post Graduate Certificate
Course in Auditory Verbal
Therapy[PGCAVT]
PG Diploma in Media and
Disability Communication
[PGDMDC]
Certificate course in Prosthetic
and Orthotic (CPO)
Diploma in Education – Special
Education (Autism Spectrum
Disorders)
Bachelor of Education (Mental
Retardation) B.Ed.(MR)
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ISLRTC - UNDER AYJNIHH
Ministry of Social Justice & Empwerment,
Govt. of India, has initiated steps to reestablish Indian Sign Language Research
and Training Centre under AYJNIHH. It is
planned to set up the centre under the aegis
of AYJNIHH at the Northern Regional Centre
Campus in Noida New Delhi. Efforts are
being made to start the centre with fullfledged
staff at the ISLRTC.
CAMPS CONDUCTED
In the past three months several diagnostic
and fitment service camps were conducted
in various parts of the country as part of
Outreach and Extension Services of the
Insitute. This included follow up camps at
Vasai, Karad, Lower parel, Umarkhed, Surat,
Igatpuri, Sahapur, in the month of Jannuary
and Sidhi, Darvha, Yavatmal, Palghar, Bareli,
Jagatpur, Dondaicha, in the month of
February, and Mout Abu, Surat, Jodhpur,
Alwar, Mysore, Latur, Tripur, Coimbatore,
Karad in the month of March 2015. In the
month of April camps were conducted at
Surat, Jamner, and Vasai.
NCED 2015 AT ODISHA
The National Convention of Educators of the
Deaf – India (NCED-India) was conducted
from 6th to 8th Jan., 2015 at Hotel Pal Height,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha.The inaugural
program was chaired by Chief Guest Shri
Naveen Patanaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of
Odisha, Presided by Mrs. Nisha Grover,
President, NCED India. The program was
participated by staff and students of
AYJNIHH.
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The welcome address was given by Prof.
AmitavMishra, Chair, Organizing Committee.
In his address Shri Patnaik stressed on the
topic of Inclusion and Universal Design for
Learning, and how it has significantly
influenced equity and equality of educational
opportunities for learners with sensory
impairments. Therefore, the professionals
need to provide more stress upon innovative
and effective inclusive practices in various
educational set ups.
The conference shall included both oral and
poster presentations concentrating on
various sub-themes related to ‘Supporting
Inclusive Practices for Education of Children
with Hearing Impairment’. The National
Convention of Educators of the Deaf – India
(NCED-India) is a professional organization
aiming to bring together the educators of
children with hearing impairment across the
country on a common platform to address
and deliberate on the practices and issues
pertaining to the education of children with
hearing impairment. NCED-India also
provides a platform for allied professional
members and parents of children with
hearing impairment to share and contribute
the best practices in the education of children
with hearing impairment. It works with the
vision of empowering educators for bringing
quality practices for strengthening
‘Education For All’, NCED-India strives to
undertake various activities across the
country. The Convention ended with a
valedictory function chaired by Chief Guest
Prof. Sudesh Mukhopadhyay, Chairperson,
Rehabilitation Council of India, Presided by
Mrs. Nisha Grover, President, NCED India.
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TRAINING IN MEDIA &
ACCESSIBILITY AT RGCU
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
A two-day orientation cum training
programme on ‘Media and
Accessibility’
for
Mass
Communication professionals and
students was conducted on 19th and
20 th March 2015 at Rajiv Gandhi
Central
University
(RGCU)
Confernce Hall, Administration Block,
Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh. The
programme, conducted by OES
Department of AYJNIHH, in
collaboration with Department of
Mass Communication, RGCU.The
program was inaugurated by the
Dean faculty of Education Prof. J C
Soni of RGCU on 19th March at a
function in the Conference Hall of the
Administrative building at Doimukh.
The two-day training program is
aimed at focusing on practical skills,
information on media tools and
techniques to improve digital media
and website accessibility.
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. A steering group of members
including program coordinator, Dr. P
J Mathew Martin from OESD of
AYJNIHH Mumbai, communication
manager, The George Institute of
Global Health, New Delhi, K Kannan,
HoD/MDD of AYJNIHH Dr. Arun Banik
and Director Deviprasad Goenka
Management College of Media
Studies, Mumbai, Dr. Mageshkar
Karandikar facilitated the training by
providing requisite skills to the
communication professionals and
students of Mass Communication in
dealing with disability issues.Chairing
the first day of the training, Dean,
Faculty of Education Prof. J C.Soni
stressed on positive attitudinal change
towards person with disability and the
right to happy life for all. Revealing the
statistical data on disability in the
country he informed that disability in
the North East is less in comparison
to other states, with Arunachal Pradesh
having 1.5% disability while Manipur2.11% and Sikkim-2.98% having
highest percentage of disability in the
NE region. HoD Mass Communication,
of RGU, Dr. Kh. Kabi welcoming the
steering group called for a paradigm
shift from a need based approach to
a right based approach in the area of
disability. In his key note address, K
Kannan described the concept of
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disability, saying, disability is a part
of human condition and can happen
to anyone. He said journalists need
to be careful using technically correct
terminologies in their reporting.
Emphasizing on the Right based
approach; Kannan said that persons
with disability should not be victims
of ‘lack of equal opportunities’, as
such, human rights being universal
in nature should not be divisible in
terms of disability and that the
subjects of disability should be
treated with same opportunity.
During the technical sessions all the
resource persons spoke on
accessibility rights, management and
disability and role of media and
accessibility. media and called for a
product design that is universal in
nature accessible to everyone
irrespective of their ability, age and
status in life. Martin informed that
additional aids such as closed
captioning, audio description and
sign language are rare in films
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produced in India and that such aids
can help in the area of disability. Dr.
Mangesh Karandikar while addressing
the participants spoke on the role of
media and accessibility and stated that
media should be accessible and that
it should be designed in a manner that
mitigates the gap between the haves
and the have nots, making it
accessible for all. Ten students who
volunteered, which included PGDMDC
students of AYJNIHH, were trained on
using alternative media such as
comics to create a platform for person
with disability enabling them to
participate. Talking on how comics can
reach out to people, Liza Burgohain
and Linda of World Comics
emphasized that comics are cost
effective way to reach out to the grass
root level and a good way for selfexpression.
The first day of the training ended with
interaction and a competition declared
in four categories, wherein, the
participants need to come up with an
advertisement for TV spot, article on
issues regarding disability, print
advertisement and best comic. The
program aimed at creating awareness
regarding accessibility of media and
in dealing with disability issues in the
right perspective.
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The program provided information on
creation of modality independent
technologies for accessible digital
media. During the program specific
skills with reference to creation of
digital media accessibility, use of
comics for creation of awareness,
digital media evaluation and
assessment for accessibility were
also provided to the 61 students and
10
professionals
of
Mass
Communication & Journalism.
A two-day training programme on
Media and Accessibility concluded
with RGU, Hon.Vice Chancellor Prof
Tamo Mibang, advocating for equal
opportunities for people with
disability. In his deliberation, the
Hon.VC said that, environment has
to be made conducive for all
irrespective of disability. Setting a
platform for initiating workshops that
are targeted at making opportunities
accessible in the area of disability,
the VC called for a collective effort
from the policy makers and the
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executing agencies. He further
stressed on the need to bring
attitudinal change in the way we look
at disability by advocating for a society
that is inclusive in nature. Earlier,
technical sessions on Media &
accessibility
technology
&
environment and media advocacy and
designs for accessibility were held.
The participants interacted with MD
Barrrier Break technologies Ms. Shilpi
Kapoor on skype from Mumbai over
issues pertaining to acceptable and
accessible media and websites for
people with disability.
The participants were also trained on
how to make TV ads accessible for
people with disability. Director
Deviprasad Goenka Management
College of Media Studies, Mumbai Dr
Mangesh Karandikar dwelt at length
on how new media can be used in
education to be accessible for all.
Communication manager of George
institute of Global Health, New Delhi,
K Kanan trained the participants on
making use of media advocacy and
implementation of accessibility
guidelines to help in the area of
disability. Later on the day, the
students of the department of Mass
Communication received certificates
for various competitions such as
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AYJNIHH NEWS
designing TV spots, preparing
comics and feature article writing. It
provided an opportunity to
professionals in the field of mass
communication to enrich knowledge
on how to use media & harnessing
technology for accessibility,
identifying emerging disability issues,
trends and creative strategies for
promoting the concept of inclusive
society. The orientation program,
was interactive and provided insight
and opportunities for new avenues
available in the digital media world.
The two-day orientation cum training
program ended with demonstration
of grass-root comics production by
the participants and awarding of
certificates to the participants of the
program.
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Signers and Hearing MSL
interpreters). During the ten-day
intensive workshop, information and
hands on training on various aspects
and methods of linguistic validation
of MSL and ICT based tools including
ELAN annotation. The programme
was conducted at the Society for the
Welfare of the Deaf (SWD), Beau
Bassin, in collaboration with the
Ministry of Social Security, National
Solidarity & R.I., from 6 to 16 April
2015.
TRAINING
IN
LINGUISTIC
VALIDATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE The workshop was inaugurated by
Mrs. Fazila Daureeawoo, the Hon.
IN MAURITIUS
Minister of Social Security, N.S. &
Following official approval by the
R.I. of Mauritius, in the presence of
Director of AYJNIHH, (under MSJ&E,
representative of Shri A.K.Mudgal,
Govt. of India,) Mumbai India, Dr. P.J.
High Commissioner of India, the
Mathew Martin along with Mr. Sunil
Chairpersons and members of SWD
Sahasrabudhe conducted a training
and of the MSL Project Management
workshop under the above project,
Committee. 18 participants attended
from 6th to 16 th April 2015 in
the workshop, which ended with an
Mauritius, for a group of Deaf and
evaluation leading to the award of a
Hearing Participants (Deaf MSL
level-1 certificate to the participants.
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AYJNIHH NEWS
The training programme ended with
a valedictory function and certificate
award ceremony. The list of
participants of the programme is
attached. All the participants have
expressed their willingness to
continue with the ongoing the MSL
validation validation. They also
unanimously requested that the
training scheme should move on to
level-2 and level-3, with appropriate
evaluation, tests and exams leading
to the award of a certificate issued
recognized by Mauritius.
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was followed by the scheduled skype
session between Dr. A.K.Sinha,
Director, NIHH, Mumbai, and senior
officials of the Mauritius Ministry of
Social Security, N.S & R.I. Both
Parties looked forward to receiving
the draft agreement between the two
Ministries and to the pursuit of the
ongoing collaboration initiative
between AYJNIHH under MSJE, New
Delhi and SWD under MSS,
Mauritius.
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
WITH SIDR - SWEDEN.
Socio-Economic Rehabilitation
Department of AYJNIHH has initiated
steps towards a collaborative
research with Swedish Institute of
Disability Research (SIDR), Orebro
University, Sweden.A research
proposal on “Study of the problems
faced by the Persons with Hearing
Impairment at their Work Places” was
submitted to Swedish Institute of
The workshop was followed by a de- Disability Research (SIDR). Orebro
briefing session with Mrs. Fazila University, Sweden by AYJNIHH.
Daureeawoo, the Hon. Minister of SIDR appreciated and accepted the
Social Security on 16th April 2015. proposal as collaborative research
The Hon. Minister expressed her between AYJNIHH & SIDR. The
satisfaction and gave the assurance project will be fully funded by SIDR
that the administrative procedures for and launched in the month of January
officialising the collaboration being 2015. The Executive Council of
developed with NIHH would be AYJNIHH also ratified the action
taken by the Institute in this regard.
initiated under the existing MoU
between Mauritius and India. This
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