DEAF LEADERS
When asked to describe the situation of the people with hearing impairment, K. Murali, Director of DEAF LEADERS had this to say - A tortoise has an advantage of swimming in the sea as well as walking on the beach. But for the fish, sea is the only place that they can be in. That is how the Deaf and Mute feel. Lack of verbal communication restricts them from exploring and expressing confidently what they feel and what they can do. They don't have awareness of their own possibilitieis of their life. There is nothing to pity about the deaf and mute people; what will bring about change in their life is their own as well as mindset of the society.
The Society has made norms on what is acceptable and what is not for people to exercise their fundamental rights to sustain and express. People who are economically, mentally or physically disadvantaged are denied privileges of life that are taken for granted by the majority. People who are underprivileged in any area are automatically bracketed under a separte category and deprived of opportunities in employment and good living standards. Due to the lack of opportunities and basic privileges of life, some take to addictions, some undergo sereve depression and most of them do not see any potential in them nor any hope for their future.
DEAF LEADERS has undertaken a project called Sign Language Development department that consitutes speech and hearing impaired members of society, who as a part of DEAF LEADERS not only bring to the forefront their unique abilities, talents and capabilities, but allow people, see the power of their own potential. DEAF LEADERS reaches out to everyone, whether they can hear or not. The programs have been designed to bring out the best in people and appreciate their own potential going beyond physical constraints. The department has undertaken many projects to contribute the upliftment of the hearing impaired. It has started work towards following areas:
- Sign Language curriculum
- Awareness programs
- Lifeskills workshops
- Programs to empower the parents and the support group of the deaf
- English classes
There is nothing absolute or perfect in life. Every imperfection is a tool to grow.
Contents of the Course
A) Basic program of Sign language , Skill development & English for the proposed need includes following ares of learning ( Every One Hour ) for Deaf Students
- Everyday expressions
- Signing and deafness
- Getting acquaited
- Health
- Weather
- Family
- School
- Food and drink
- Clothing
- Sports and recreation
- Travel
- Civics
- Religon
- Numbers, time, Dates and Money
- The manual alphabet / Others
B) Special Programme of Development Education & Communication for the proposed need includes following areas of learning ( Every One Hour ) for Teachers
- Communication Methodologies in Education
- Bilingual in Education
- To improve by teaching the students
Schedule Planning
| 1 | Every Monday | Corporation School of the Deaf R.S. Puram, Coimbatore |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Every Tuesday | Infant School of the Hearing Impaired Thekkupalaym (PO), Coimbatore- 641020 |
| 3 | Every Wednesd | Star School for the Hearing Impaired Singanallur (Post) Coimbatore |
| 4 | Every Thursday | Tiruppur School of the Deaf Murugampalayam, Idvupalayam Tiruppur |
| 5 | Every Friday | Others School 1.CSI group school 2. KG Oral School 3.Red Cross Oral School 4. Ooty / Karur / Erode / Palaghat/Palani and other place |
Time Schedule
| 1st Session | 2 to 3 PM | Deaf Students (See above contents of course A) |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Session | 3 to 4 PM | Teachers (See above contents of course B) |
Name of the Schools and total of the Students
| Sl.No | Name of the School | Total of the students (Approx ) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corporation School of the Deaf , Coimbatore | 70 |
| 2 | Infant Jesus Schools of the Deaf, Coimbatore | 100 |
| 3 | Star School of the Deaf , Coimbatore | 100 |
| 4 | Tiruppur School of the Deaf, Tiruppur | 300 |
| 5 | CRCS & CSI Groups ( 7 schools ), Coimbatore | 250 |
| 6 | KG Oral School of the Hearing Impaired , Coimbatore | 80 |
| 7 | Red Cross Oral School of the Hearing Impaired, Coimbatore | 40 |
| 8 | Ever Shine Cross Speech and Educational , Tiruppur | 60 |
| 9 | The Society for the Aid of Handicapped Children, Coimbatore | 20 |
| 10 | Mother Theresa Special School, Udumalpet | 200 |
| 11 | Avinashilingam Institute Home , Coimbatore | 10 |
| 12 | Kovai Rehailitation & Information Service for the Handicapped , Coimbatore | 35 |
| 13 | Bharthi Rehabilitation Centre, Coimbatore | 15 |
| 14 | Govt School of the Deaf, Ooty | 60 |
| 15 | Govt School of the Deaf , Erode | 75 |
| 16 | Sravana Samsara High School , Palghat | 185 |
| Total | 1,500 | |
Resource of the Project
- Mr. K. Murali - Director , DEAF LEADERS ( Bilingual & Research )
- Mr. Rajesh Kumar - Sign Language & Skill Development
- Mrs. G.B. Sudha - English & Maths
At DEAF LEADERS, Where DEAF TEAM conducts concept based training programme for the corporate and also works for the upliftment of hearing impaired. Their dream is to see people with any challenge walk shoulder to shoulder with everyone in the society.