23rd September is observed as ‘The International Day of Sign Languages’ to raise awareness about the importance of sign language. A family from Vadodara is dedicated to the education of deaf children through sign language and an organization where deaf children come from all over Gujarat to be educated in sign language.
Kamlaben Mookbadhir Vidyalaya in Vadodara which is run by Mookdhwani Trust has been imparting education through sign language for perhaps four decades and also imparting vocational training to them.
Trust Chairman Rikesh Desai said that children from Vapi to Bhuj come to the institute for education and more than twenty teachers have been identified as special educators are teaching them sign language.
Rashmi Mehta has been teaching sign language in this institute for more than two decades and is currently the Principal of the Secondary and Higher Secondary section. Her father Harshadbhai Rajgor had retired after a long career in this special education in Bhavnagar and Rashmi’s brother Paresh Rajgor is currently a special teacher in the Primary Department of this institute. Thus, there are three special educators dedicated to the education of these special children.
Rashmi said, her father is a sign teacher and both she and her brother got into the habit of interacting with such children from childhood which led them to this special career. Any graduate of any branch of education can take up this profession by doing a special course of Special Educator.
The new education policy in the country, inspired by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has considered making the education system for these special children more effective. Arrangements are being made to educate them in normal schools instead of a special institution so that they can easily adjust.
Rashmi said that the sign language varies a bit in every district and state of the country which creates discrepancies. To address this, the Government of India has made efforts to develop a coherent Indian Sign Language.
Talking about the achievement of such students, Aditya Bhalerao a student of this institute got an education up to the 12th standard in sign language. He obtained a diploma and degree in Fine Arts from M. S. University and today he is a drawing teacher in his native institution.
Rikesh and Rashmi said that these children are talented and their IQ is high. After studying in a special school till 12th, they get an education with everyone in a normal college and get degrees or diplomas in various disciplines.
