International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September every year along with International Week of the Deaf. The theme of this year is ‘Sign Languages are for everyone’ with a view to enhancing awareness about Sign language and expanding its reach to everyone. As per World Federation of the Deaf, approximately 70 million deaf people are there worldwide, of which more than 80 percent live in developing countries. 

Sign languages are languages that use the visual-manual modality to convey meaning, expressed through manual articulations in combination with non-manual elements. They are fully fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from the spoken languages. There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when travelling and socializing. It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.

In India, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognizes Sign Language as a means of communication. Realizing the importance of Sign language for persons with hearing impairment, the Government has set up the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) in 2015 to promote usage, teaching and research in Indian Sign language that brings people closer and unites them. 

Various projects, courses and awareness programs being carried out by ISLRTC and the projects of ISLRTC namely ISL dictionary and DEAF-NP Project. In fact, two important courses are being run by ISLRTC, namely Diploma in Indian Sign Language Interpretation (DISLI) and Diploma in Teaching Indian Sign Language (DTISL).

During pandemic, ISLRTC for the well-being of persons with hearing disabilities during the lockdown, contributed by the way of developing sign language videos of important guidelines/protocols/advisories during the lockdown.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)