Aims and Objectives

Aims:-
The course aims towards promoting inclusive practice of sign language, where every person can communicate through sign language with persons with deafblindness/MSI and multiple disabilities. The course will provide an intensive exposure to the trained educators, parents, caregivers and professionals who works or are communicating with persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. They can use sign language to communicate in situations and set-ups with persons with deafblindness; e.g. in early intervention programs, special schools, inclusive setups, home based programs, community based programs, pre vocational and vocational centres as a part of their mode of communication.

Understanding of sign language can give confidence to educators as well as persons with deafblindness to bridge the gap of communication between them and people around. It is a team of professionals and family of a person with deafblindness that work closely with person having deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Therefore, it is very much essential that every person in the team is aware of basic sign language. This will not only enhance their awareness, knowledge and understanding about deafblindness but will also provide the opportunity to person with deafblindness to express their thoughts, emotions and needs on own which in turn minimise isolation and frustrations. Along with that this course will also be open for everyone who wants to learn sign language.. Having the knowledge of sign language will bring a societal change and increase the exposure and safety for person with deafblindness and multiple disabilities.

Objectives
The objective of this course is to prepare the learners to use sign language with persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities in individual and/or group. On completion of the course, it is expected that:

1. 1. Learners will be able to understand the role of sign language as one of the most effective mode communication for persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. They will be able to communicate with them using sign language.
2. 2. Learners will learn sign for different words/vocabulary used in different context.
3. 3. Learners will be able to use one hand finger spelling and tactile sign language as well.
4. 4. Learners will be able to form sentences in sign language.
5. 5. Learners will be able to apply various techniques while communicating with persons with deafblindness such as hand and body positioning, sitting arrangements, lighting etc

Eligibility Criteria

Any persons who are interested in learning sigh language and have access to internet are eligible to undergo this training. However, first preference will be given to-

1. =>  Parents, siblings and family members of persons with special needs
2. =>  Special Educators/ CBR workers/Coordinators from Sense India’s project partner
3. =>  Persons with deafblindness and disability
4. =>  Teachers of inclusive setup
5. =>  Volunteer
6. =>  Therapists and other professionals

Program Structure

Weekly two sessions of online lectures with the duration of one hour each on Monday and Thursday of every week during 11 am to 12 noon will be conducted

Course Content

Unit-1: Introduction to Sign Language2 Hrs.

1. 1.1 Instructions for signing and tactile sign language
2. 1.2 Alphabets: One Hand Finger Spelling; Two Hand Finger Spelling & Numbers
3. 1.3 Daily Expressions
   

Unit 2: Numbers1 Hr.

1. 2.1 Counting (1-10)
2. 2.2 Assessment and Importance of Assessment

Unit 3: Colours1 Hr.

1. 3.1 Primary Colours
2. 3.2 Secondary Colours

Unit- 4: Pronouns, Articles, Question Forms3 Hrs.

1. 4.1 Pronouns
2. 4.2 Articles
3. 4.3 Question Forms

Unit 5: Auxiliary Verbs, Contractions and Markers9 Hrs.

1. 5.1 Auxiliary verbs
2. 5.2 Contractions
3. 5.3 English Markers
4. 5.4 Markers for Vernacular Languages

Unit 6: Animals, Birds and Insects4 Hrs.

1. 6.1 Animals
2. 6.2 Birds
3. 6.3 Insects

Unit 7: Fruits and Vegetables2 Hrs.

1. 7.1 Fruits
2. 7.2 Vegetables

Unit 8: Nature3 Hrs.

1. 8.1 Season
2. 8.2 Parts of Trees
3. 8.3 Water bodies
4. 8.4 Natural calamities
5. 8.5 Miscellaneous

Unit 9: Relationships2 Hrs.

1. 9.1 Family relations
2. 9.2 Other relations

Unit 10: Parts of Body and Health and Ailments2 Hrs.

Unit 11: House and Household Articles2 Hrs.

1. 11.1 Household material
2. 11.2 Daily used objects in house

Unit 12: Food, Drink and Kitchenware2 Hrs.

1. 12.1 Types of food and drinks
2. 12.2 Ingredients in Kitchen
3. 12.3 Tools in Kitchen

Unit 13: Wearing Apparel Accessories and Linen2 Hrs.

1. 13.1 Types of dresses
2. 13.2 Wearing accessories

Unit 14: Culture Education and Classroom2 Hrs.

1. 14.1 Education culture
2. 14.2 Educational Material
3. 14.3 Educational subjects
4. 14.4 Art and theatre
5. 14.5 Miscellaneous

Unit 15: Places and Transport2 Hrs.

1. 15.1 Places
2. 15.2 Modes of Transport

Unit 16: Time Concepts2 Hrs.

1. 16.1 Date and Time
2. 16.2 Days of Week
3. 16.3 Months

Unit 17: Adjectives3 Hrs.

1. 17.1 Physical, Behavioural and Environmental condition
2. 17.2 Weight, Quantity, Quality, Directions, Depth, Size, Frequency
3. 17.3 Textures, Age, Emotions, Relations, Comparisons and Miscellaneous

Unit 18: Verbs2 Hrs.

Unit 19: Prepositions, Conjunctions and Adverbs2 Hrs.

1. 19.1 Prepositions
2. 19.2 Conjunctions
3. 19.3 Adverbs

Unit 19: Prepositions, Conjunctions and Adverbs2 Hrs.

1. 19.1 Prepositions
2. 19.2 Conjunctions
3. 19.3 Adverbs

Unit 20: Professions1 Hr.

Unit 21: Games and Sports1 Hr.

Unit 22: Money, Measures and Distances1 Hr.

Unit 23: Tools, Metals and Basic Material2 Hrs.

Unit 24: The World and its People3 Hrs.

1. 24.1 Names of Countries
2. 24.2 Places in the World

Unit 25: Government and Law2 Hrs.

Unit 26: Religion and Festivals2 Hrs.

Unit 27: Miscellaneous Words3 Hrs.

Unit 28: Sentence Formation2 Hrs.

1. 28.1 Two Words phrase Formation
2. 28.2 Simple Sentence Formation

Assignments:

1. 1. Signing English alphabets- A-Z video in 30 seconds
2. 2. Signing numbers – 1 -25 in 25 sec
3. 3. Making 10 sentences using signs

Support from the organization (course)

Sense India will be providing the entire learning materials related to the course on sign language. The materials will be uploaded prior to starting the course, which will be access through login credential provided by Sense India to the candidates. Sense India will be organising web-based sessions on sign language by experts in the field which is mainly applicable to most of the persons with deafblindness in India.

There will be a weekly one hour session on every Monday and Thursday at 11 am (IST) – A total of 26 online sessions on sign language will be conducted for each batch. However, the learners will be informed in advance in case of any change in the day or timing of the sessions.

Attendance

Selected learners are expected to attend the web-based sessions through their login ID’s provided by the organisation. They should spend the required time on learning each unit followed by online tests. Candidates are expected to achieve the minimum required attendance i.e. 75 percent in each of the below mentioned areas, failing which they will not be receiving the web based course certificate on sign language.

Course Materials

The materials will be mainly based on American Sign Language and Talking Hands. Course materials will be available in English and Hindi languages on the Web. Ed. SL. The materials will be in the form of soft copies, pictures/videos.

Benefits of the Training

Since Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016 has recognised deafblindness as a unique category under Multiple Disability, it has created an opportunity to learn three months certificate course on sign language for persons with deafblindness.

On successful completion of three months course, the students will develop a better understanding of sign language and will be able to use sign language efficiently with persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Educators can use sign language in schools with children with disabilities (special schools/government and as well as private setup/ mainstream schools, or NGO’s working in the field of deafblindness. This course will be helpful for teachers working with Samagra Shiksha, NGOs and other institutions providing education to persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, therapists, volunteers etc.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply by downloading app from Google Play store or online through the Sense International India website at www.senseintindia.org Applicants has to apply for 1st Batch before 15th of January, 2nd Batch before 15th of April, 3rd batch before 15th of July and 4th batch before 15th of October each year. Admission will only be accepted on submission of the entire course fee through online payment provided on Sense India app. Incomplete forms shall be liable to be rejected.