Stem: Indian sign language brings hope for deaf students aspiring to learn STEM subjects | India News

It is estimated that around 6% of world population suffers from disabling hearing loss.As per Census 2011, there are more than 50 lakh deaf and hard of hearing people in India. However, one rarely sees any of them in STEM-related fields with lack of accessible learning resources being a key factor.
“To bridge this gap, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) in Chandigarh and Delhi-based Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) have joined hands to build a network of ISL interpreters equipped in STEM terminology and concepts,” said Rajesh Aggarwal, secretary, department of empowerment of persons with disabilties.
The two organisations will work on creating terms and concepts in ISL for classes 9 to 12 students. While all NCERT school textbooks for classes 1 to 6 are available in ISL including science, most deaf students fail to find schools willing to offer science stream at the plus-two level due to the lack of adequate resources in ISL. Showing the way forward is the first of its kind project in the country ‘Indian Sign Language Enabled Virtual Laboratory’ (ISLEVL) under the CSIR’s ‘JIGYASA’ programme under which experts are creating specialised digital content to educate the deaf by ISL translated contents in STEM. 103 new signs and 200 content videos on scientific concepts have been developed by a team led by principal scientist at IMTECH, Dr Alka Rao, with the assistance of deaf special education experts.