THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Kerala government will set up a centre for deafblindness at the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) here to empower around 850 deafblind people in the state.
This was announced by Biju Prabhakar, Secretary, Social Justice Department, Government of Kerala, during his inaugural address at the first National Conference of Deafblind (NCDB 2020), jointly organised by NISH and the Society for the Empowerment of the Deafblind (SEDB), at NISH campus at Akkulam here on Saturday.
“Chennai-based Chetana Trust will associate with the centre, providing training and trainers. Besides, two suitable posts will be reserved in PSC (Public Service Commission) jobs, and the Minister for Health, Social Justice and Woman and Child Development, K. K. Shailaja Teacher will initiate further steps regarding this,” revealed Shri Prabhakar, adding that the upcoming centre at NISH will function as the nodal centre for the deaf and blind.
The theme of the two-day conference, which commenced on World Braille Day, is “Inclusion through Technology and Advocacy.” SEDB is an organisation run by the deafblind for themselves.
The conference will explore, find and promote tools and technologies for communication among the deafblind, stress the role of advocacy in empowering them and help them live independently. It will also provide a platform for technologists and policy makers to interact with the deaf and blind and strive to address their concerns.
Sheeba George, Director, Social Justice Department and Executive Director, NISH, presided over the function. Dr K.G. Satheesh Kumar, Director, Centre for Assistive Technology and Innovation (CATI), NISH, welcomed the gathering. Zamir Dhale, Founder-Director, SEDB; Pradip Sinha, Secretary, SEDB; and Dr Namita Jacob, Director, Chetana Trust, Chennai, were also present.
