By Shruti Pushkarna
Picture a living room setting in any average household in the country today. You will see various members of the family engaged on their respective handheld devices while the din from a smart television fills the room. Now imagine a deaf child or an individual in this setup. Is (s)he able to participate or communicate with the family? Is (s)he able to consume and enjoy the after-discussions on the same content capsules? The answer is probably not.
India is home to nearly two crore deaf individuals, of which 90 per cent lose out on basic knowledge and information imparted through mainstream communication channels, including television. They remain disengaged from their family and friends because they are clueless about daily happenings and events.
In November 2018, three enterprising individuals, Alok Kejriwal, Aqil Chinoy and Mansi Shah came up with a potential solution for the deaf community, so they could equally access their daily dose of information and entertainment online (The ISH News website: https://www.ishnews.tv/ and the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99w_Bzj8ikOz8Gpv0prbNg)
Meet Aqil Chinoy, Head of Information Technology, India Signing Hands (ISH), one of the forces behind ISH News.
Question: Tell us a bit about yourself, where did you grow up, study and about your work?
Answer: I was born and brought up in a deaf family in Mumbai. Indian Sign Language (ISL) was my first language as my parents, my younger brother, my uncle and aunt are deaf. Only my grandparents were hearing. After passing ICSE, I went abroad to study at Gallaudet University in Washington DC, USA. It is the only university with high standards of accessibility for the deaf in the US. There, my world changed when I realised the huge range of accessibility and opportunities that were lacking in India and how technology plays a major role in improving accessibility. I got myself involved in various organisations, took part-time jobs and learned how to lead an independent life.
Upon graduation in computer science and information systems along with several awards such as ‘Phi Alpha Pi Honor’, ‘Magna Cum Laude’, ‘President’s Scholars’ from Gallaudet University and after a one-year internship at a reputed company in US, I returned to my motherland to settle. Since then, I have been dedicating my time, skills and experiences in empowerment of the deaf people.
Q: What kind of work did you take up upon your return to India?
A: I enrolled in A S Moloobhoy Pvt. Ltd. and built the determination to push myself beyond the boundaries of disability. I became the Head of Information Technology and worked there for 15 years. At the same time, I was also involved with the deaf community, trying to improve the standards of accessibility with the help of technology. I played different roles in several NGOs. With the steady growth of India Signing Hands, I resigned from my job in 2021, and joined ISH full-time.
Q: ISH has been in the news lately, for all good reasons, but we will come back to that in a bit. First, tell us how did India Signing Hands come into being?
A: My parents and I were deprived of the knowledge and information from TV channels as they only communicate in the spoken language. Due to this lack of accessibility, many deaf individuals face difficulty in their lives especially pertaining to education and employment. For this very reason, I concluded that the first step is for them to have quality education and access to information to build up their knowledge. Currently, due to the inadequate method of education, lack of communication with hearing members of the family and inaccessible format of TV Channels, the deaf people have fallen behind. Determined to promote the best solution, I collaborated with Alok Kejriwal, a deaf businessman, and Mansi Shah, and we launched India Signing Hands (ISH).
Q: Access to information is a basic human right and yet we see so many people from diverse communities left out of mainstream communication. The deaf because of the lack of sign language usage and interpretation, blind and visually impaired lose out on heavily visual channels of communication, the illiterate and less educated due to other reasons and so on. What’s your view on this current state of exclusion or marginalization of communities?
A: Deafness is often an invisible disability, where the impact is not immediately apparent. The challenges faced by deaf individuals encompass a spectrum of issues, including formidable communication barriers, restricted entry to educational and employment avenues, and the pervasive social stigma. In times past, awareness surrounding sign language was very limited, with the predominant teaching method in Indian deaf schools being oralism, emphasizing on lip-reading. Unfortunately, this approach perpetuated a widespread misunderstanding that sign language might compromise cognitive skills and logical thinking. Despite ample research refuting such notions, these misconceptions persist.
The communication gap, experienced at home, in workplaces, and public spaces, creates barriers that obstruct their overall prosperity. Presently, a staggering 90 per cent of the deaf population in India grapples with these challenges and they are unable to contribute to the Indian economy. Deaf associations tirelessly advocate for concessions in various facets of life, from railways to tolls, seeking alternative solutions to alleviate the financial burdens. The struggle for inclusivity and recognition persists as the deaf endeavour to carve out spaces that accommodate their unique needs and amplify their voices in the broader societal discourse.
Q: Would you agree that there are enough laws and guidelines in place to ensure inclusion in terms of ICT, and yet no accountability in terms of last mile implementation? Like, despite the guideline issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on keeping broadcasts inclusive for the deaf, reality is far from it. What do you think?
A: Recognising and addressing the challenges faced by the deaf community is a pivotal step toward fostering a truly inclusive society. Achieving this inclusivity necessitates the implementation of policies that extend equal opportunities. The anticipation surrounding the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2016 initially infused hope within the community. Unfortunately, the realisation fell short of expectations. While there have been some positive efforts, such as the provision of ISL interpretation during DD News broadcasts and selected events organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, these steps are commendable yet insufficient to catalyse a broader impact.
Proposing Indian Sign Language (ISL) as the 23rd national language holds substantial promise for empowering the deaf community. The recognition of a language as an official one not only symbolises inclusivity but also catalyses socio-economic growth. Businesses thrive when their language is acknowledged, granting the community a sense of authority and presence. Conversely, there are organisations attempting to develop accessibility solutions, viewing this as an opportunity to contribute positively. However, some fall short in understanding a fundamental concept – the Deaf community does not seek to be “fixed.” Their desire is not for a cure but rather for an environment that provides accessibility, allowing them to bridge the communication gap.
Q: How and why did you think of launching ISH News? Tell us a bit about this venture and the team behind it.
A: ISH was launched in November 2018 as India’s foremost daily news and entertainment online broadcasting channel catering specifically to the deaf community. The channel delivers content in a format that combines Indian Sign Language (ISL), voiceover, and subtitles, ensuring an inclusive and enriching experience for its viewers.
The synergistic use of subtitles and ISL contributes significantly to the enhancement of vocabulary skills among the deaf audience. Additionally, the videos, presented in ISL with voiceover, serve a dual purpose by providing a unique learning opportunity for hearing parents, enabling them to acquire Sign Language skills. This, in turn, fosters enhanced communication and establishes deeper connections and trust within families.
My involvement spans diverse responsibilities, from crafting project proposals and defining workflows to detailing technical requirements and coordinating the design of the office and studio floor layouts. Additionally, I have taken an active role in the recruitment and training of team members, ensuring a seamless integration of their diverse skills and experiences.
Within ISH, we take pride in nurturing a diverse team of professionals, encompassing deaf individuals, Children of Deaf Adults (CODA), and hearing team members. This team, consisting of News Signers (anchors), editors, graphic artists, video editors, cameramen, coordinators, interpreters, and more, brings together years of collective experience, particularly within the realm of People with Disabilities (PwDs).
Q: Many individuals and companies believe that adding subtitles and auto-generated captions fixes the gap for the deaf. We know that’s not true, because the deaf population itself in diverse in many ways. Would you like to educate our readers on this?
A: While many companies assume that simply adding subtitles to movies or videos resolves accessibility challenges for all deaf individuals in TV channels or films, this oversimplification overlooks a critical factor – the quality of accessible education provided to the Deaf during their formative years. Within the diverse deaf population, the Hard-Of-Hearing (HOH) subgroup benefits from the ability to read, thanks to partial hearing and access to educational support. They can communicate effectively at home, aided by hearing devices. This represents only a fraction of the deaf population. The majority of deaf individuals encounter difficulties with subtitles. In this context, the Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpretation video-in-film overlay emerges as the most dependable tool for ensuring accessibility. Unlike subtitles, ISL interpretation transcends language barriers, providing a comprehensive and nuanced communication channel. Moreover, ISL interpreters, adhering to the grammatical nuances of ISL, convey not only the literal meaning but also the emotions and tones embedded in the dialogues.
Q: What’s the viewership of ISH News? Any response or feedback you would like to share with us?
A: Since its inception, ISH News channel has garnered an impressive cumulative total of 30.44 crore views and amassed a dedicated following of 5.88 lakhs subscribers/followers across various social media platforms. Averaging an impressive 45 lakhs views per month, our news videos span a comprehensive range, covering daily breaking news, sports, business, health awareness, Deaf Buzz (news related to the Deaf), festivals, disabilities-related news, and entertainment. The outpouring of appreciation and gratitude from thousands of Deaf individuals is a testament to our tremendous efforts in making news and films accessible to the Deaf. Today, they not only comprehend but also relish news and films through ISL interpretation video-in-video.
Q: Coming from television news, I know that it’s a fast-paced environment and not very open to empathetic inclusion, because of the way the industry and professionals are wired thus far. How do you think we as inclusion advocates, can push for a shift in this mindset and culture?
A: By combining a legal framework, success stories and testimonials from deaf individuals who have benefited from ISH News’ initiatives, educational awareness, financial collaboration, government support, and live demonstrations, we can build a compelling case for the inclusion of video-in-film ISL interpretation in TV channels and films, encouraging producers to take accessibility initiatives more seriously. We can begin by stressing on the importance of compliance with national standards and policies, emphasizing that this not only aligns with legal requirements but also reflects a commitment to social responsibility. We can emphasize that inclusive content not only caters to the Deaf community but also appeals to a wider audience, thus contributing to a positive public image for the industry.
Vishant Nagvekar, Locomotor Disability (Goa): Persons with locomotor disabilities face a lot of challenges in outdoor environments, even in events like Purple Fest, when it comes to washroom access. There is little importance placed on this while planning. I heard other wheelchair users complain of the same during in the past few days, this is something that needs attention from the Disability Commissioner’s office.
Pooja Gupta, Thalassemia (Delhi): One of the requirements of persons with thalassemia is to get blood transfusion every 20-25 days. In India, there isn’t much blood donation on a mass scale and NAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing) tested blood is not available easily. For instance, in Delhi, only two major hospitals provide NAT tested blood and not everyone can afford going to those. This type of blood can save thalassaemic patients from severe infections. Also, hardly any health insurance companies cover genetic blood disorders, and those which do charge an exorbitant premium with various terms and conditions. This is an expensive disease to manage, can the State help create awareness about this?
Shrutilata Singh, Deaf Blindness/Multiple Disability (Gujarat): There is little awareness about deaf blindness. There are 21 disabilities in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, classifying deaf blindness as a Multiple Disability is not fair, as this is a condition with varying degrees. We need this to be a separate type so it can be certified and people can avail of reasonable accommodations. Today deaf blind people face difficulties during examination, applying for a job etc. because their certificate doesn’t mention the exact disability. Secondly, a lot of information about schemes and technology from the government doesn’t get communicated to us. We need a dedicated group that shares all relevant information in an accessible format.
Radhesh Varty, Haemophilia (Goa): Haemophilia is a condition which is unpredictable. Today I am speaking with you, standing here, tomorrow I can’t say what condition I’ll be in. There is a lot of challenge we face in reservation of jobs, because when people hear about haemophilia, they write us off. It’s hard to predict which body part might swell up when, and where bleeding may occur. We need specific accommodations for this disability and the corresponding conditions, especially to make gainful employment possible.
Swasti Mehta, Intellectual Disability (Maharashtra): We need specific focus on early intervention for this disability. It should be made mandatory for parents to get early intervention for such kids to improve their future because they are often confused. There is a need for occupational training for persons with intellectual disability after 18 years of age. There are no government provisions for that. Some parents send their children to private training institutes but after 18, government needs to support this disability. The loans that are provided by NHFDC (National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation) are of no use without any training.
Dr Shanthipriya Siva, Parkinson’s Disease (Tamil Nadu): Why glyophosate, a herbicide, and another pesticide that cause Parkinson’s still not banned in India? After few years of Parkinson’s when your medicines don’t work and you get a lot of multiple motor fluctuations, there is a surgery called Deep Brain Stimulation which really helps patients. But it’s not performed in most government hospitals in India. Can this be made accessible to all patients with Parkinson’s because it can really help people with early onset, when they might be in the peak of their careers?
Priya Lal, Leprosy Cured (Delhi): I want to highlight the issue regarding disability pension. In my state, I only get a mere 500 Rs as monthly pension which is quite low. We need to increase this to meet daily expenses. There are so many girls like me whose families don’t accept them and they have no access to jobs. Some families even leave these girls in hospitals. Even though I work as an auditor with a multinational company, I still face a lot of problems because of my condition. How can we change this?
Anubha Singhal, Muscular Dystrophy (Delhi): Muscular Dystrophy (MD) has various types and sub-types. I want to highlight that many others with MD are unable to join this fest because most of them live with severe disabilities, and they need more than one caregiver at times. Looking at the accessibility of all states, we struggle. The laws exist but why is there such lack of implementation? Why are we not pushing for the online systems of building plan approvals? This can rectify the problem at the planning stage. Can the government not push this to make buildings accessible as per the harmonised guidelines?
Saurabh Prasad, Blindness (Jharkhand): Last year, DEPwD (Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) initiated a STEM-based programme and circulated proposals to 100 different national institutes working for blind and hearing impaired people, for establishing STEM labs in their schools. But they received less than five applications. This is because these institutes don’t have teachers to take this program up. Unless we have required special educators, we won’t be able to implement such initiatives. So what plans does the government have to manage this shortage of teachers and trainers across schools?
Smitha Sadasivan, Multiple Sclerosis (Tamil Nadu): It’s been eight years since the RPWD Act was enacted and we only have seven more years for the Sustainable Development Goals to be completed. In the interest of this timeline, we need to take stock of which aspects were implemented, which ones are underway and which couldn’t take off. One example is that of the caregiver’s allowance listed in the Act. Many states are giving a mere sum of 1000 Rs for caregivers who are parents, which is not a solution. These should be trained caregivers who are paid dignified wages. Data is another critical area, is disability related data available to different government departments? Also, how many people with disabilities are in decision making roles, especially in the various state disability departments?
Chaitanya Mukund, Cerebral Palsy (Haryana): Based on my research of past two years, crimes against persons with disabilities don’t get recorded properly, both on state and national level. India has no data in this regard, this is a huge lapse, and a violation of Section 7 of the RPWD Act. When there is no information available, how can awareness be generated for the same? I’d urge all State Disability Commissioners to issue recommendation as per relevant section of the Act for the respective State Police Departments to issue enforceable guidelines with regards to recording crimes against PwDs.
Nomesh Verma, Sickle Cell Disease (Chhattisgarh): Awareness is a huge problem, especially among medical professionals. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an invisible disability, and due to the lack of proper medical consultation, many with this condition die. We need to train our doctors, and also spread awareness among common people. Treatment of this disease should be made available in villages. Around 14 lakh people are living with SCD but a mere one per cent has been issued Unique Disability Identification (UDID) cards. One of the reasons is the complex guidelines which prevent from issuance of certificate, if someone has not had a transfusion within three months. We are not able to avail of any government schemes as a result. Job reservation is also a challenge without a UDID. Can we simplify these rules?
Prasad Joshi, Deafness (Goa): There are many challenges, primarily that of communication, which leads to several other issues. We are dependent on interpreters, because most people don’t understand sign language. We want Indian Sign Language (ISL) to be registered as an official language. This will solve most of the problems like quality of education, early prevention, jobs, et cetera. If ISL is introduced, this will help include us in the mainstream.
Dr Anubha Mahajan, Chronic Neurological Condition (Delhi): We need a separate classification for Chronic Neurological Conditions (CNC) in the RPWD Act because Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s are also neurological disorders. We get issued a certificate on the basis of chronicity, prevalence and progression of the disease but there is no clear definition for the same in the Act. The problem with CNC is the unpredictability of the disease. I can walk today, but that might not be true on another day. For every disability including CNC, we need a specialised team of doctors for assessment.
Aditi Gangrade, Autism (Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh): Most parents of children with autism have no awareness about this condition. A lot them force their kids into therapies for a cure, which is not medically possible. A lot of doctors are offering Stem Cell therapy as a cure, even though ICMR has issued a guideline to use this therapy only for research purposes. Why can’t we spread awareness so parents don’t fall into such traps? Some autistic children also have intellectual disability, they are often beaten up and tortured to punish them for their so-called rude behaviour. Often films ridicule persons with disabilities, why is it still allowed despite the strict laws against discrimination?
Ekta Bhyan, Spinal Cord Injury (Haryana): I urge Spinal Cord Injury to be made into a new 22nd category of disability because as per World Health Organisation, it is the most devastating disability. The numbers are huge, 1.5 million in India, and every year 15-20,000 new cases. It is an injury that impacts the central organ system, every organ is directly or indirectly impacted by this disability. So we can’t club it with orthopaedic disability. Speaking of assistive devices, a normal wheelchair costs 3-4 lakh rupees, tax exemption should be available for affordability. Also we need more spinal cord rehabilitation centres in the country.
K Vaishali, Specific Learning Disability (Telangana): I have gone to 5 schools, a mix of private and government. I always wrote d instead of g, but none of the teachers were able to notice my Dyslexia. I had to diagnose myself at the age of 20. Teachers are the best people to catch hold of it at an early age but most of them have no awareness. Every school and college must have special educators. UGC and CBSE have specific guidelines about dyslexia but the teachers are clueless.
Prashant Naik, Low Vision (Maharashtra): Low Vision is a spectrum, we are neither totally blind nor do we have corrective vision. Hence, we face challenges in education and employment. One solution I want to suggest is to create awareness at a state and central level. We can perhaps have a ‘Sugamya week’ or something annually, so mainstream society can be sensitised. We should also have representation in the respective state departments for persons with disabilities.
Disha Pandya, Dwarfism (Maharashtra): I’d like to emphasise on the lack of doctors, paediatricians or orthopaedics who can specifically guide on dwarfism. Doctors are not aware on how to treat it or help with certain aftermath. More importantly, the entertainment society has made dwarfism into a joke everywhere, in malls, schools, on the roads! Is there no way of stopping this? There are many persons with dwarfism who earn through channels of entertainment but why should they be ridiculed?
Puneet Singh Singhal, Speech and Language Disability (Delhi): I have similar issues pertaining to accessibility, forced therapies, crime against disabled and so on. I am an activist and my organisation’s tagline is “Stammer, but with love”. Just like dwarfism, people like me are used for comic relief in films and television. Why can’t we spread awareness so people don’t turn insensitive towards us?
Sonali Mukherjee, Acid Attack Survivor (Jharkhand): There are laws but are not being implemented on ground. Girls are being made victims of acid attack every day. Why aren’t we regulating the sale of acid in shops? There should be stringent action against the perpetrators of such heinous crime. Acid attack survivors also face denial from health insurance providers, despite the fact that they may not have any serious illness. The other issue is pertaining to chasing the legal system for justice. My case has been running for 20 years now without a just verdict.
Radio was a constant presence in the lives of the people back when the channels of entertainment were limited. Listeners formed a relationship, a bond of sorts, with the voices inside the radio sets. A similar personalisation is somewhat reflected in the compering style of All India Radio jockeys even today.
Campeones, Spanish for Champions, is a 2018 film directed by Javier Fesser which was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. It is inspired by the true account of The Aderes Basketball team in Valencia, created with people with intellectual disabilities who won 12 Spanish championships between 1999 and 2014.
The second film is a 2023 American sports comedy directed by Taika Waititi. Michael Fassbender plays the lead role of Thomas Rongen in Next Goal Wins. It is based on a documentary of the same name, about a Dutch American coach (Rongen) who is also forced, following a series of events, to coach the weakest soccer teams in the world. It’s the story of the American Samoa soccer team who suffered a terrible loss in World Cup history, losing 31-0 to Australia in 2001. Rongen struggles to work with this infamous set of ‘losers’, turning them into an elite squad. Under his training, the American Samoa team qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
You remember the SRK starrer ‘Pathan’ that made headlines even before its release? Yes, I’m referring to Deepika Padukone’s controversial orange bikini and the Besharam Rang song. A lawyer filed a complaint in Muzzafarpur district court of Bihar against the leading actors and the objectionable song that allegedly offended the sentiments of the Hindu community.
The court has ordered for these accessibility features to be included on OTT as well as theater screenings. For now, the cinema halls and producers can work with certain mobile application providers (XL Cinema, Shazacin) which offer access to an audio described track that synchronizes on the user’s smartphone as the movie plays up on the big screen.
Yes, people with disabilities too access news media, in all shapes and forms. They are also informed and opinionated citizens of India. But are news offerings built keeping in mind needs of people with different types of disabilities? Are product developers aware of what these accessibility requirements are? Do they know there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities who have the right to equal access to digital content, and that there are laws mandating the same?
A: Accessibility is not a shiny feature or an add-on; a good product is accessible by default. Accessibility must be baked into the DNA of the product. Frankly, if you’re starting a new product or an app, making it accessible is not rocket science and can be done relatively quickly. There are enough resources and Web Content Access Guidelines (WCAG) to help developers and designers.
A: I will be honest. News organisations lag way behind when it comes to product or tech innovations. This is mainly due to two factors: first, product and engineering resources are primarily used to serve SEO or ad revenue needs, leaving little incentive for product innovation. Second, often product decisions are made by executives and journalists who are quite short-sighted. Not to forget, newsrooms always have limited tech bandwidth and don’t attract the kind of tech talent that goes to say, an out-and-out tech company.