Book : Sign Language for Beginners
Ability Foundation conducted a book launch of the “Sign Language for Beginners”, which took place at the salubrious venue of “Spaces” at Elliotts Beach on Thursday 8 January 2015. A vibrant and interactive function, it was attended by media person, corporates, NGOs as well as educationists.
Jayshree Raveendran, Founder and Hon Executive Director Ability Foundation, spoke of Ability Foundation’s commitment to inclusion, and the importance of sign language as a tool to enable such inclusion. ‘A book like Sign Language for Beginners will go a long way in demystifying sign language for the general public’ and there is a great need today for all service personnel like the police force, courts of law, hospitals to have a minimum communication skills in communicating with deaf persons through sing language”, she said.
The author of this pictorial dictionary , Arun C Rao, a disability activist and sign language interpreter, who spoke on the occasion, said that a book like this should have been available twenty years ago when he was looking for resources for his young daughter who was deaf. Nevertheless he is happy that it is finally available so that steps can be taken to bridge the communication gap between deaf and hearing people.
Well-known playback singer Anuradha Sriram sang her hit song” Kaupputhan enikku pidicha colour” from the film Vettrikkodi Kattu, as well as the song “Ishwar Allah” from Earth, with Arun Rao interpreting the song in sign, much to the delight of the onlookers.
The first copy of the book was received by Dr Mariazeena Johnson, Director, Sathyabama. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Johnson said that sign language would go a long way towards creating an inclusive community and reiterated her commitment to making Sathybama University an inclusive one.
Sign Language for Beginners is the first book that a person needs to learn Indian SignLanguage. The beginner will find it a wholesome introduction to the world of signs and communication with the deaf community. Deaf children and their parents particularly will find it a very valuable resource helping them communicate and understand one another in a quick easy and simple way. Since Independence this is the first mainstream book on Indian Sign Language in the open market.
The full color book has over 600 pictures for over 500 common words that used in daily life. It is the ideal handbook for anyone who is interested in learning Indian Sign Language. The explanations of how the signs are created are simple and easy to understand making the process that much easier and quicker.
For more information contact Janaki Pillai, Director-Operations, Ability Foundation at janaki.pillai@abilityfoundation.org