Zamir Dhale deftly opened his laptop and set up his PacMate as he prepared for a conversation. The PacMate (a Braille device) is just one of many ways with which he can communicate with others, scribbling on the palms being one of his favourites.
 
A leading activist for the deafblind in the country, 38-year-old Zamir is best known for training the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee Chopra in tactile sign language for the acclaimed movie ‘Black’.
 
A senior Advocacy Officer with Sense International, India, Zamir is blind and mute. He was a part of the seven-member team which has come to train instructors on tactile sign language and sensitise about the needs of deafblind individuals. When asked about his dreams in a conversation through his PacMate, he said, “We need better education and more job opportunities for the deafblind.

The identification of deafblind should also be strengthened in the State. Someday, I hope that every deafblind will get the chance to be successful like me.”
 
Pointing out a major flaw, he said some instructors are not patient enough with the deafblind assuming that they are slow learners which is discouraging. “We will try to overcome this bottleneck through the training programme,” he added.
 
The Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC)  for Handicapped under Ministry of Labour and Employment has piloted a project in collaboration with Sense International India to sensitise the instructors on the special needs of deafblind in the State.
 
About 40 instructors from different institutions like State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), polytechnics and NGOs took part in the three-day training programme. The conference was inaugurated by Women and Child Development (W&CD) Commissioner Arti Ahuja.

Assistant Director of VRC for Handicapped RK Sharma said eight of their instructors are being trained on how to deal with deafblind students who come for vocational training. “Being the only organisation which deals with people with cross-disability, we try to build skills and improve economic status of the differently-abled,” he said.
 
Sense International, India, Director Akhil Paul said this is the first time that they have piloted a project for the deafblind with the Government. An estimated 10,000 people in the State and more than five lakh across the country are found to be deafblind. Akhil said India leads in number when it comes to deafblind, followed by Japan in South-East Asia. Tactile sign language is the primary mode of communication for deafblind. Sharma said gradually they will increase the number of deafblind being trained in the VRC and they will be helped by Sense International India.

SOURCE: New Indian Express