Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan) AYJNISHD(D), Mumbai, for the first time joining hands with Association of Otolaryngologists, Mumbai (AOI) observes the World Deaf Day (WDD) on 30th September at AYJNISHD(D). AYJNISHD (D) is one of the apex national institutes of the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (D), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India. The WDD is being observed at AYJNISHD(D), Mumbai, through various activities such as free ear checkup, hearing screening and workshop on the significance of early identification and hearing screening.
The WDD will be inaugurated at a function by Mr Mukesh Bhatt, Bollywood film director and producer, at AYJNISHD(D) at 10 am on 30th September to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, to demonstrate and reinforce achievements of humanity and concerns of the Deaf Community in India. This is will be followed by a workshop that aims to impart information on improving, early identification through hearing screening, ways to promote access to intervention and education for all and encourage developing a more productive workforce in the community for ensuring a better quality of life for all through inclusion. Participants of this workshop are ENT doctors, Pediatricians, Audiologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Teachers of the Deaf, Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpreters, Media Professionals and other allied professionals from Mumbai.
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 466 million persons in the world with disabling hearing loss (6.1% of the world’s population), unless action is taken, the number of people with disabling hearing loss will likely grow over the coming years. Projections show that the number could rise to 630 million by 2030 and maybe over 900 million in 2050. In India as per 2011 census there were 1.3 million people with ‘hearing impairment’. Contrast that to these numbers, the India’s National Association of the Deaf, estimates that 18 million people, which is 1% of the Indian population are deaf. Hence observing WDD is significant. The major objectives of the observation of WDD is to increase awareness about the significance of hearing screening, to promote understanding among common people about the deafness, its impact on children, adults & senior citizens, relevance of neonatal screening & various tools and techniques available for early intervention among children to allied professionals and to promote the human rights of deaf persons for equal access to the education and modern technologies. For more details contact 9869993833.
Dr. Suni M Mathew,Director
