The world calls out to them, but they don’t hear

Opportunities rarely knock on their doors and when they do, they do not hear it. This is the grouse of most of those affected by hearing impairment, as well as by their parents.

It is a pity that the country’s population of hearing and speech impaired is inversely proportionate to the infrastructural back up available for them. Such is the grievance of a father, Hyder Ali, from Chikkaballapur, who worries for his 16-year-old deaf and dumb daughter’s future.

“I want her to complete her degree, but I am unsure if there are colleges that cater to her needs,” he despairs. The problem at hand is not just of lack of infrastructure in schools for the handicapped, but also the lack of information on the existing facilities and schools.

Nagaveni N, whose 18-year-old daughter is pursuing a pre-vocational course after having dropped out of school, says, “We need more special schools, where the disabled can fit in, and where the ratio of students and teacher is limited. Otherwise, students with disabilities get side-lined.”

Nagaveni also adds that the number of schools and colleges for the impaired should increase. “I don’t want to send my daughter to a far away school, especially when there are so many constraints. I might have given a thought to her finishing her schooling, but the distance and approach at schools puts me off,” she says. of the disabled.