Except the Delhi Metro, no other transport system in the Capital can claim to be offering barrier-free access to commuters — particularly to the differently-abled. While awareness about providing an inclusive transport system for the physically or visually challenged is growing, there is one section of commuters whose needs have not yet been taken into account by the Delhi transport system — the hearing impaired.
At the Equality+20 conference held in the city on Wednesday, A.S. Narayanan from the National Association of the Deaf, and Sibaji Panda, vice-president of the All India Federation for the Deaf spoke of the difficulties faced by the hearing impaired in accessing transport facilities. They also put forth measures that need to be taken to address the situation during a session on ‘Accessibility and the Built Environment and Transport and Accessibility and Information Communication & Technology (ICT)’.
Those with hearing impairment encounter huge barriers while commuting as there is no access to announcements made over the public address systems (loudspeakers, etc).
There is a serious lack of visual information that could be of help to them, said Mr. Panda.
He added that all ticket counters are dependent on speech alone with no provision for people with hearing impairments to communicate and no visual aids to aid them.
Mr. Panda also said that positive signs can be seen in the form of sign language interpreters on television, smart cities and other projects that have accessibility features. According to him, the Delhi Metro, which is fully accessible, is an example for others.
He also spoke of the immediate requirement for projects in sign language training to be undertaken as part of main stream curriculum, apart from training teachers for deaf children and adults, and family members of children who are hearing impaired.
Also, there is a need for qualified Indian sign language interpreters in high-impact situations such as education, legal, medical.
Mr. Panda also emphasised on the need for visual signages in all buildings such as appropriate fire alarms, exit signages, implementation of visual corridors, facilities of alternative emergency contacts (ambulances, fire service) which do not require phones, safety instructions, and disaster information to be available in an appropriate format for the hearing impaired.
