Grant Amount: US$ 28,500

Keywords: HEALTH, HEARING IMPAIRED, CAPACITY BUILDING, URDU, PAKISTAN

Geographic coverage: Pakistan

Objective

The objective of this project is to use emerging information and communications technology (ICT) tools to develop an Urdu Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) learning model.

Research context

New ICTs offer a flexible medium for hearing impaired people to communicate. This research project focused on practical and replicable learning solutions for the deaf in Pakistan. The solution was modeled using online and compact disk (CD) technologies. The CD is comprised of easy-to-understand lesson plans and assessment tests, graphically illustrated using PSL. Selected data sets from the exercises are also made available online through the Internet as a freeware for download by the hearing impaired community. The product can be adapted across the country to increase the integration of the deaf and hearing impaired into society.

Target beneficiaries

The beneficiaries are Pakistani deaf and hearing impaired individuals and academic staff in education institutions.

Outputs

The project website (http://www.special.net.pk) and CD include the following components:

• An Urdu PSL compendium dictionary of 500 words;
• 50 new environmental terms in PSL;
• Font conversion utility; and
• Sign alphabets, basic Urdu PSL grammar and traffic signs.

Research results and outcomes

PSL is the main form of communication for Pakistan’s hearing impaired people. PSL presently contains approximately 4,000 different gestures with diverse dialects. The project started with a multi-purpose aim of coming up with a selected set of usable Pakistani sign language gestures and introducing ICT-based education tools for the community. ICT as a communication medium and learning instrument were used to enhance access to PSL, facilitate uniformity and improve literacy of the hearing impaired.

The project’s first phase explored and developed the PSL symbol set. The project completed a literature review of available PSL resources and documentation detailing the methodology for compiling a representative set of new and existing PSL. These results from the study formed the basis for evolving technological education variants under the second phase of work. This phase involved developing software for converting Urdu alphabets to PSL, defining the PSL font structure, and modeling PSL for CD packs and the web. A unique aspect of the project was to infuse an awareness of environmental concerns into the hearing impaired curriculum through the development and introduction of PSL environmental terms.

The last two phases of the project focused on research to evaluate multiple learning approaches using ICTs and exploring the various options of online and offline instruction techniques for the hearing impaired. Thus, the research resulted in the development of a CD-based learning tool for the hearing impaired. The CD is distributed through the Pakistan Association of the Deaf and the contents are available for download from the project website (http://www.special.net.pk). The launching of the CD received coverage in the most widely distributed English language publication of Pakistan (see: http://www.dawn.com/2004/03/08/local10.htm).

The project noted several challenges it faced in carrying out its work. In particular, it cited difficulties working within the somewhat fragmented and complex political dynamics of the special education sector. It also noted that the perception of ICTs as a tool of the elite was a hindrance to adoption of the new tools, although with continued integration of computers and ICTs into schools this was seen to be less of a problem in the future. In addition, the project approach, which was to promote the use of ICTs for sustainable development, was something new in Pakistan’s special sector.

The main challenge lies in the dissemination of the CD to relevant institutions and target beneficiaries. As the project has ended and the team members of the project are working in other organizations, the overall dissemination of the product has suffered after the project’s completion. The project recommends that the Pan-Asia ICT R&D Grants Programme further support dissemination and showcasing of the project work.

Duration

Start Date: December 2002
End Date: November 2003
Total Duration: 12 Months

Contact information

Sabahat Saeed Khan
Telephone: +92 21 481 7997
Email: sabskhan@gmail.com

Website: http://www.iucnp.org

Reference websites

http://www.special.net.pk
http://www.dawn.com/2004/03/08/local10.htm