Sneha, a student in the eighth grade at the Sheila Kothavala Institute for the Deaf, experiences challenges in accessing most public spaces in Bengaluru. She needs the help of a sign language interpreter to gather and process information at the educational and cultural centres she visits. Unfortunately, most such places in the city are not disabled-friendly.
Sneha was, however, pleased to be at the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) on September 20 (during the International Week of the Deaf, which is celebrated annually by the global Deaf Community in the last week of September each year). She did not have to struggle to experience the exhibits. At the entrance, a video in Indian Sign Language (ISL) welcomed her and her friends to the museum. They could avail of the hearing loops. They had an ISL expert facilitating a workshop.
“I live in a hostel. So, I don’t get to go out much. Even if I do, it is tough to access these places and the information there. But today, I learnt a lot, seeing so many different exhibits,” Sneha says via a sign language interpreter.
