Member of an NGO, The Deaf Way Foundation, Sehgal, whose father was deaf, is now mother to a 15-year-old deaf girl. Having struggled a lot throughout her life, she has now reached a point where she can offer her help to others with similar disability.

The ‘Relationship and Health’ workshop, conducted by the foundation, helps hearing and speech impaired persons acquire a new perspective towards life. The workshop helps the deaf and dumb community to make informed choices about relationships. More vulnerable to risks they are given tips on how to protect themselves.

The workshop imparts health awareness with visual aids and slides. The female group is empowered to protect themselves from the anti-social elements and are provided knowledge on their bodies with emphasis on pregnancy and parenting. The impaired were informed about their body organs with their functions. Awareness on a nutritious diet also forms a part of the workshop.

The unique feature about the workshop is that the teachers are deaf and dumb too. “This reduces the communication barrier. Normal teachers cannot relate to them.” said Sonia Sharma, 21, a volunteer and an interpreter with the NGO. The two teachers, Rachna Garg and Prashant Singh come from Delhi and are here especially for the workshop.

Training at English comprehension is also imparted to enable them to read newspapers. Sehgal said this NGO has helped many to understand HIV-AIDS. “This helps us to ward off any such issues in the future.” Their will-power is very strong. “They feel bad if others are doing something that they have never done and then they go ahead and do it,” Sharma said. They also undergo computer training program to get jobs to fulfil their desire to remain independent.

Watching them converse excitedly in sign language, she fondly remarked, “Ye log kabhi chup nahi rehte!!.” The teachers conveyed through Sharma, “We want many more people to come for our workshops, which are held every six months. Not even one such person should be left behind.”