Bridging the Gap of Communication

The purpose of my action research is to bridge the gap of communication between the deaf and the non-deaf community of Nepal.

 

Problem/Situation: The situation I want to improve is the communication between the deaf and non-deaf community of Nepal. Deaf citizens of Nepal are looked at shamefully and not accepted into society. Nepali's view disability as a penance to the sins committed by their parents. This causes the deaf community to be casted out of society and not given the tools or opportunity for communication. They are treated pity does not even describe how poorly people with disabilities are treated.  

 

Research Question: How can I change the  perspective of why people are born deaf in Nepal, so that deaf people can gain more opportunities and a better social status in Nepal?  Furthermore, would I be able bridge the gap of communication between the deaf and the non-deaf community in Nepa by creating east access to sign language through technology?

 

Background: The resources that have helped me the most was my time in Nepal conducting a technology project with the National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing organization in Nepal as well as Dr. Lee and Dr. Spark’s action research paper on tele-centers in Nepal. Also the NADH website.

 

Community of Practice:

 I am working with the President of The National Association of  Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Laxmi Devkota , as well as the  involvement with  the rest of the NADH community.

I used NADH to collect data on how Nepali Sign Language is taught, and how many signs there are in the language, so I knew what is most important to include in the videos.

I also used members the village of Sankhu to collect data by sending a survey  Paru Shrestha on what the village believes on  where the deaf disability comes from, and why it occurs in individuals. They survey was sent out through Facebook and I also sent Interview questionnaires to Ramita Shrestha who is a native of Sankhu that now lives in Michigan. 

The survey was also sent to a trekking company in kathmandu, Nepal.