Bikers Ashraf (40) and Ali (32) from Kerala are on a mission to spread awareness on equality for the deaf. The duo embarked on an expedition from Kerala to Jammu and Kashmir on December 17 to create awareness about the challenges faced by people like themselves with hearing and speech impairments. On their way back, the duo stopped in the city and spoke about the issues. The Wanderers Bulleteers of Hyderabad Club and other deaf and mute community bikers gave a rousing reception to the duo.
“We (disabled) are denied the driving license for we can’t hear and are speech impaired. But we are no less than the ordinary people. We want to bring this to the Union government’s notice and that’s the whole objective of the drive,” explains Ashraf.
Ali accentuates the need to set up institutions that provide sign language training. “Normal people can’t understand us because they don’t know the sign language. There are no educational institutions at the graduation level that teach sign language and we strongly urge that one be set up. Also, sign language should be taught at all schools, hospitals, police stations and government or public offices.”
