David Bar-Tzur
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Note: A flag next to a link shows what language the website is in. If it is followed by this icon: (
), it is a video in that spoken language. If it is followed by this icon: 
, it is in the sign language of that country. If a globe is followed by this hands icon, there is an animated text in International Gesture.
| Afghan Sign Language | Deaf and social services | Deaf culture | Deaf education & youth | Organizations |
Medley, D. (2004). UNDP Afghanistan: working with the government to develop the Parliament, civil service and Afghan sign language. NPAD is also leading the way in the development of Afghanistan's first ever sign language. There are an estimated 10,000 people who are hearing impaired in Afghanistan. That might not be a large number but it is all too easy to forget about them in the wider development picture. Now the creation of an Afghan sign language is moving forward with new signs and grammar. A Disability Resource Centre has also been opened in Kabul which is fully accessible. This model centre, the first of its kind in Afghanistan, offers a haven for the disabled that will also be built in Jalalabad, Kandahar and Mazar.
Press briefing by Spokesperson Adrian Edwards and by UN agencies in Afghanistan. The Afghan sign language was only made up of about 2000 words; we are developing another 2000 words. Next week with deaf experts from the United States we start working on developing Afghan sign language grammar. Mr. Ghaffar here started work on the Afghan sign language in 1998 and established a sign language development committee.
-->Sign, gesture, & deafness in South Asian & South-West Asian histories: A biography with annotation and excerpts from India; also from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma / Myanmar, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Persia / Iran, & Sri Lanka. -->
-->Zaban Ishara [Dari: Sign Language] (1991) Kabul: Centre for Disability Service. --> Efforts to formulate and codify the sign language used among deaf people in Kabul, Afghanistan, with a basis in American Sign Language, and ILO assistance.
Lee, S. C. (1999, May). A Project for Deaf People in Afghanistan. SERVE (Serving Emergence Relief and Vocation Enterprise) is a British Christian Charity Organisation, founded in 1972, whose main work is in Eastern Afganistan. For 2 years the programme was successful in providing vocational training, sign language and literacy training and basic audiological services to more than 60 deaf Afgans (children and adults) in Peshawar and the surrounding refugee camps. It must be noted that the sign language taught was SLI (American Sign Language) as the founding co-ordinator and the project worker were American volunteers.
Coleridge, P. (1998, March 5-6).
Culture and development: A perspective from Afghanistan.
Development, cultural values and disability: The example of Afghanistan.
-->Sign, gesture, & deafness in South Asian & South-West Asian histories: A biography with annotation and excerpts from India; also from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma / Myanmar, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Persia / Iran, & Sri Lanka. -->
SHIP - SERVE's Hearing Impaired Program. SHIP - SERVE's Hearing Impaired Program SERVE's Hearing Impaired Project (SHIP) was first established in September 1992 in Peshawar in response to the growing needs of deaf Afghan refugees. For two years the program successfully provided vocational training, sign language and literacy training and audiological services to more than 60 deaf Afghans (children and adults) in Peshawar and in the surrounding refugee camps. Realising the greater need inside Afghanistan, the project relocated to Jalalabad in 1995 when the security situation eased up.
Success Stories of Persons with Disabilities in Afghanistan: United Nations Development Programme. Backtosh Naasrat was born in Panshir province. During the rule of the Taliban government, Backtosh, who is hearing impaired, went to Tajikistan and spent nine years there. While away from his homeland he learned how to read and write in Russian and to communicate through the Russian Sign Language. He also took an interest in learning taekwando and trained in a martial arts academy for four years. When he returned to Afghanistan, he began learning the Afghan Sign Language and opened up a taekwando club. He has recently started volunteering with the special education unit at the Comprehensive Disabled Afghans' Program, working with hearing impaired children. Backtosh teaches them taekwando as part of their physical education and encourages their involvement in other sports activities.
World Federation of the Deaf membership information: Afghanistan National Association of the Deaf. Contact info only.
