A TOOL designed to assist Fijians living with hearing impairment and hopeful sign interpreters, was handed over to the Fiji Association of the Deaf yesterday.
Community Development Minister Premila Kumar said the Fiji Sign Language (FJSL) self-learning uniform video dictionary tool was the first of its kind.
She said it would be a huge boost to Fijians living with hearing impairment.
“We have heard from the innovators that the tool is fully adaptable, where new signs can be incorporated and more versions can be created in future,” she said.
“With the new tool, a lot more people can be trained as sign interpreters.
“This reduces ambiguity and encourages uniformity.”
She said the self-learning uniform video dictionary tool could be accessed by anyone and because it would be uploaded online, even those with a computer would be able to access it.
Mrs Kumar said Government enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act last year and also endorsed its implementation plan.
“Government does recognise the needs of persons with disabilities (or special abilities) and will provide the support and guidance needed.”
Project innovator and University of the South Pacific (USP) graduate assistant Vineet Prasad said his final year project as an engineering student was to design a system that would translate sign language through a video.
Mr Prasad said the tool would assist anyone because they would be able to use the video to develop their skills in learning sign language.
