Harare: The African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI) plans to develop a uniform sign language for sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate communication among people with hearing and speech impairments.

Regional rehabilitation officer Engelbert Makanjera told New Ziana here yesterday that the institute wanted to ensure that people with hearing and speech impairments would be able to communicate when they traveled to countries in the region.

"We want to have a co-ordinated approach to sign language," said Makanjera. "Sign language should not get into conflict with that of other countries."

He said that with the increasing economic activities and relaxation of visa requirements between countries in the region, more people with hearing and speech impairments were joining the ranks of cross border traders.

It was important that a uniform sign language be developed to make it easy for these people to conduct their business in foreign countries. Studies have shown that each country in the region has its own sign language and people from other countries often experience difficulties to communicate without an interpreter.

Makanjera said the institute would work with the National Associations of People With Disabilities from the different countries to develop the uniform sign language.

The ARI would this year push for development of national disability policies in the regional countries to address challenges facing people with disabilities.

Source : PTI