Unlike mainstream schools, the Deaf are scattered throughout the community and in outlying areas, making it difficult for them to access specialized educational facilities. Deaf Reach provides transportation services to deaf students up to a 50KM radius from each school.

Deaf Reach’s curriculum follows Pakistan’s national curriculum as well as draws from best practices at Deaf institutions internationally. Deaf Reach focuses on a holistic learning environment. This full-circle solution provides Deaf Reach students, their parents and their community with the tools for successful inclusion into society.

Deaf Reach’s educational and vocational programs are registered with the following boards:

• Board of Intermediate Education Karachi, Gov’t of Sindh
• Board of Secondary Education Karachi, Gov’t of Sindh
• Trade Testing Board, Gov’t of Sindh

Deaf Reach actively seeks educators who have the required qualifications, knowledge of Pakistan Sign Language (PSL), and preferably experience in Deaf education or demonstrable skills to learn and be trained.

All teacher candidates, regardless of their academic or teaching qualifications and experience, are required to take an examination. All teachers participate in year-round development training and workshops to increase their skill set, share best practices, and equip them with essential teaching skills.

Deaf Reach includes and accepts children who are deaf, irrespective of previous education. Thus, there are no specific tests for admission except an evaluation to determine the grade level in which a child can be given admission.

A negligible number of students (less than 2%) leave the Deaf Reach system. Typically, these are children whose parents move to another town or locality.

With close to 200 years of combined experience in the educational sector, FESF’s management team provides the cornerstone for the high quality and standard of education in our schools, training centers and projects.

The native language of the Pakistan’s Deaf community is Pakistan Sign Language (PSL). Similar to spoken languages, PSL has a variety of dialects in different regions of the country. While many common words are shared, some will be regional-specific. We have attempted to document the most commonly used sign for each word in this lexicon.

Sign languages are unique and different in each country, as is the Deaf Culture in each country. Even within countries, there are regional sign language variations. The website “The Ethnologue” states there are 7,105 known living spoken languages and 138 Deaf sign languages.

Many of the words in Pakistan Sign Language utilize the two-handed English manual alphabet. The one-handed alphabet employed by American Sign Language has become the international standard and is recognizable nation-wide. Urdu finger spelling is not in common use.

A documented Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) opens doors of communication. It allows the Deaf, their families, and teachers to communicate. PSL ultimately enables the Deaf of Pakistan to gain greater and more meaningful access to education, healthcare, legal representation, communication, and community participation.