BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITY BY LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND: SOCIAL INCLUSION OF DEAF PEOPLE AT WORKPLACE IN KARACHI

Abstract

People with disabilities make up approximately 15% of the world’s population; they are, therefore, a significant focus of the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda (WHO, 2021). According to different sources, approximately 3.50 percent of the total population is disabled in Pakistan, of which 7.43 percent are deaf/mute (PBS). Disability is a development issue because of its elevated risk in low-income countries and the fact that disability and poverty reinforce and perpetuate one another. It is a general impression that people with disabilities face many violations of their rights, including acts of aggression, abuse, prejudice, and rejection due to their disability, which connects with other types of discrimination based on age and gender, among other criteria, including workplace. The research attempts to investigate the issues of deaf people in Pakistan and their solutions. Primary data has been collected through the purposive sampling method, and interviews will be taken with participants, assuming that deaf people have been resilient in their academic and career achievements. This research studies challenges deaf individuals face in Pakistan, focusing on their resilience in academics and careers. It advocates for Sign Language adoption as a societal norm to enhance inclusion, accessibility, and participation, promoting an inclusive society that offers equal opportunities for the hearing-challenged population.