Himalayan News Service

Dhading, February 18:

Ram Prasad Adhikari, 29, is the first hearing impaired teacher in the district. Adhikari was then a second grader when he lost his hearing power after he recovered from meningitis at the age of nine but now he has been running a 10-month-long sign language class to some 10 students in Dhadingbesin after the Bal Mandir School provided him with a room.

His parents had resorted to shamans and faith healers for some two years trying to cure his disability but to no avail. But lucky Adhikari got a chance to study in a school for the deaf at Naxal and passed his SLC in 1999 securing second division. He sought support from over four dozen organisations to help him continue higher studies but this time he was not lucky enough. A gentleman had promised him support for his studies but failed to deliver. He then abandoned his desire to continue with his studies and decided to run classes for the hearing impaired people in his hometown. And now, he the first teacher with hearing impairment in the district.

According to the census 2001, there are 278 people with hearing deficiency in the Dhading district.