Transforming Education for Deaf Students: ISLRTC-YUNIKEE Partnership

The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) has partnered with YUNIKEE to improve educational accessibility for deaf students in India. The collaboration aims to support 10,000 learners by creating and disseminating educational resources in Indian Sign Language. Both organizations have set clear responsibilities to achieve their goals.

In a significant move to enhance educational accessibility for deaf students across India, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) and YUNIKEE have formalized a partnership. This alliance aims to facilitate the education of 10,000 deaf learners through the creation and distribution of Indian Sign Language (ISL) resources.

YUNIKEE, a social organization dedicated to accessible products for the deaf community, will collaborate with ISLRTC to develop educational materials. The memorandum of understanding outlines roles with no financial involvement, emphasizing a collaborative approach. YUNIKEE, bolstered by Infosys Foundation, plans to develop 23 sign language courses. ISLRTC will actively promote these courses on its social media and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD) websites.

A crucial element of this agreement is the production of 500 educational concept videos by YUNIKEE, with 200 videos self-funded and the remaining 300 seeking funding through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or other sources. YUNIKEE will handle course links and enrollment tracking, while ISLRTC will focus on promotion and feedback. The educational concept videos will cover school-level topics with supportive visuals, closed captions, English voicing, and practice worksheets in sign language.

(With inputs from agencies.)