GOA, OCTOBER 12, 2025: On the second day of the International Purple Fest, three transformative initiatives were launched to strengthen accessibility in listening, reading and writing for persons with disabilities, marking a significant step toward inclusive education and skill development.
Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, launched these initiatives in the presence of Taha Haaziq, Secretary to SCPD, Goa, Richa Shankar DDG, Praveen Kumar CMD, ALIMCO, Shri Kumar Raju, Director, Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) and Jasbir Singh, Dy. Secretary, Anupam Shukla, Debala Bhattacharjee, Under Secretaries, and S K Mahto retired Dy. Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The launches reflect the Government’s continued commitment to building a barrier-free learning ecosystem and empowering persons with disabilities to participate fully in global education and professional opportunities.
The first major launch was the IELTS Training Handbook for Persons with Disabilities, developed by Believe in the Invisible (BITI) with support from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. Authored by Anjali Vyas, Co-Founder of BITI and British Council–certified IELTS Trainer, the handbook is a first-of-its-kind inclusive resource designed to make IELTS preparation accessible, structured, and learner-friendly for persons with disabilities (PwDs). Serving both as a self-study guide for learners and a teaching manual for trainers, the publication addresses the challenges faced by persons with visual, hearing, locomotor and other disabilities in accessing standard IELTS resources. It provides reasonable accommodation guidelines, adapted strategies, and practical tools for each of the four IELTS modules—Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Key features include step-by-step instructions, skill-building activities, accessible practice materials for different difficulty levels, teaching strategies tailored for PwD learners, lesson plans and exam preparation techniques, time management guidance, grammar and vocabulary building support, along with ISL (Indian Sign Language) video links and accessible study resources. This publication represents a major stride toward inclusive education and equal opportunities in global language proficiency training, aligning with BITI’s mission to create visibility for invisible disabilities and promote universal accessibility in learning.
The second key announcement came from the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi (Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India), the apex institution dedicated to the development, research and training in Indian Sign Language. As part of the Skill Training Initiative of DEPwD, ISLRTC successfully conducted the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – Certification in ISL Interpretation (CISLI) / Skill Course for SODA (Siblings of Deaf Adults) and CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) from 11th August to 29th August 2025 in offline mode at ISLRTC, New Delhi. A total of 17 candidates from various parts of India appeared for the assessment, all of whom successfully completed the course. Grades were awarded based on their performance, and the Certificate Distribution Ceremony for this first batch will be started on 03rd December 2025, on International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
In response to the growing need for Indian Sign Language professionals to gain international exposure, ISLRTC also announced the launch of a Specialized Basic Training Programme on American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL). The one-month (4 weeks) physical training programme at ISLRTC, New Delhi, commencing from 3rd December 2025 on International Day for Persons with Disabilities to introduce ISL professionals to the fundamentals of ASL and BSL, provide knowledge of grammar, syntax and vocabulary and strengthen professional opportunities for Indian interpreters in international forums. This initiative is expected to enhance ISLRTC’s role and to give the exposure of Indian culture and heritage to international deaf visitors.
These three launches together reflect a unified vision: to create accessible, inclusive and empowering pathways for persons with disabilities to learn, communicate and thrive on both national and international platforms.
