If you are not deaf, chances are that you are oblivious to the several struggles faced by the deaf community in their daily lives. The privilege of hearing can sometimes turn us deaf to the plights of those without it. Deaf rights advocate, and the founder and CEO of Access Mantra, Dr. Alim Chandani talks about the frequent misconceptions hearing people have regarding the deaf community and the access available to them. Highlighting the shortcomings, he then proceeds to educate the audience on simple, yet effective initiatives to promote the inclusivity of deaf people in various spaces around us, emphasizing that cooperation from everyone – deaf and hearing is key to promoting equality and accessibility.

Dedicated to empowering the deaf community in India, Dr. Alim Chandani has worked with governments and global organizations and has pioneered several campaigns to promote the education and welfare of the deaf. With every step he takes, he builds for us a world where communities co-exist despite their differences. The Founder of AccioMango Pvt. Ltd.: Access Mantra, an accessible Resource and Innovation Centre of the Deaf in India. Dr. Alim’s greatest passion is to show the Deaf community that «impossible dreams can become possible.»

He obtained his Doctorate in Administration and Supervision in Special Education from Gallaudet University in 2013. Dr. Alim’s dissertation focused on the feasibility of managing Deaf programs in Higher Education institutions in India. His dissertation provided him a base in recognising and understanding the hurdles and hardships in the Deaf community of India. He is currently serving as a member of the National Committee of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) in New Delhi. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Bridging Silence: Illusions of Accessibility for the Deaf | Alim Chandani | TEDxShivNadarUniversity