The International Purple Fest, India’s premier celebration of inclusivity and accessibility, witnessed the unveiling of three landmark initiatives aimed at empowering persons with disabilities (PwDs). The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) launched the IELTS Training Handbook for Persons with Disabilities, developed by “Believe in the Invisible (BITI)”, marking a first-of-its-kind accessible resource for global language testing preparation.
The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) introduced a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Certification Course in Indian Sign Language Interpretation (CISLI) for Siblings and Children of Deaf Adults (SODA/CODA). The initiative also announced new training programmes in American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) to enhance interpreter skills and international collaboration.
Collectively, these initiatives reinforce India’s commitment to creating a barrier-free, inclusive learning ecosystem and promoting global participation of persons with disabilities.