On Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2026, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, hosted Anam Prem, a volunteer organization that takes people with disabilities to a different state each year. Around 600 deaf students and teachers from 19 schools across 12 states attended a three-day programme of competitions, cultural performances, and discussions with the UNESCO Chair for Assistive Technologies in Education.
The interaction highlighted the transformative potential of assistive technology and inclusive education. The UNESCO Chair for Assistive Technologies in Education demonstrated OLabs Science experiments with Indian Sign Language (ISL), the ISL avatar, and Chalachitravachana (CCV), generating strong interest among teachers. Teachers were especially excited by the ISL avatar, which can translate any YouTube video into ISL.
Discussions focused on early educational access, literacy, standardized ISL, higher education opportunities, and technology-enabled inclusion. The programme also featured cultural performances by deaf children, including competitions in acting, singing, rangoli, and news reporting that allowed participants to showcase their abilities. All participants met with Amma, who warmly interacted with them, signing in Sign Language.
The meet highlighted how assistive technology, inclusive admission policies, and a standardized ISL can together open doors to education and employment for deaf learners across India.
