On 11 October 2025, during the International Purple Fest in Goa, the Government of India announced three landmark initiatives to advance accessibility in listening, reading, and writing for persons with disabilities (PwDs). These steps aim to strengthen inclusive education, build skills, and expand communication tools for PwDs, both domestically and internationally.
The Three Key Initiatives
1. IELTS Training Handbook for Persons with Disabilities
- Developed by Believe n the Invisible (BITI) in collaboration with DEPwD, this handbook is unique in its focus on PwDs.
- It is designed to serve as both a self‑study guide for learners and a teaching manual for trainers
- Reasonable accommodation guidelines to account for visual, hearing, locomotor, and other disabilities
- This initiative marks a significant push to make global language assessments more inclusive.
2. RPL Certification in ISL Interpretation (CISLI) for SODA / CODA
- Under DEPwD’s Skill Training Initiative, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) conducted a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) course in ISL interpretation for SODA (Siblings of Deaf Adults) and CODA (Children of Deaf Adults).
- The course ran from 11 to 29 August 2025, and 17 candidates from across India participated and passed.
- The certificate distribution ceremony is scheduled for 3 December 2025, coinciding with International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
3. Specialized Basic Training Programme in ASL & BSL
- To enhance international exposure for ISL professionals, ISLRTC announced a 1‑month in‑person training programme covering American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL).
- This programme begins on 3 December 2025 (International Day for Persons with Disabilities) and includes modules on grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and cross‑cultural competencies.
- Through this, interpreters trained in ISL can gain global skills and engage in international forums, enhancing career prospects.
Static Facts for Exam Revision
- International Purple Fest Goa 2025: Organized from 9 to 12 October 2025, it is an inclusive festival hosted by DEPwD & Goa’s state commission in collaboration with UN India.
- DEPwD: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment