The mantra of accessibility
Access Mantra, a directory of information, services and opportunities is a non-profit for the deaf and by the deaf, writes
Eight years ago, i n the run up to Independence Day, a video of a silent national anthem being sung by Indian children captured hearts and won awards. For a while, the deaf, estimated by the National Association of the Deaf to be around 18 million today, became a part of the national discourse and their demand for Indian Sign Language ISL to be recognised as an official language of India gained traction. Yet, as the world prepares to observe the International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September 2019, the community remains handicapped by the lack of supportive infrastructure, awareness and community and ISL remains unrecognised. Perhaps this is why Access Mantra, a non-profit directory of information, services and opportunities for the deaf and by the deaf, is an idea whose time has come.
“The concept of accessibility is still at a very nascent stage in India,” says Alim Chandani, founder/ceo of Access Mantra. When he moved back to India from the US in 2016, Chandani observed the need for quality access everywhere — from public transport hubs where announcements on public address systems weren’t accessible to the deaf, to hospitals where the lack of ISL interpreters made doctor-patient communication tough. Most of all, the lack of supportive networks made it hard for the deaf and their families to access information about the resources available.
Access Mantra was born out of these experiences. From information on ISL classes, interpreters and legal/medical services to job listings and even matrimonial prospects, the website has it all. “We’ve made sure that no information is left monolingual,” says Chandani, who has self-financed the venture. “Everything is in English and in ISL so that everyone can enjoy its full access.” The website also had a Communication Support section designed to provide referrals and solutions for both deaf and non-deaf callers.
The response that the website received within a month of its launching has been positive. “We had over 70,000 views on our website within a week of the launch,” says Chandani. “In the first two weeks, more than 500 people reached out to us via Whatsapp, Facebook, email, etc.” A user even created an image stating that Access Manta is the new Google for the Deaf. So far, the website has provided more than 300 referrals and 200 solutions pertaining to user queries regarding accessibility needs and more.
The Access Mantra model not only highlights the crying need for compendia of resources for the differently abled, but also the ease and efficiency with which they can now be created and accessed across the country. Its future plans include conducting sensitisation and accessibility training workshops for companies who would like to hire deaf individuals, as well as for organisations working on the empowerment of the deaf. Chandani would also like to make law and the legal system more accessible: “There are 1,248 laws in India and rarely the country has thought of converting these laws in ISL so that the Deaf Indians can also feel like equal citizens in claiming their rights!” he says. “Basic processes like filing an FIR when one’s phone gets stolen aren’t accessible to the deaf population right now.” Bridging such gaps will go a long way in ensuring a more accessible future and breaking the thunderous silence in which the deaf live in India today. Check out accessmantra.com to learn more