On the second day of the International Purple Fest Goa 2025, three transformative initiatives were unveiled to strengthen accessibility in listening, reading, and writing for persons with disabilities, marking a step forward in inclusive education and skill development.
The International Purple Fest Goa 2025, held from October 9 to 12, is a landmark global event promoting inclusion and accessibility. It was hosted by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, and United Nations India. The Fest centered on cultivating inclusive thinking as the foundation for universal design.
Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, launched the initiatives on Sunday.
The first initiative introduced the IELTS Training Handbook for Persons with Disabilities, developed by Believe in the Invisible (BITI) with support from the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Authored by Anjali Vyas, Co-Founder of BITI and British Council–certified IELTS Trainer, the handbook is the first inclusive resource designed to make IELTS preparation accessible, structured, and learner-friendly for persons with visual, hearing, locomotor, and other disabilities. The handbook serves both as a self-study guide for learners and a teaching manual for trainers, offering step-by-step instructions, skill-building activities, accessible practice materials, lesson plans, exam preparation techniques, time management guidance, grammar and vocabulary support, and links to Indian Sign Language (ISL) videos. The publication aligns with BITI’s mission to create visibility for invisible disabilities and promote universal accessibility in learning.
The second announcement came from the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), the apex institution dedicated to research, development, and training in Indian Sign Language. Under the Skill Training Initiative of DEPwD, ISLRTC conducted the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Certification in ISL Interpretation (CISLI) / Skill Course for SODA (Siblings of Deaf Adults) and CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) from August 11 to 29, 2025, in offline mode at ISLRTC, New Delhi. Seventeen candidates from across India successfully completed the course, with grades awarded based on their performance. The certificate distribution ceremony for this first batch will be held on December 3, 2025, International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
In addition, ISLRTC announced the launch of a Specialized Basic Training Programme on American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL). The one-month programme, starting on December 3, 2025, aims to introduce ISL professionals to the fundamentals of ASL and BSL, covering grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, and to provide Indian interpreters with international exposure. This initiative is expected to enhance professional opportunities for Indian Sign Language interpreters while showcasing Indian culture and heritage to international visitors.
Together, these initiatives reflect a unified vision to create accessible, inclusive, and empowering pathways for persons with disabilities to learn, communicate, and thrive on both national and international platforms.