When Hands Speak: Building a More Inclusive World Through Indian Sign Language

About Indian Sign Language

Language is more than a means of communication. It is how people learn, express themselves, build relationships, participate in society, and affirm who they are. For the Deaf community, Indian Sign Language (ISL) is a language in its own right- one that carries meaning through visual and gestural expression and is deeply connected with communication, identity, and community.

Sign languages are not universal. Different countries and communities have developed their own sign languages over time. ISL is the sign language used by the Deaf community in India, and it has its own linguistic structure. It is therefore not simply a collection of gestures or a visual version of spoken languages.

And ISL is not a language that needs to remain within the Deaf community alone, as well. Parents, teachers, friends, colleagues, healthcare professionals, service providers and members of the wider community can all learn it. When more people can communicate in ISL, opportunities for interaction and participation become more accessible.

The journey towards institutionalising ISL in India has, therefore, been shaped significantly by the advocacy of the Deaf community. The Government of India approved the establishment of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) in 2011, and following sustained advocacy, ISLRTC was established as an autonomous organisation under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in September 2015. Its work includes promoting and developing ISL, conducting research and developing training and learning resources.

Over the years, this ecosystem has expanded through resources such as the Indian Sign Language Dictionary, interpreter and teacher training, and the development of educational material in ISL.

These efforts represent an important recognition: language access is an essential part of meaningful inclusion.

Initiatives of Tata Steel Foundation for the Deaf Community

At the grassroots, inclusion becomes meaningful when it translates into everyday opportunities. Through Sabal, Tata Steel Foundation is working to create greater awareness of Indian Sign Language and strengthen opportunities for participation for members of the Deaf community.

One important area of this work is ISL awareness. Sabal conducts awareness sessions for schools, colleges, companies, and families, creating opportunities for people to understand Deaf culture and communication and to learn basic signs. The objective is not merely to teach a set of signs, but to encourage a more inclusive approach to communication.

Sabal also facilitates basic ISL training for the Deaf community, while creating avenues for development through other interventions. Its athletic training programme for Deaf people connects inclusion with sport, discipline, teamwork, and aspiration- creating space for participants to explore their abilities and interests beyond conventional expectations.

Education remains another important pathway. At Carmel Bal Vihar, Jamshedpur, 12 students from the Deaf community of Noamundi are pursuing residential schooling from Classes VIII to XII, bringing together education, a supportive environment, and opportunities for holistic development.

The work also reaches rural communities. ISL awareness sessions in Joda, Noamundi and Danagadi seek to take the conversation around accessible communication beyond institutional settings and into communities. This is particularly significant because inclusion becomes sustainable when awareness is built not only among persons with disabilities, but also among the families, institutions and communities that surround them.

Together, these initiatives reflect a larger approach: accessibility is not about creating a separate world for persons with disabilities; it is about making the existing world more accessible to everyone.

International Day of Sign Languages - 23rd September

Every year, 23rd September is observed as the International Day of Sign Languages. The United Nations proclaimed the day in 2017, with the first observance taking place in 2018. The date commemorates the establishment of the World Federation of the Deaf on 23 September 1951.

In 2026, the International Week of Deaf People, observed from 21 to 27 September, carries the theme “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights.” The World Federation of the Deaf's 2026 messaging places sign-language rights firmly within the larger framework of human rights, inclusive education, accessibility, participation, and Deaf culture.

For Sabal, the occasion is being observed through a month-long celebration around Indian Sign Language, taking the conversation beyond a single day. The focus is on creating greater awareness, encouraging learning, and helping more people understand that communication access is fundamental to participation.

The celebration is therefore not simply about learning to sign.
It is about asking a larger question:

What would our schools, workplaces and communities look like if everyone could participate without communication becoming a barrier?

Sabal

Sabal, Tata Steel Foundation's disability inclusion programme, was established in Noamundi in 2017 with the aim of creating opportunities for persons with disabilities through skilling, awareness, employability, and community engagement.

Over time, its work has expanded into a broader ecosystem spanning rights-based inclusion, education, skilling, livelihoods, sports, community engagement and platforms that create aspirational visibility for persons with disabilities. The programme now works across multiple blocks in Jharkhand and Odisha, with a focus on reaching rural communities and strengthening access to rights and opportunities.

At its heart, Sabal seeks to shift the conversation from disability to possibility- from barriers to access, from participation to leadership, and from inclusion as an idea to inclusion as an everyday reality.