Gopalakrishnan Foundation for the Deaf

The Bandhan Program is a comprehensive and holistic approach to supporting deaf children. By placing the deaf child at the center and recognizing the interconnectedness of various stakeholders, from parents and caregivers to medical professionals and educators, the program acknowledges that the development of a deaf child is a collaborative effort involving multiple facets of society.

Creating strong bonds or "Bandhan" with each of these influencers is essential for ensuring that the needs of deaf children are met effectively. Collaboration, training, mentorship, guidance, and working closely with policymakers all contribute to creating an environment conducive to the holistic development of deaf children.

​Moreover, the focus on creating enabling environments that foster socio-economic independence among deaf adults is particularly noteworthy. By addressing not only the immediate needs of deaf children but also their long-term prospects and opportunities, the program demonstrates

The Language Ladder Program is a comprehensive initiative aimed at fostering language and communication skills in young deaf children. It’s structured into two parts:

Language Ladder I: For children aged 0-3 years, focusing on early language acquisition.

Language Ladder II: For children aged 3-6 years, continuing language development.

The Programs goals are to:

1. Provide language learning opportunities in natural settings.

2. Enable communication with family members.

3. Support cognitive development and emotional well-being.

4. Develop social skills.

The program emphasizes the importance of early intervention, as young minds are incredibly receptive to learning.

The program also offers training for parents in sign language, which is crucial for creating a supportive communication environment at home.

By encouraging activities like story reading, it aims to promote literacy from a very young age.

The International Deaf Academy's Bridge Program is a crucial initiative addressing the specific needs of deaf and hard of hearing children, especially considering the challenges they often face in traditional educational settings. By offering two levels of support, the program acknowledges the diverse needs of deaf children at different stages of their educational journey.

The Bridge Program for Pre-Schoolers lays a strong foundation for deaf children, focusing on essential skills such as Emotional Development, Conversational skills, Early literacy, Social skills.

This is particularly important considering the language deprivation many deaf children experience at home, which can hinder their ability to engage effectively in school environments.

Similarly, the Bridge Program for School Children is tailored to address the academic and socio-emotional needs of older deaf students who struggle to keep pace with their peers due to language delays and other challenges.

The International Deaf Academy, as part of the Edge 2 Program, presents a distinctive internship opportunity. This program is tailored for individuals passionate about engaging in deaf academics and seeking firsthand experiences to enrich their professional journey. Through this internship, participants will gain invaluable insights into work environments, cultural dynamics, professional decorum, and avenues for career advancement.

The opportunities of incidental learning for the hearing community helps them in gaining knowledge and information all the time. While the same opportunity is blocked for the deaf community. International Deaf Academy through its De(A)fining Dialogues Seasons has initiated a series of dialogues, debates and discussions to bring knowledge and information closer to the deaf community.

De(A)fining Dialogues welcomes achievers, innovators, thinkers & dreamers to share their vision, thoughts and experiences on this platform.