Yunikee is a Hyderabad-based organization that is transforming education for the deaf community in India.
Founded in 2020 by Nita Gopalakrishnan, Chaithanya Kothapalli, and Rahul Jain, Yunikee aims to bridge the gap in access to education and skills for individuals with hearing disabilities.
Vijay Naik’s Journey:
Vijay Naik, a deaf individual passionate about the stock market, struggled to find courses available in Indian Sign Language (ISL).
His search ended when a friend introduced him to Yunikee.
After taking a stock trading course, he said, “I understand the concepts better and have much more confidence in how I trade.”
Naik appreciates how Yunikee is helping deaf people gain access to vital information and skills.
About Yunikee:
The name “Yunikee” means “I exist” in Telugu, symbolizing the idea that deaf individuals can only be recognized when they communicate.
The organization offers a program called Sign Medium, which provides skill-building courses like stock trading, yoga, English, and photography.
The founders aim to empower the deaf community by making educational resources accessible in ISL, allowing individuals to lead more independent lives.
Founders’ Background:
Nita Gopalakrishnan learned ISL as her first language because her parents are deaf.
This early connection influenced her career as a special educator, where she taught others about sign language.
Rahul Jain, also deaf and raised by deaf parents, previously worked as a Senior Lead Trainer with Deaf Child Worldwide.
Chaithanya Kothapalli had a corporate career in training but decided to join Gopalakrishnan and Jain in their mission to help the deaf community.
The Need for Change:
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced education online, the founders noticed a lack of educational resources for the deaf.
They were approached to translate a Java programming course into sign language, revealing a significant gap in accessible education.
This experience motivated them to launch Yunikee with a stock trading course that attracted 75 to 100 students initially.
Breaking Down Barriers:
The founders believe that deaf individuals are just as capable as anyone else, but they face barriers due to a lack of access.
Kothapalli emphasized that ISL is a unique language independent of spoken languages, with its own structure.
He noted that the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) is developing a dictionary of 10,000 words in ISL, and Yunikee is collaborating with them to expand this resource.
Challenges Ahead:
Despite their progress, Yunikee faces challenges in promoting accessibility.
Many businesses are hesitant to make their services accessible to the deaf community, so the team often educates clients about the benefits of inclusion.
Courses Offered:
Yunikee has developed an online learning platform that serves as a marketplace for various courses.
Experts can register and upload their course materials, which are then checked for content and sign language use by a team primarily composed of deaf individuals.
For example, Sindhu, a deaf tutor on the platform, teaches 2D animation and earns around ₹30,000 a month.
She noted how Yunikee is better as other platforms use difficult English, but in Yunikee, teaching in sign language makes it easy for students to learn and understand.
Affordable Education:
Yunikee aims to keep course costs low, offering a stock trading course that typically costs ₹30,000-₹40,000 for only ₹5,000-₹7,000.
So far, they have attracted around 1,000 subscribers and offer over 70 courses, including banking and blouse design.
The organization engages with the community through social media to understand their learning needs.
Future Plans:
Yunikee recently partnered with ISLRTC to design 23 free sign language courses covering topics like Python, UI/UX design, and creative arts.
Kothapalli acknowledges that while progress is being made, there is still a long way to go in making education accessible to the deaf community.
Conclusion:
Yunikee is making significant strides in empowering the deaf community in India by providing accessible education and skill-building opportunities.
Through their innovative courses and commitment to inclusion, they are helping deaf individuals build brighter futures.
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