Information
Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd. collaborated with NAD for organising an event to mark the International Disabled with People Day
Mr. Balendu Sharma, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd. collaborated with NAD for organising an event to mark the International Disabled with People Day in Gurgaon, Haryana on 8th December 2017. It was done to drive the cause of Accessibility inside Microsoft.
This year, Microsoft decided to focus on Deaf people and conducted an event to ensure a deeper connect on the challenges faced by the Deaf people. The event was named ‘Celebrating the most beautiful, Sign Language of the world.’
As NAD team arrived at Microsoft Gurgaon office, the first part of the event was a silent awareness walk around the office premise holding placards with messages related to Accessibility and Inclusion. At the end of the walk, Microsoft employees gathered at the venue and were briefly introduced to the NAD team.
Mr. Anuj Jain, Mr. Raj Kumar Jain, Mrs. Ritu Panda, Ms. Sonia Bhatia, Mr. Shashi Kant Pathak and Mr. Shivoy Sharma from NAD performed the Indian National Anthem in sign language which filled everyone’s hearts with patriotic feelings. Mr. Anuj Jain gave background on how NAD was started and on his own personal life that not only does he have to demand the Government for deaf rights but while growing up with his parents too. That was followed by three small acts by the NAD team themed on deaf culture, importance of sign language, respecting the differences and communication.
The mood was set uplift among the people present there and the excitement increased during the Sign Language training session to the Microsoft employees as they got familiar with basic signs. Mrs. Ritu Panda took the session teaching the signs for greetings, alphabets, months and numbers.
The final session was the interaction between the employees and the NAD team. There were some interesting questions regarding how to address a Deaf person; do Deaf people enjoy music and if they have the feeling of missing listening to music; how to identify if a person is Deaf. Mr. Anuj Jain replied that the RPWD Act 2016 recognises Deaf and Hard of Hearing terms which are widely accepted by the Deaf community and use of HI or Deaf and Dumb/Mute is not acceptable; Deaf people do enjoy music through vibrations and if you meet a deaf person and try to talk to them then they will tell you by signing ‘deaf’ (gesturing to their ear and mouth) to inform the person.
Wrapping up the event, Mr. Kabir Ahmed presented the NAD team with mementoes of Microsoft bag and pen drives. Mr. Anuj Jain reciprocated the sweet gesture by offering a ISL dictionary and NAD Calendar 2018.
At the end a group photo was clicked with the Microsoft employees and NAD team showing the sign for “I Love You”.