For Accessibility & Inclusion, Sign Language Awareness is spread through Workshops. SIGNS- SKILLS- STRENGTH Sai Swayam Society is an NGO that started with the sole purpose of taking forward the dreams of Meera Bhatia’s (General Secretary of Sai SwayamSociety) parents, Mr Suraj Kanchanbaras and Mrs Mohini Kanchanbaras, a couple with hearing and speech disabilities. Founded in December 2006, with active support from few likeminded social activists and dedicated professionals working as Government servants, this institution for Meera is homage to the endless efforts made by her parents towards the upliftment of the hearing impaired. Meera’s father, Mr Suraj Kanchanbaras, has been associated with the cause for more than 20 years now. His entire life is woven around enabling the hearing and speech impaired people. His love for cricket made him the captain for India Cricket team for speech and hearing impaired for a span of 10 years wherein he represented the team at National and International tournaments. Meera’s mother, Late Mrs Mohini Kanchanbaras, dedicated sixteen years of his life as a handicraft trainer in Delhi Foundation for Deaf women, her work and sheer dedication towards this cause made her achieve the National Award in 1998. Growing up in such an environment, sign language became Meera’s first language; she used to look upto her parents for the progress they made in the careers in spite of having speech and hearing disability. Their work, dedication, compassion and commitment towards the betterment of the speech and hearing impaired has kept Meera in awe till now and has in return motivated her to take up this cause. Meera started her career in this field as a presenter for hearing impaired news at Doordarshan and presently she handles the school and looks after the recruitment, fund raising and alliance aspect.
