Event

The ASL Program in the Department of Linguistics at Penn  is pleased to announce the Spring 2023 ASL Lecture Series event to be presented by Dr. Alim Chandani, International Relations Manager at the Gallaudet University Office of International Affairs.

Dr. Chandani’s presentation is titled “Advancing the Deaf Community in India.” The lecture will be held on Thursday, March 2, from 5:30-7:30 PM as an in-person only event at the University of Pennsylvania, Meyerson Hall, B-1, 210 South 34th Street, Philadelphia. 

The abstract and bio are detailed below and a flier is attached. 

The lecture will be presented in ASL with ASL/English interpretation provided.  It is free and open to the public.  No registration is required to attend.

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Jami Fisher, Director of ASL, Department of Linguistics: jami@sas.upenn.edu

Abstract:

In this presentation, Dr. Alim Chandani will discuss his journey as an activist and an expat in India for 5 years. He will share his successes and challenges that he faced in India as a Deaf person.  

Bio:

Dr. Alim Chandani was born Deaf in Mumbai, India, and came to the United States in 1986. With degrees in new media/interactive design and rehabilitation and higher education studies, he received a doctorate in administration and supervision in special education from Gallaudet University.  

Alim’s doctoral work brought him back to India in 2016, where he quickly got to work on successful initiatives, such as the Centrum-GRO Initiative, an intensive deaf empowerment and leadership training, and Access Mantra Foundation, which provides an online one-stop center with resources and services for Deaf people.  As well as a social entrepreneur, Alim launched Freedom to Sign, a social apparel business that promotes Indian Sign Language and Deaf artists.  As a result of his innovative work, Alim has received multiple prestigious awards such as the NCPEDP Mphasis award and the Bharti Changemaker award.  

Alim currently serves as the International Relations Manager at the Gallaudet University Office of International Affairs.  He also serves as a consultant for Hear a Million in partnership with Enable India; this program aims to enabling one million deaf people to become changemakers. One way this is happening is through an incubator program that trains Deaf Indians to establish their own non-profit organizations or businesses. 

Alim strongly believes in showing the Deaf community around the world that “impossible dreams can become possible.”