HAM & Soapstone fellowship in 2025
Training on Deafhood in India
Impact Report 2025-2026
The Deafhood in India course at Hear A Million is a Deaf-led learning experience that explores history, identity, language, community, and resistance. It responds to key challenges such as internalized oppression, lack of cultural knowledge, and limited Deaf-centered spaces by creating a rich, supportive environment for reflection and growth. Currently, it is providing a 10-day course. This training is not only about gaining knowledge. It’s about unlearning oppression, reconnecting with our shared history, and finding new ways to think, feel, and act together as a united Deaf community. Through deep reflection, honest dialogue, and collective learning, participants strengthen their self-awareness, pride, and leadership.
THE JOURNEY
How It All Began
What started as an introduction to Deafhood in the American context evolved into a curriculum tailored for India, built by the community, for the community.
Jan 2025
Learning Deafhood
Mr. Marvin Miller from Deafhood Foundation and Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture leads Deafhood training for Soapstone Fellows and Hear A Million team, grounded in the American context.
Feb–Apr
2025
Making Deafhood in Indian Context
Hear A Million and Soapstone Fellows adapt the framework to the Indian context, building culturally relevant content and curriculum.
Mid-2025
Training the Trainers
A dedicated Training of Trainers (ToT) cohort prepares facilitators to deliver Deafhood in India with depth and confidence.
Sep–Oct
2025
Batch 1
The first full cohort of Deaf participants from across India complete the Deafhood in India course.
Nov–Dec 2025
Batch 2
Momentum grows as the second batch reaches new participants, expanding geographic and organisational reach.
Jan 2026
5 - Day Crash Course
A condensed format of 5 days brings Deafhood in India to working professionals unable to dedicate 45 days due to work commitments. For non-signing participants, accessbility measures such as interpreters and captions were included for full participations.
Feb-Mar
2026
Batch 3
The year closes with the third full batch, cementing Deafhood in India as an established national programme.
Feb 2026
Experienced Elders Camp in Jaipur
First of its kind in India. Many elders arrived carrying decades of guilt about their past experiences. Through Deafhood, they came to understand that their experiences not as a personal failure but instead as systemic issues.
Additionally, we hosted short Deafhood in India workshops in Patiala, Manipur, Gujarat, Odisha, and Kerala, bringing the learning directly into schools, associations, and communities.
Course:
Deafhood in India Course is a 40-day in-person intensive training program designed specifically for Deaf individuals.
Workshop:
A 2–4 day workshop designed for Deaf individuals, which can also be conducted offsite
Allyship Workshop:
1-day workshop for hearing allies and Deaf individuals to explore the concept of Deafhood together.
Batch #1 (August - September 2025)
Batch #2 (November - December 2025)
