NDS has set itself a charter to train deaf youth to become employable -- focusing on imparting vocational skills and skills that will enable employability.

NDS went about intensive market research and identified skill areas that leverage the inherent qualities in deaf and also enable them to work with the hearing people. Key area that it identified are skill sets related to using computers for office use and being able to use computer applications. And it was evident that the enabling skill for all of this is ability to communicate in English.

NDS began operations in June 2005 and having started with only 5 deaf students and one faculty has today scaled to 170 deaf students and 6 trainers. There are also lots students waiting to join since NDS is operating at capacity.

MS Office Basic Application Course

English comprehension and literacy

Desk Top Publishing and Web Design

Indian Sign Language

The deaf students who come to NDS are typically from the economically weaker sections of society, from Noida, Delhi, Meerut, Aligarh, Agra, Mathura, Bareilly, Bihar, Uttarakhand Faridabad, Rewari, Sonepat, Bulandshahr, Murradabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Calcutta, Madhyapradesh, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon. Some students have relocated from far off locations in the country and are studying at NDS. In take criteria for NDS is deafness and having cleared X class exams.

In terms of placements and jobs, NDS assists in finding jobs. Students are being placed in organizations like The NIIT, The ITC Sheraton Hotels, Maurya Sheraton, Tata Indicom, IBM, Maruti, Export Houses like Sam Overseas, Aman Exports, House of Cheriss and other NGOs Lepra India Trust.

NDS is seeking Corporate and well meaning organization’s support in this endeavor now – to be able to sustain the momentum that has been setup and also be able to build on the existing base. Expectations are in terms of financial support for sustaining the programs and possible placements within the organization at appropriate levels. In addition, NDS is looking for a larger place – at least 3000 sq ft – to run the school operations as the current location (1200 sq ft) has reached its capacity.

Infrastructure:
As students at NDS increase and as we add new programs, we need to keep adding on infrastructure – computers, chairs, projection system, books and so on. Sponsors can look at donating either the equipment or monies towards the infrastructure.

Everyone of us is different in some way
but for those of us who are more different
we have to put more effort into
convincing the less different that
we can do the same thing they can,
just differently Marlee Matlin (Deaf American Actress)