About Us Noida Deaf Society (NDS) is a not-for-profit organization and runs on private funding. It conducts IT based vocational courses for Deaf youth coming from Noida and beyond. Noida Deaf Society (N.D.S) was established by MS. Ruma Roka on the 13th of June 2005 with the sole purpose for the betterment of the Deaf people in and around Noida.
 Ruma has undergone training of a sign language interpreter at the NIHH (National Institute of hearing handicapped). She has interpreted in various assignments in NTPC and PMI and also having interpreted for the president of India at the World disability day on the 3rd of December 2005 and 2006. She was also chosen to interpret for the International Abilympics (Olympics of Ability) held in Japan in November 2007.
The society is registered under the Societies Registration Act, the registration number being 658. It has been granted tax exemption under the Act 80G of the Income Tax Act. At present it operates from 469 Sector 29 Noida, in a two bedroom flat privately owned by the founder member i.e. Ruma Roka.
In the beginning NDS started with just 5 students and 1 faculty member. Now it has grown to 300 students and 9 faculty members. For years the Deaf mind has been ingrained with the thought that they cannot be masters of their destiny. NDS hopes to change that mind set.
 Besides providing training for sustainability NDS is a forum for the Deaf from all backgrounds to put forward their ideas, thoughts, suggestions for the growth and development of the Deaf community at large. Recognizing that computers are an ideal visual learning medium for the Deaf, NDS provides specific educational programs keeping in mind future employment possibilities. The courses at NDS have been formulated in communication with the Deaf, their needs and dreams for the future.
The student count of NDS is increasing day by day. To meet this overwhelming response of the Deaf community, NDS inaugurated its second centre in Noida at sector 66, on 3rd of October 2008. The new centre has been opened to facilitate enrolment of a larger number of deaf students for several NDS courses.
The various computer programs at NDS from the basics to the Graphic Design course, supported by the English literacy classes to facilitate communication as well as Life Skill training, provides an ideal platform for the Deaf to lend wings to their dreams.
The courses are well researched to bring out the latent talent of the Deaf, keeping in mind their constraints, enabling them to be self reliant and motivated partners of mainstream society.
Click here to learn more about courses
Upcoming and future plans:
In the next three financial years NDS wishes to impact more than 1500 deaf in the society. As a part of this endeavour we would like to:
- Start courses in hardware and networking as well as tally
- Start catering and beautician classes for deaf women
- Buy a land of our own to become a singular centre that conducts various courses for the Deaf
What is Being Deaf ?
Can you ever imagine walking in pitch darkness, without a sound to guide your way? Or a world with loads and loads of people, talking and laughing together, where you can never hear a word or even a voice? You may want to share your thoughts, your feelings and emotions, but just can’t!! You don’t have a common language! That’s how it feels to be deaf.
From birth to death, the deaf live in a world of eternal silence. Lack of language and misconceptions regarding sign language, keeps them away from learning and education right from their childhood. A mind that is naturally sharp stagnates over the years due to lack of knowledge. Uneducated, untrained, they fight on their own, a losing battle for survival, in a highly competitive modern society. A life of neglect, suffering and misery is their lot. It is estimated that there are over 15 million Deaf people in India. 80% of them do not receive education. Their career opportunities are bleak and chances for advancement are virtually "NIL". Most of them are relegated to doing work-requiring skills with their hands and not the mind. Formal education is a dream for majority of the Deaf. Many of them cannot afford even basic education. There are just five hundred odd schools for them in the whole of India.
In a world of equal opportunities for all and to bring some support to these people, Noida Deaf Society (NDS) has taken up the cause of the Deaf. It aims at providing sustainability, learning skills through specialized , by showcasing their talents, improving their lives and restoring their human dignity.
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