Creating Accessible Spiritual Content for Deaf Communities

Spiritual teachings are universal and should be accessible to everyone. Addressing the need for inclusion, two prominent organizations, ISKCON and the Sathya Sai Trust, collaborated with Yunikee to provide Indian Sign Language (ISL) translations of their spiritual content. These initiatives enabled deaf and hard-of-hearing devotees to actively connect with spiritual teachings and practices, promoting inclusivity and broadening reach through specialized digital platforms.

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Objectives

  1. Promote Accessibility: Deliver spiritual teachings in ISL to make them accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
  2. Broaden Community Inclusion: Enable meaningful participation in spiritual practices for all devotees.
  3. Inspire and Lead: Inspire other spiritual organizations to prioritize accessibility in their content and outreach efforts.

Strategy & Execution

Content Selection and Translation:

ISKCON: Focused on key teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, daily practices, and Vedic scriptures.

Sathya Sai Trust: Prioritized meditative practices and foundational discourses.

In both these collaborations, ISL interpreters familiar with the ISKCON’s philosophies and Sathya Sai’s preachings were deployed, to ensure accurate translation of spiritual nuances.

Video Production:

Yunikee produced high-quality videos which included ISL interpretations of sermons, explanations of scriptures, kirtans (devotional songs), and bhajans (devotional hymns). Added visual aids, captions, and subtitles enhanced comprehension and accessibility. The ISL interpretations focused on retaining the emotional and spiritual depth of the teachings for a richer viewer experience.

Digital Rollout:

Content was uploaded to dedicated YouTube channels (Bhaktivedanta Deaf Community for ISKCON and Sathya Sai Trust’s ISL channel). The videos were optimized with playlists, tags, and captions for better discoverability. Content was also promoted through social media and digital platforms to maximize reach.

Community Engagement:

ISKCON and Yunikee hosted live ISL Q&A sessions to allow devotees to ask questions and connect with teachings interactively. Regular feedback was sought from the deaf community to refine content and ensure relevance.

Results

  • Increased Engagement: ISKCON’s ISL videos saw a 60% increase in views within six months. The Sathya Sai Trust’s content experienced a 70% spike in engagement, with heartfelt feedback from the audience.
  • Inclusive Community Building: Deaf devotees expressed a deep sense of connection and gratitude for being able to fully engage with the teachings. Both organizations noted stronger community bonds and enhanced inclusivity.
  • Inspiration for Others: These initiatives encouraged other religious and spiritual organizations to adopt similar practices, advancing accessibility across the sector.

Conclusion

ISKCON and the Sathya Sai Trust, in partnership with Yunikee, have set a transformative example in making spirituality inclusive. Their commitment to integrating ISL into their teachings has empowered deaf devotees, enriched community engagement, and paved the way for other organizations to embrace accessibility. These efforts demonstrate that inclusion is not just a necessity but a profound way to bring people closer to shared spiritual values.