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Dr. Alim Chandani



Dr. Alim Chandani was born in Mumbai, India. He struggled to fit in the mainstream schools and did not have the opportunity to be part of deaf community or learn Sign Language for the next 21 years until one day, he visited Rochester Institute of Technology. It was at RIT, that the concept of 'Deaf Identity' and 'Deaf Culture' became integral part of his life.
Dr. Chandani graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the RIT, obtained a Master’s degree in Deaf Rehabilitation/Higher Education from New York University, and, ultimately, obtained his Doctorate in Administration and Supervision in Special Education from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. in 2013. Dr. Chandani’s dissertation focused on the feasibility of managing Deaf programs at higher education institutions in India. Dr. Chandani has been working in the field of international development and social entrepreneurship since 2007, when he founded GRO. His brainchild - Centum Gro initiative in India has redefined the meaning of being 'Deaf' for many! The training programme is fully designed and managed by the deaf, touching on topics like Deaf Empowerment, Deaf Culture and Identity which were non-existent till now in training modules. The innovations and enthusiasm that Dr. Alim has brought with him through this project is simply unparalleled. It is his dream to see more deaf entrepreneurs thriving their businesses in India and abroad.

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