Devangi Dalal, an Indian-trained audiologist and speech therapist, has dedicated her career to improving hard-of-hearing children’s quality of life in India. She has over 29 years of experience in pediatric hearing aid consultation and rehabilitation and has spent endless hours promoting hearing awareness in India. She was born in Mumbai. As her father was a dedicated man, he moved to Mumbai to get a quality education and life to achieve everything they desired.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Audiology and Speech Therapy from Nair Hospital, Mumbai, in 1991. She has represented India on several occasions in the pediatric audiology conferences by Widex held in Denmark, Canada, Amsterdam, Dubai &Italy. She has presented a poster on customized Rehabilitation – Widex in Ottawa, 2006, and Keys to successful management – Widex in Amsterdam 2008.
She also had the opportunity to attend special training at Widex training center, Chicago, U.S.A. She was designated as a lecturer in Nazareth speakers Academy for public speaking. Devangi is also a certified professional in Special Teacher’s Course, catered to managing adolescents. With her Incessant care for children and witnessing their distress due to hearing disabilities. Devangi introduced a ROAD MAP TO INDEPENDENCE FOR CHILDREN WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT – INDIA as a Role Model.
Devangi Dalal’s Vision and Mission
Her primary mission is to make Indians realize that “a hearing handicap is no longer a handicap.” In 2004, Devangi Dalal, with ENT SURGEON Dr. Jayant Gandhi, Formed an NGO called the JOSH foundation. She established the Juvenile Organization of Speech and Hearing (JOSH), an NGO whose purpose is to create awareness, educate, and empower hard-of-hearing children. The organization began with 50 members and now has over 400 members and supporters.
Josh offers counseling and guidance to the student members and shares the success stories of all the student members on their website. Her vision is to create a center with futuristic and up-to-date access that coaches public speaking and voice modulation to the hearing impaired. Giving them specially designed voice therapy and speech therapy to help them unify with society.
JOSH Foundation is a steadfast movement built by two equally motivated professionals to eliminate hearing impairment. Their motive is “Hearing Handicap No Longer a Handicap.” Their remarkable efforts have produced results by successfully providing 1000+ pairs of digital hearing aids to children in schools.
She has provided free hearing services and new digital hearing aids to the children in special schools for the deaf, and mobilized the press and media to highlight the capabilities of hard-of-hearing children. She has also persuaded bureaucrats, politicians, and non-government organizations (NGOs) to provide hard-of-hearing children in India with the same privileges as those in Europe and the United States.
In 2006, Mrs. Dalal adopted a special (deaf) school in Mumbai, which lacked knowledge of hearing and hearing aids. She introduced the school to celebrities and NGOs to convince them to donate hearing aids. Working on behalf of one child at a time, Mrs. Dalal successfully obtained new binaural hearing aids for all 80 children in the school. She fit all the children’s gratis and encouraged them to reach for their best through various innovative activities.
As a result, many of these children have been mainstreamed into regular schools. These children are also involved in dance, singing, and music activities. Over the last decade, Mrs. Dalal has provided 550 new digital hearing aids to low-income children in the Mumbai region of India. To highlight awareness of hearing and hearing loss in her country, she has authored books in regional languages like Gujarati and Hindi and distributed them free of charge to all the students and teachers in the special schools. She’s also donned the director’s hat by directing a 17-minute telefilm to create awareness on Hearing impairment.
She published the article “Success stories of Hearing-Impaired Children” in 2010 and writes articles in local and regional newspapers. She also gives lectures/seminars to various NGOs to raise awareness of the available technological solutions to overcome the limitations of hearing loss and emphasize the importance of early identification and proper amplification. Mrs. Dalal worked with the Chief Minister of Gujarat to persuade the Indian government to improve the conditions of government-run special schools, which will impact over 5,000 children.
Mrs. Dalal’s enthusiasm and passion for her work are inspiring, and this is why she has been so successful in securing funds to benefit hard-of-hearing children in India. Mrs. Dalal’s exceptional humanitarian work with the hard of hearing children has been life-changing for many children and deserving the Academy’s Humanitarian Award.
Devangi has not only worked as an audiologist but has also researched in her sphere of influence. Statistics show she’s identified a probability that 1 out of every 1000 people is affected by hearing and speech impairment in India. Unfortunately, out of this, almost 60% of them are children. It is also observed that the children are made to isolate themselves from society, as they only use the gestural language of communication. The observations accumulated by Devangi unsettled her.
One of them noted that many deaf and dumb schools accommodate only those who have hearing loss, as they often use gestural language. Compared to detailed studies and analysis of several cases, a person can speak normally when they can hear with proper diagnosis, use a quality digital hearing machine, and appropriate rehabilitation is a probable conclusion drawn.
Understanding this background, that’s when Devangi Dalal decided to work for these innocent adolescents and minors. Despite being detected with hearing loss, they cannot afford quality hearing aids and lack the knowledge of technology and proper rehabilitation. Devangi Dalal, in her capacity, did the following activities for hard-of-hearing children along with the JOSH foundation.
Devangi Dalal is widely known for being the first Indian audiologist to win the “Humanitarian Award” by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) in 2012 in Boston (USA). Yet, she specializes in Audiology & Speech Therapy, assessing Kids and adults with changing hearing, speech, voice, and neurological disorders and charting out rehabilitation programs to boost or develop their performance at home and in the community. Devangi has not only worked as an audiologist but has also researched in her field of expertise.
The observations accumulated by Devangi unsettled her. One of them noted that many deaf and dumb schools accommodate those who have hearing loss. They often use gestural language. Compared to detailed studies and analysis of several cases, a person can speak normally when they can hear with proper diagnosis, quality digital hearing machine, and appropriate rehabilitation is drawn as a foreseeable conclusion.
By all of this, she just wanted to bring a much-needed awareness about detecting hearing disabilities and using appropriate hearing aids. After detection and given necessary rehabilitation, a hard-of-hearing child can be admitted into a regular school and be a part of society as an average child.
The importance of neonatal screening and equipment available is essential for the same. Devangi Dalal has played a vital role in collecting funds and providing the right platform to kids through events. Regular lectures conducted by Devangi for various organizations in Mumbai shed light on the alertness regarding speech, hearing, and listening issues in kids and adults. Her associations with various social NGOs are different branches where she can extend her knowledge and assistance.
She was the youngest executive member of the Indian Speech & Hearing Association and consistently represented India in Pediatric Audiology-related conferences worldwide. Her work towards hard-of-hearing children has brought her to the attention of the media. She has been interviewed by several newspapers-English and regional, and has also appeared on several television debates to spread awareness on topics of great relevance.
She has supported several schools with hearing problems, such as Lions Shivaji Park School, Disha Karnabadhir Vidyalaya, Smt. Tapiben Mohanlal, R Mehta Bahera Amreli, Rochiram Thadani School, KDN Shruti School, Vikas Vidhyalaya for the deaf, Pragati Vidyalaya for the deaf. Devangi, in her capacity, supports this school, where they carry regular check-ups of these children, raise funds along with the schools and fit the hearing aids to these children.
The first Indian audiologist and speech therapist, Devangi Dalal, presented a Learning Module, “A Road Map to Independence for children with Hearing Impairment in Developing Countries,” at Audiology now- 2016. The conference was organized by the America Academy of Audiology Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
She was honored for her “Excellence in social Service & Human Empowerment.” by ICMEI. International women’s Excellence Empowerment awarded Devangi Dalal for “Empowering & Inspiring Women.” Devangi was the executive secretary of the Maharashtra Speech & Hearing Association. A consistent winner of Best Pediatric Hearing Aid Center in India for many years. She also presented a scientific paper on “Middle Ear Problems in Management of Hearing Impaired Children” at a National Conference in Patna, India.
She was appointed as the only audiologist from India for Coalition Global Hearing Health (CGHH) who works with WHO to promote public awareness of hearing health. She advised and acted in Marathi (Indian Regional Language) TV serial- “Aasa ka Gadhla?” on the Star Maaza TV channel, among other things.
The DALAL FAMILY was one of the five families from India selected for the Disney India channel for the program JET SET GO 3 IN 2014. She was also awarded the Women Influencer award in 2019. She was felicitated as ‘Unsung heroes of India Ek Prayas’ by the distinguished owner of MDH Dharampal Gulati.
Devangi is the author of “Chalo Badhirone Sambhalta Kariye” in Gujarati & “Kuch Suna Aapne” in Hindi. She is instrumental in collecting funds to the tune of more than Rs 3.5Crore so far. It is to support hard-of-hearing children. She is the first female Leo President of the Juhu Club. Under her guidance, the Leo Club of Juhu won INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD from Lions International.
She is the lyricist of the Leo anthem. The same was produced by her and music composed by well-Known music director Lalit Pandit Ji and sung by Raj (AMERICAN SINGER) SHIBANI KASHYAP. She was also honored for uplifting hard-of-hearing children by Smitha Thackeray’s Mukkti Foundation at an event dedicated to women of substance on women’s day 2020.
Devangi Dalal released her book “SPREADING POSITIVITY” on 7th December 2020 by Goswami Shri Dhwarkeshlal Maharajshri, Shri Kundanbhai Vyas —Editor in Chief – Janmabhoomi Group, and Remo D’Souza Film Director & Choreographer. Joanne N Taverns, an Author & Consultant from the USA. D’Anne Rudden, an audiologist from Colorado, and Sanjay Chhel, a film writer, director & columnist, also joined the launch event. According to Devangi, one needs to understand the beauty of kindness. If there’s a connection ethereal about humans, it’s the nature of kindness.
“Spreading Positivity” attempts to set people’s minds and lives at ease and reiterate the missing positive energy one might face during these testing times. She adds, “Positivity guides us in the right direction. Our faith, spirituality, and belief in the almighty navigate us to find the true meaning and resonate positive vibes around us. It is crucial for self-development and growth.
It enables us to understand the spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physiological aspects of our lives. To strengthen and nourish the society and country we live in. We need to be aware as responsible citizens have sheer faith in the future that beholds. We need to fill our hearts with love and support for the less fortunate and educate ourselves and society about shortcomings and struggles.
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