Australian fast-bowling legend and global hearing advocate Brett Lee visited TEACH (Training & Educational Centre for Hearing Impaired), a non-profit institute in Mumbai that provides pathways to higher education, employment and independent futures for Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth across India on July 28.
During his visit to TEACH, Lee toured the campus and met with founders Aman Sharma and Deepesh Nair, who shared the journey that led them from careers in management consulting to learning Indian Sign Language, teaching youth from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community, and establishing TEACH.
He also spent time with TEACH students, learning about their experiences and the institute’s integrated pathway from higher education to employment, helping fill a gap in specialised higher education for DHH students.
Lee’s visit carried a deeply personal significance. In 2011, his son Preston, suffered temporary hearing loss in his right ear after a traumatic fall that resulted in a skull fracture. While his hearing gradually returned to normal over the following eight months, the experience profoundly impacted Lee and led him to become a Global Hearing Ambassador for Cochlear for many years, advocating for early detection of hearing loss, newborn hearing screening and access to cochlear implants for children around the world.
Lee also joined TEACH students who represent at State & National levels in Sports, creating an energetic interaction that brought together his passion for the sport and the students’ enthusiasm for the game. The interaction reflected the spirit of TEACH: a place where students can learn, build confidence, develop skills, form friendships and discover new possibilities for their futures.
“My experience with my son’s hearing loss made me understand how profoundly hearing can shape a child’s life.” Brett Lee said. “Visiting TEACH, I saw an institution that is ensuring that being Deaf or Hard of Hearing does not define what a young person can achieve. These students are gaining the education, skills, confidence and job roles to build careers and shape their own futures. That is incredibly powerful.”
TEACH supports students through a preparatory year, HSC and a Bachelor of Commerce degree, alongside training in practical skills such as MIS, accounting software, IT and design. Students also strengthen their Indian Sign Language and written English skills, while receiving support to build confidence and develop the social and emotional skills needed to thrive in a professional environment.
The programme culminates in opportunities for corporate internships, placements and careers. TEACH graduates have gone on to build careers in roles including accounting, human resources, sales and purchase, and other corporate functions. With campuses in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, an expanding presence in Hyderabad and plans to soon open in Kolkata, TEACH is helping open new career pathways for DHH youth, challenging a traditional employment landscape where opportunities have often been concentrated in sectors such as retail and hospitality.
