NEW DELHI (India CSR): Feeding people’s potential. One language at a time. On International Day of Sign Languages, KFC India is taking a meaningful step towards expanding its Kshamata program, by pioneering a written English comprehension program for speech & hearing-impaired (SHI) team members.
Inclusive Training Initiative
Launched in partnership with Atypical Advantage, India’s largest livelihood platform for people with disabilities, the initiative will train 100% of KFC’s SHI teams in essential writing & comprehension skills by 2026. Based on the insight that most workplace communication is written, this program addresses challenges SHI team members face due to limited exposure to languages other than Indian Sign Language (ISL).
Empowering SHI Teams
By strengthening written comprehension, KFC India is helping SHI teams work more independently, communicate confidently, and grow in their careers, furthering the long-standing mission of KFC Kshamata to feed people’s potential & empower SHI teams. In 2024, KFC India became the first QSR in the country to launch a Sign Language training program for 100% of its employees. This year’s written English comprehension program for specially-abled teams, in turn, makes the communication bridge stronger & more effective.
Commitment Towards Inclusion
Speaking about the initiative, Aman Lal, Chief People Officer, KFC India, said: “KFC Kshamata reiterates our commitment towards feeding people’s potential and building a more inclusive world. Communication is key to bridging the ability gap & while we continue to focus on raising awareness for Indian Sign Language, this year, we’re also looking at it from the lens of written communication. The written English comprehension program will lower barriers to communication & equip our SHI teams with tools to navigate workplace communication independently. Atypical Advantage are front-runners in creating pathways for persons with disabilities, and have been instrumental in shaping this program. With an aim to train 100% SHI team members by 2026, it’s a powerful step towards fostering inclusion at scale.”
Bridging Communication Divide
Vineet Saraiwala, Founder & CEO-Atypical Advantage said, “At Atypical Advantage, we’ve always believed that true inclusion begins when persons with disabilities are equipped with the tools to thrive independently. This partnership with KFC India is a landmark step towards unlocking the potential of speech and hearing-impaired talent by building their confidence in written English — a critical workplace skill. It is incredible to witness KFC’s inclusion initiatives, where on one hand they are expanding the reach of Indian Sign Language, and on the other, strengthening English skills among speech and hearing-impaired team members. This dual approach is a powerful example of how inclusion can bridge the communication divide.”
Workplace Skills Development
The program is designed as a 50-hour virtual training, with a curriculum focused on basic grammar, email writing, and reading comprehension. The program is specifically crafted to bridge a crucial learning gap faced by many speech & hearing-impaired employees, who received early education only in Indian Sign Language (ISL). While ISL remains their first language and a source of pride, workplace communication often also requires English – making it important to build confidence in both.
As part of KFC’s commitment to become the most purposeful QSR brand in the country, the brand remains focused on maintaining 2% of workforce from the SHI community in the coming year. Other milestones under KFC Kshamata include:
- 2X growth in number of speech & hearing-impaired team members, as well as Special KFCs (restaurants operated by SHI employees) in the last 5 years
- 5% of SHI team members have progressed their careers within KFC & hold restaurant leadership positions currently
- In 2024, KFC became the first QSR to roll out mandatory Sign Language training. Today, every new employee undergoes this training during induction, leading to 18K+ people being trained in ISL
- To support success of SHI teams, KFC has a dedicated Sign Language Coach who works closely with them
- 100% of our restaurant trainings now include Sign Language insets and subtitles, making them truly inclusive.
- Training content is also tailored to the needs of SHI teams as required
(India CSR)
