For Pandey, who has been associated with the Delhi Association of the Deaf since last August, working in sign language with hearing impaired students is “a very rewarding experience”. Pandey who has worked for ten years in this field, got her degree in special education from the National Institute of the Hearing Handicapped. “It was my love for children that led me towards special education,” says Pandey.

She learnt about the Association through an acquaintance and then decided to join the Sunday school.

The Association, established in 1950, is located in Kamla Market and trains and rehabilitates people hearing impairment. The general secretary, Devi Singh Chauhan, looks after administrative affairs and scouts for funds as well, says vice chairperson Dr Shakuntala Dawesar.

The school, run by the Association, was set up 25 years ago. “There is no age bar and it is free of cost. Children from as far as Bhogal come for the classes. Old acquaintances also some occasionally,” says vice president Jaswant Singh Kumar.

Run primarily for teaching English, the classes are conducted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hall of Dewan Chand Trust, behind the Shivaji bus terminal. “The hall has been given by the Trust free of cost only for Sunday school,” says Pandey who has taught earlier in a school run by a voluntary organisation for the prevention of disabilities in Karkardooma.

“It is quite important for these students to learn English because once they go out for jobs, the medium of communication is English,” says Pandey. Besides Pandey, her colleague Sonu Pandey also conducts classes in English for the students.

On the unusually cold Sunday morning, Pandey’s group of 30 was reduced to five.

“The students come from poor families and try to make up for their missed sessions here,” said Pandey.

The session began with the word “bitter”. One of the students Irfan Khan, 17, from a special school—Government Lady Naycee School at Delhi Gate—wrinkles his face at the word and gestures to push the plate away.

“I go outside the box looking for ways to connect with the students,” Pandey said.