Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan) (AYJNISHD) was established on 9th August 1983. It is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, New Delhi. The Institute is located at Bandra (West), Mumbai – 400 050.

Regional Centres of the Institute have been established at Kolkata (1984), New Delhi (1986), Secundarabad (1986) and Bhubaneshwar (1986- in association with Government of Orissa). These are centres aimed at meeting the local and regional needs in terms of manpower development and services.

The District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRCs) under Gramin Punarvasan Yojana (GPY) a programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India was started in the year 2000. The objective of the programme is to provide total rehabilitation to persons with sensory (hearing and vision), physical and mental disabilities.

Under this programme, 24 DDRCs were allotted to AYJNISHD. All the 24 DDRCs, on completion of successful establishment and running for three years, are handed over to State Governments/District Administration/NGO.

Composite Regional Center (CRC), Bhopal is a service model initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, established on 14th August, 2000. The Center is functioning under the administrative control of AYJNISHD since February, 2006. An one more CRC at Ahmedabad, Gujarat was established on 16th Aug, 2011 and this CRC also functioning under the administrative control of AYJNISHD.

• Manpower Development: To deal with the various aspects of rehabilitation of the Hearing Handicapped, various undergraduate and post graduate courses are being offered. The Institute is rated excellent by the RCI.
• Research: Research in the areas of identification, intervention, educational approaches, remedial teaching methods, jobs for the hearing handicapped and technology development have been carried out.
• Educational Programmes: By studying the existing school for the deaf, curriculum followed, methods of teaching etc. and supplementing or strengthening them by way of improving existing educational facilities and developing new strategies wherever required, newer measures such as open school for the illiterate/drop out is being conducted as model activity.
• Service Facilities: Strategies for early identification and rehabilitative procedures. films and audio visuals on vocational training and job placement, etc. are being developed.
• Community Programme: Identification and intervention, home bound training, correspondence training and also tele–rehabilitation services are being rendered and evolved with emerging needs.
• Material Development: Required for (a) education, like teaching aids, audio–visuals etc. (b) public awareness and community education, literacy programme for adult deaf, Parent Counseling and Programme for strengthening voluntary organisations.
• Information and Documentation: Documenting and disseminating the latest information and developments in the science of hearing, speech and related technology is being done.