Fadekemi’s story: transforming lives through sign language

Fadekemi Dorcas wanted to learn sign language so that she could communicate to more people in her community. She quickly realised that not many people knew how to sign, and saw a huge opportunity to pass along her skills. Now, Fadekemi runs two thriving businesses that are creating a more inclusive world for people with disabilities.

“I am the founder of In the Finger Talker and Creative Mind Inclusive Academy. Both initiatives are rooted in a single mission: to break down barriers for people with disabilities and ensure they are included, understood, and celebrated. 

In the Finger Talker is a brand that teaches people to learn sign language at their own pace. It began in 2013, when I met a deaf woman in my church who sat silently at the back, with no one to communicate with. I befriended her and realised how isolating it can be to live without a shared language. As I studied sign language, I discovered that many deaf children couldn’t even communicate with their own families. This realisation fuelled my passion to create tools like sign language flashcards and flip cards, helping people learn anytime, anywhere. 

My entrepreneurial spirit comes from my family, my father owned a steel business, and my mother ran a business centre. Still, starting was not easy. People doubted me. They said I wouldn’t last. Sign language was seen as a hobby, not a profession. But I persisted. Over time, our flashcards were adopted by institutions like the Federal Road Safety Corps to train their officers in communicating with deaf passengers.

Alongside this, I launched Creative Mind Inclusive Academy, the first individualised school for children with disabilities in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. We teach children with autism, down syndrome, ADHD, speech delays, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. Each child learns at their own pace, based on their strengths and challenges. Since opening in 2025, we’ve seen remarkable transformations—a boy once labelled “mute” has found his voice, singing and laughing after years of silence, and a 17-year-old girl who was written off as incapable now manages personal care independently. For me, the Academy represents hope and life for children who have been forgotten. 

Like many women entrepreneurs, I’ve faced challenges: access to loans and grants, pricing, sustainability, and overcoming self-doubt. This is why I joined the Road to Growth programme. At the time, I was seeking clarity and a pathway to expand. The programme gave me that and more.

I learned how to face my fears, build systems, price sustainably, and pay myself a salary as a business owner. My revenue has grown by over 200% per month, I’ve hired four brilliant women, and I even secured a $5,000 grant, which allowed us to buy our own machines and protect our intellectual property.

Looking ahead, I dream of building a larger school with space for academics and vocational training, so children with disabilities can gain life skills like tailoring, bag-making, and hairdressing alongside their studies. Supporting women entrepreneurs is vital for this vision. When women are empowered with knowledge, resources, and courage, they not only grow businesses but also uplift families, communities, and entire nations. 

For me, entrepreneurship is not just a career—it is a calling to create inclusion, dignity, and opportunity where it was once denied.”