Who is this useful for?
All stakeholders including people with deafblindness, parents, teachers, policy makers, educators and general community.
I am the mother of an 11-year-old child with cerebral palsy. At the time of birth, there were complications during delivery, and due to lack of oxygen reaching the brain, my child sustained a brain injury. During pregnancy, doctors had already mentioned certain anomalies, but as first-time parents, we did not fully understand what it meant.
My child was kept in the NICU for 16 days. The first few months were extremely difficult. There was constant crying, discomfort, and uncertainty. At around nine months, a doctor referred us to an early intervention centre at APD (Association of People with Disability) in Bengaluru. When I first visited the centre and saw other children with disabilities, I struggled emotionally and could not sleep for days. Accepting that my child had a disability was not easy.
However, through early intervention services and parent training sessions, I slowly gained knowledge and confidence. I learned about therapies, developmental milestones, and how consistent stimulation can help children improve. For nearly 10 years, I continued services there. Later, due to inconsistent therapy support, I explored other options and, in December 2024, joined Sense International India’s centre in Banaswadi.
Since joining Sense International India, I have seen visible improvements in my child. Earlier, he was not able to hold objects or engage comfortably with strangers. With sensory stimulation techniques, tactile inputs, and structured therapies, he can now hold objects for longer durations and is more responsive. As parents, we also receive monthly training sessions, which empower us further. We are now working towards building a parent network to support more families.
Discovering the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub
I first learned about the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub during a parents’ meeting where it was introduced by the team. I volunteered to explore the website and explain it to other parents.
When I first visited the Hub, I explored various resources including information about deafblindness, accessibility and assistive technology support and lots of helpful manuals and guides.
Although my child has cerebral palsy and not deafblindness, I felt it was important to understand other disabilities too. Learning about different types of deafblindness and reading inspirational stories — such as a story of a girl from Tanzania who improved through early intervention — motivated me deeply.
The Hub also taught me practical digital skills, like how to enlarge and reduce text and how to make my phone more accessible. These small things are very helpful for parents who are learning to use technology.
Impact and reflections
The Hub is a very informative platform, especially for educated parents who are familiar with technology. However, many families come from low-income backgrounds. Some parents have not gone to school and may not know English or Hindi well. Many may not own computers or advanced devices.
For such parents, accessing the Hub independently can be challenging.
That is why I took the initiative to conduct 2–3 awareness sessions for other parents, explaining how to access the website, how to use translation features, and how to navigate it. I believe special educators or parent volunteers can regularly guide families on using the Hub.
A message to other parents
Knowledge gives strength. When I first learned about my child’s condition, I felt helpless. Today, I feel confident enough to guide other parents.
The Global Deafblindness Resource Hub is not just a website — it is a learning platform that can empower families. But we must also ensure that awareness reaches grassroots communities and that technology does not become a barrier.
If we work together — parents, educators, and organizations — we can create more awareness, earlier identification, and better support for all children with disabilities.