In India, an estimated 552,000 people live with deafblindness.*
*World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB), 2018 At risk of exclusion from CRPD and SDGs implementation: Inequality and persons with deafblindness.
Deafblindness is defined in the Indian context in ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’ as “a condition in which a person may have a combination of hearing and visual impairments causing severe communication, developmental, and educational problems”. With over 500,000 people living with deafblindness in India, only a limited number of organizations are dedicated to supporting this population.
Back in 1997, there was only one school in India providing education and other services to 23 children with deafblindness.
Currently Sense India is working in 23 States of India through a network of 60 partner NGOs, transforming the lives of more than 80,000 people with deafblindness- from isolation and neglect to understanding their world and leading full and active lives.
Access to technology can be a game-changer for people with deafblindness, providing new ways to access information, communicate with others, and participate in daily life. These resources will enable people with deafblindness and those that support them to live, learn, and thrive.