Who is this useful for?
People with deafblindness, parents/caregivers and the community
“My name is Md. Jubayer Molla and I live in the Jashore district in Bangladesh. Living with a dual sensory impairment, being both deaf and blind since birth, my journey has been a challenging one from the start. Because my visual impairment is more severe than my hearing loss, I have navigated my education primarily through listening.
I rely on others to read for me and by absorbing that information aurally, I have managed to continue my studies. I am currently a fourth-year Honors student and the greatest contribution to my academic success belongs to my father. He would read to me and I would listen; that is how my educational journey began. Along the way, I have been fortunate to have the support of my teachers, neighbors, friends and family.
I first became involved with the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub through the Center for Disability in Development (CDD). As part of one of their projects, I traveled from Bangladesh to Nepal to participate in a conference and a trekking expedition. It was there that a representative from CDD introduced me to the Hub and helped me get connected. My initial experience with the Hub was nothing short of extraordinary. The realization that a dedicated resource center, a website and a knowledge base could be created specifically for us was deeply inspiring and joining this platform brought me immense joy.
The most valuable aspect of the Hub is its detailed and practical descriptions of daily activities for persons with disabilities, particularly those with deafblindness. It provides comprehensive guidance on how to teach and perform daily tasks, who should provide the training and how to communicate effectively. Each topic is described beautifully, with a focus on being realistic and timely. I believe these resources are essential not only for individuals with disabilities but also for their families and relatives.
The Hub has brought a significant change to my life and the lives of others like me. Previously, when searching online for information regarding disability, lifestyle or mobility, the details were often scarce. Now, because the Hub provides such a wealth of information, it plays a vital role in our lives.
The knowledge I have gained from the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub is vast, and the success stories of others continue to inspire me. Once, someone asked me about the global population of persons with disabilities and I immediately thought of the Hub. Through its introductory section, I was able to share that approximately 1.3 billion people about 16% of the world’s population live with a disability.
When I shared this, he was curious to know where I had found such information. I then introduced him to the Resource Hub and he was quite impressed. He was delighted that Sense International has provided us with such an excellent platform, which is currently accessible in seven languages across eight countries worldwide by Sense International.
In the future, I hope to see the Hub become even more accessible, with additional information regarding the inclusion of persons with disabilities in our national education system. Specifically, I would love to see more resources on scholarships, specialized job opportunities and global recruitment programs for persons with disabilities.
The Global Deafblindness Resource Hub is truly an “all-in-one” platform and I hope it continues to evolve into a comprehensive destination where everything can be found in one place. I want this platform to benefit everyone—both those with disabilities and without disabilities. I believe that as persons with disabilities learn from this site, their families, caregivers and communities will also benefit, leading to a better quality of life for all. I hope for wider promotion of the Hub to build public awareness, ensuring that these vital resources reach and assist as many people as possible.”
