Deafblindness - a unique disability, causing extreme challenges

Deafblindness is a unique and complex disability. Sense International India (also known as Sense India) is the first and only national level organisation supporting specialised services which enable children and adults with deafblindness to overcome the challenges caused by deafblindness.

95% of what we learn is through our eyes and ears. Imagine what it is like to be deafblind person. Deafblindness is mainly caused in India through Rubella (German measles) which combines varying degrees of both hearing and visual impairment. All individuals with deafblindness experience extreme challenges with communication and mobility; as well most have additional physical and medical conditions to overcome. People with deafblindness also invariably face severe neglect and discrimination owing to their inability to communicate and relate to the world. They are thus denied the basic human emotions of love and care and rights of education, medical care amongst other needs that are taken for granted by most of us.

SenseIndia works nation-wide.

It is estimated that there are about 500,000 people with deafblindness in India. Prior to establishment of Sense India, in 1997, only 23 children with deafblindness received support in Mumbai but today we have been instrumental in bringing hope in the lives of more than 78,000 people with deafblindness.

We combine individual, corporate, institutional and government support to work with a growing network of partner organisations. Our partners provide a wide range of services to identify deafblindness. We also create opportunities for children and young adults through home and centre based services to learn communication and daily-living skills and receive basic education and acquire income generating skills which lead to family-based productive activities and independent living.