Early intervention & Identification

Early Intervention has been recognised for several decades as a means of improving the developmental constraints associated with disability. The developmental consequences of deafblindness indicate a need for early intervention which requires specialist intervention and coordinated services involving families. Sense India and its partner organisations provide early intervention for young babies who have been identified with multi-sensory loss or are at-risk of delayed development. Sense India is striving to reach out to more children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities through neo-natal hearing and vision screening in partnership with hospitals in various states and provide intervention for the identified children. A team with specialised skills are involved in early identification and intervention like paediatrician, special educator, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, audiologist, speech therapist and parents.

Income generation activity and vocational training

The process of economic independence starts with identification of the right kind of trade in which vocational training is to be provided to young adults with deafblindness. Families become natural partners in the process as they know what will work in the community. The vocational training approach includes training in independent living, communication training, soft skills training, money concept, etc. After attending the vocational training programme, adults with deafblindness are supported to set-up Income Generation Activities (IGA). IGAs consist of small businesses managed and run by adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities with support/partnership of their family members. Sense International India identifies the interests of adults with deafblindness and matches them with the skill sets and opportunities available in the community to support them with seed money and start the IGA.  Pre-Vocational training aims to develop specific skills in these young adults with deafblindness to cater to their needs for independent living and become an active and contributing member of the society.