We are at the end of the Financial Year 2020-21. While we look forward to the year 2021-22,we are still amid unprecedented challenges and trying hard to cope with the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on our services. Covid-19 led to disruption of day-to-day life,even more for people with deafblindness because 'touch' became a forbidden word. The rapid spread of Covid-19 pandemic led to closure of services overnight and children with deafblindness and their families were left to dend for themselves.
Sense International India responded to this challenging situation as it was necessary for us to reach out to children with deafblindness, their families and edcuators and keep the communication and services on. We used available technology and opened online platforms to reach out to people with deafblindness across India.We reached out to families of people with deafblindness across India to help them meet the daily necessities of life during this ongoing pandemic. We thank you, all our donors and supporters who stood with us during this unprecedented challenging time and helped us continue our services for the deafblind. We look forward to your continued support as we plan our coming year with news hoppes and enthusiasm.
Thank you
Akhil paul
Executive Director
We won the Project Zero Award for our work towards employment of persons with Deafblindness. The zero Project finds and shares innovative practices and policies that help improve the ives of persons with disablities
On 15th December 2020,Sense India was adjudged winner of Mary Glowrey - Liliane Brekelmans(MGLB) Disablity Award - 2020 as a role model NGO working for persons with disabilities
Sense India qualified for Advanced Level Gold Seal Transparency certificate by GuideStar India. The certification indicates high level of accountability and good governance
Shrutilata Singh,(person with deafblindness) represented India in UN forum at 13th session of Conference of State parties(COSP13).Sense India also organized a side event at the 13th Session of COSP on 4th December
(a younf deafblind girl)video was selected as one of the 3 winners of UN World Data Forum competition.Her message on the need for identification of persons with deafblindness was globally acknowledged
Committed to bring about change and creating awareness on issues that need a voice, Tattva partnered with Sense International India to raise awareness on deafblindness and raise funds for the cause through the ultra-run of 400kms from Ahmedabad to Porbandar in aid of Sense India.We could reach our target with kind of support of Shri Raj Satsang Mandal,Sayla
As 2nd wave of COVID-19 has impacted families of persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, we have started supporting the families with ration kit. In the first phase, support for 600 families is extended. We plan to reach out to 1200 families in the coming months.
"The pandemic has been really tough for us. We couldn't open our tea shop in the lockdown and lost our livelihood. Both my daughters got infected with COVID-19. Your support has been a saving grace when we didn't have income and health. The ration kits kept us going."
-Ann Mariya's Mother
"The Sparsh programme for the deafblind individuals and their families who has been living in darkness for years has instilled a ray of hope among them. We are determined to work for the individuals with deafblindness and express our thanks to Sense India."
- Mr. Chandra Shekhar Azad, Secretary, Vikalp Foundation
The two years project ‘Mental Health Awareness and Support to Children and Young Adults with Deafblindness was initiated in April 2021. The project is first of its kind catering to 10 to 24 age group and their family members. It will work on spreading awareness, provide capacity building training to Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) workers and provide psychological and medical intervention support. Advocacy and research initiatives will focus on creating evidence-based documents on mental health issues of CYDb to bring policy level changes.
"This Project is supported by Grand Challenges Canada, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) using UK Aid from the UK Government.”
UN side event on the side lines of UN ECOSOC Youth Forum on 7-8 April 21. The side event was focused on sharing views of persons with deafblindness on health, accessibility, education and need for desegregated data, highlighting the need and role of a support person.
Young adults with deafblindness participated in global SDG call for action campaign, submitting their video messages. Video of Ms Asha Patwal, participant from state of Uttarakhand gained much attention.
Commonwealth network of Youth and Children with disabilities (CCYDN) is engaging youth leaders in global action campaigning. With their support our advocacy officer Shruti along with Asha participated in UN Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI) campaign on girl’s education. Shruti has been featured in their video.
https://www.ungei.org/media/girls-disabilities-have-equal-right-education and her quote included in the new advocacy brief https://www.ungei.org/publication/leave-no-girl-with-disabilities-behind launched by them.
Sense India submitted summary report of side event at UN CSocD59 which was held in February. The event summary has been selected and posted on United Nations Social Development Network (UNSDN) website at https://unsdn.org/2021/04/15/deafblind-too-need-technology After representing at UN Conference of State Parties (COSP) 13th session last year, we are gearing up for COSP14. Our side event is approved to be held on 16th June.
Our written statement was accepted at last year’s UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF). On 31st May Sense India completed its first 4 year term of UN EcoSoc consultative status. A four year quadrennial progress report has been submitted to EcoSoc office as a statutory requirement.
75 adults with deafblindness completed their training on Samsung Good Vibes App
30 professionals were trained on Mental Health issues and counselling by Healing Dove and ICHARS Support Foundation
5th Batch Web. Ed. Db conducted with 12 parents of persons with deafblindness and MD from 10 cities of India and 4 parents from Nepal has joined the course
This shall be our 7th year of the annual Cyclothon. The virtual challenge will be an opportunity for all to come together and celebrate the indomitable spirit of Helen Keller who was a renowned deafblind American author, political activist and famous author. Her birth anniversary (27th June) is celebrated world over. The event was launched on 27th June (Heller Keller Day) and will end on 3rd December 2021 (World Disability Day).
The Deafblind Run was a dream project of Tattva - a voluntary action group, committed to making a difference within local communities. They partnered with Sense International India to raise awareness on deafblindness and raise funds for the cause across the state of Gujarat. The 400 kms run was led by Mr. Amit Bhattacharjee (a.k.a) ‘Dada’ followed by his team of 5 runners- Barefoot Raja, Ashish Singh, Urvashi Patel, Dr Pratish Sharda and Samneet Thakur. People of Gujarat witnessed such a run for the first time that covered a distance of 400 kms, in 80 hours and across 4 districts from Ahmedabad to Porbandar.
Sense India organises its annual fundraising cyclothon- Messengers on Cycles on Helen Keller Day (27th June), to create awareness on deafblindness and celebrate the day. Cyclists and persons with disabilities on tricycles come together and ride for inclusion, education and support for children and adults with deafblindness. Each year, we spread the message of the importance of education, health and inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream society by bringing them together on an inclusive cycling event.
The National Conclave, started by Sense India in 2004 is the convergence of its Networks on a national level. As Deafblindness is a unique disability, its low-incidence and scattered population in the country became the reason for the formation of three national level support/network groups. These groups are of teachers (Abhi-Prerna) and families (Prayaas) of deafblind/MSI persons and adult deafblind/MSI persons (Udaan) in India. Sense India mobilizes them on a national level to assist each other and become the most potent force to influence policy in favour of deafblind/MSI children and adults in the country.
Handbook On Deafblindness (English and Hindi)
In this handbook Sense International India has attempted to provide information related to deafblindness and the unique features of individuals with deafblindness, along with the implications it has on various areas of development and strategies to facilitate learning. The goal of this book is to help professionals from the field of education, rehabilitation and health care gain better understanding and to explore the rationale of assessments and challenges associated with the clinical and functional considerations for individuals with deafblindness. The principal purpose behind developing this handbook is to increase the interest among educators for taking up challenges and initiatives towards working with deafblind individuals. This handbook will help them to plan their strategies for working with deafblind children and adapt the curriculum leading to overall development. It also discusses the need for transitioning and readiness for vocational life of an adolescent deafblind. In general this book is an attempt to explore all aspects of a deafblind individual's life.
Handbook on Curriculum Adaptation for Inclusive Education of Students with Deafblindness
The handbook aims to enable teachers to adapt and modify classroom curriculum as per the needs and abilities of children with deafblindness. It would also increase the number of regular teachers in mainstream schools to work effectively with children with deafblindness. Through this adapted curriculum, Sense International India aims to provide quality education to children with deafblindness and MSI, which will enable them to learn effectively and participate equally in the class. It will also maintain the dignity and build their confidence to learn. Further it will build the capacity of mainstream teachers and schools as well, to enhance their level of understanding and skills. This handbook for the teachers in the school open doors of knowledge for persons with Deafblindness and MSI and support them in motivating to make needs based adaptation for students in the classroom.
Play (Hindi)
For Children with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities. It is very much important to know the residual vision and hearing ability of the children with deafblindness, which can be used to encourage them in learning. The best mode to build rapport with children is through play. Play has very vital role in life. Children get opportunity to communicate, search, experiment and repeat through the mode of play. This helps in overall development of children. But it is a complex process to begin play with children with deafblindness. Taking all these facts into consideration, this booklet is made. This booklet is especially useful for educators, parents and CBR workers who are or will be working with children in age group of 0-6 years old. With the help of this booklet, children can learn his daily skills through different play activities. This booklet will help to work more effectively in developing rapport with children.
Curriculum Based Functional Assessment Checklist for Individuals with Deafblindness of Early Intervention and Functional Academic Groups
The book contains information on the curriculum based functional assessment checklist for the persons with deafblindness. It majorly focused on early intervention and functional academic groups. The book intended to look in to the need to have a curriculum based functional assessment checklist which could be used by the parents and teachers of persons with deafblindness. Hence an assessment tool based on the curriculum has become an immediate necessity. A curriculum based functional assessment checklist is not available in Indian condition. Under this situation, a book is designed to develop such checklist targeting individuals of early intervention and functional academic groups studying in institutes of deafblindness in India. This book can be used by experts, teachers and parents of persons with deafblindness.
Management of children with Deafblindness with Cerebral Palsy Part –I
Developing Gross Motor Skills Management of children with associated Cerebral Palsy along with Deafblindness is often perceived as a challenging task by many of the special educators and parents. This created the need to edify and update the skilled and valuable human resources about management of these children. This booklet gives step by step instructions on the management of problems and developing gross motor skills of children with Cerebral Palsy and Deafblindness. The pictorial illustration will help families and teachers to provide basic need based support to children who have deafblindness and associated condition of Cerebral Palsy. This booklet gives an introduction to Cerebral Palsy, its types, proper positioning and carrying techniques and also techniques to develop gross motor skills.
Management of children with Deafblindness with Cerebral Palsy Part –II
Developing Fine Motor skills. This booklet gives step by step instruction of management of problems and developing fine motor skills and play skills of children with Cerebral Palsy and Deafblindness. The pictorial illustration in the booklet will help teachers to provide basic need based support to children having associated condition of Cerebral Palsy. The booklet gives information of activities that helps in developing fine motor skills and play.
Management of children with Deafblindness with Cerebral Palsy
Feeding, Oromotor Skills and Self- Care Skills Management of children with associated condition of Cerebral Palsy along with deafblindness is often perceived as a challenging task by many of the special educators and parents. This created the need to edify and update the skilled and valuable human resources about management of feeding, oromotor and self-care of children with Cerebral Palsy and deafblindness. The pictorial illustration in book will help families and teachers of children with deafblindness to provide basic need based support to children with deafblindness having the associated condition of Cerebral Palsy. Children with deafblindness and Cerebral Palsy may also have problems with oral motor control and feeding. They can be defensive to certain textures of food. Their other self - care skills can also be affected because of the combination of deafblindness and Cerebral Palsy. This booklet gives activities to improve self- help skills, feeding and also activities to reduce drooling. Since each child is different, the reader will have to modify the activities given based on individual child needs and skills even though the techniques remain the same. The major purpose of this book is to educate the reader.
A Comprehensive book on Individualized Education Programme (IEP) for Children with Deafblindness and Multi-Sensory Impairments
Creating and evaluating Individualised Education Programme (IEP) for students with deafblindness is a major responsibility for the multidisciplinary team that works with such children. As writing IEP can be a complex task for many special educators, this booklet was made as a guide to understand, develop and write effective IEP for a child with deafblindness. To make understanding of IEP easier, sample goals have been included in the IEP. IEP booklet is designed considering the unique educational needs of children with deafblindness and it can be useful resource for individuals who needs to work with children with deafblindness. The purpose behind developing this booklet is to support all special educators and families working with children with deafblindness to understand the importance of a systematically documented educational plan and its contribution to the overall development of the child with deafblindness.
Screening and Assessment Formats
This booklet is an attempt to help and support professionals, special educators, school teachers and development of CBR workers in screening, identification and functional assessment of children. This booklet can serve as a universal guide of formats which will be accessible to organizations and educators working in different parts of India. This booklet aims to provide basic but very crucial information related to screening and assessment formats.
Syndromes Associated with Deafblindness
The purpose of this book is to provide a text that will help medical professionals understand some of the major causes of deafblindness. This can help them in diagnosing, assessing and screening children with deafblindness. This booklet has been prepared to target medical professionals like paediatricians, neonatologists, general physicians, and referral doctors etc. to make them aware about deafblindness and syndrome associated with this unique condition. This booklet will help the medical professionals to associate the medical condition with the disability of the child. This will also help them to understand the problems and needs of the children and refer the children to appropriate educational or rehabilitation services.
Toilet Training
Toilet Training for children with Deafblindness and multi-sensory impairments. The booklet has been written to enable families, professionals and non-professionals to understand, how they can help their child with deafblindness in toilet training. The booklet is specially designed for teachers, who are giving services to children with deafblindness and MSI, their parents and caregivers, whose children are not getting any kind of special services and remain at home because of the lack of opportunity for formal training. Toilet training is very important area for a child to develop his independence and dignity and this will teach the child about the importance of staying hygienic, clean and dry. Toilet training requires intensive commitment of time and attention from those working with a child.
Incidental learning experiences
Incidental learning experiences with deafblind children in India. This booklet will help the professionals, parents, persons with deafblindness and all those people who are associated with persons with deafblindness to associate the incidental learning with the disability. This will help them to understand the situation more easily and face the incident without any panic and would be able to address the needs of that particular child at that particular time or situation. The major purpose of this booklet is to inculcate an understanding and mind set for self – learning and to provide alternative solutions to common situations and challenges. This book will provide a body of knowledge that will help educators, professionals, para-professionals, parents and also those people who are not very aware about deafblindness needs but are always willing to help and support them. This will help to understand the inherent needs and identify alternative options at a given situation that present themselves itself during an interaction with children or persons with deafblindness.
Resources teachers of Samagra Shiksha Assam,Tripura and Meghalaya received virtual training on teaching methodologies for students with deafblindness in inclusive education through State Level Trainings conducted by DbSCs.
medical and paramedical professionals of Meghalaya received basic training on deafblindness and characteristics
participants inclusive of special educators,CBR workers and other
rehabiliation
professionals from the Southern and Northeastern region received training on various topics associated with deafblindness.
engineers working on
accessible infrastructre of schools under Samagra Shiksha, Gujarat, got training on 'Accessibility for children with disabilities in mainstream schools' through DbRC-West.
candidates inclusive parents
and caregivers of persons with deafblindness special educators, CBR workers, therapists and other professionals got training through three months web education on deafblindness.
candidates inclusive parents, caregivers, educators,
therapists, and other
professionals received Web Education on Sign Language
905 families of persons with deafblindness were provided ration and medical kits during this quarter.Families have been under stressful situations after COVID-19 second phase fearing onfections and facing insecurity and financial constraints.
Smartphones distriuted to 62 service users from all the 5 regions to economically poor families.This helped families with children with deafblindness have access to online training and capacity building sessions which helped them to continue activities with their children based on their intervention plan.The distribution was done with the funding support from Kamal Uwdadia Foundation and Intel.
1) Once again, our written statementgot accepted and published at UN ECOSOC High Level Political Forum (HLPF).Detailed version is available at
https://www.un.org/ecosoc/sites/www.un.org.ecosoc/files/files/en/2021doc/2021-ECOSOC-HLS-Written-Statement-by-NGOS-in-ECOSOC-Consultative- Status.pdf
2) Two young adults and two parents of persons with deafblindness participated and shared their experiences in an event held on the side-lines of UN Conference of state Parties (COSP14) with theme of "Building back better, Impact of Covid on persons with deafblindnes in India" dated on 16tg June 2021. SenseIndia also highlighted COVID-19 survey results and challenges faced by persons with deafblindness in India.
3) A webinar was organized on 27th June, 'Helen Keller Day' on challenges of persons with deafblindness during COVID-19.Udaan network of adults with deafblindness used their social media status to show how proud they are of their differences and abilities.
4) Our Networks support officer, Shrutilata Singh was appointed as an Executive Committee member for Commonwealth of Children and Young people. A2-minute presentation was presented by her on Children and young people with Disabilities/MD.
5) 644 network members participated in regional, state and local networks and advocacy meetings held in states of Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Tripura, Assam,Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
6) Our Udaan network member, Asha Patwal from Dehradun was sponsored to attend and represent persons with deafblindness/ MD at United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) 2021 from 3-6 October, 2021 for winning their video contest. Shrutilata Singh, our Network support officer, also joined her for support.
The Nozer and Burjish Memorial Walk, Run & Cycling
event was born when two friends Nozer and Burjish left for their heavenly abode during second phase of COVID-19. To honor them and support the cause of deafblindness, their loved ones used our platform of 'Messenger on Cycle' for having a run / walk and cycling event on 26th September. They also created an endowment fund - 'The Nozer & Burjish Memorial Endowment Fund' for Children with Deafblindness
We thank 850 individuals who supported our work through their valuable
contribution in this quarter.