Help Educate 500 Deafblind Children in India

Youngest among four siblings, 7 years old Sabina (Name changed) from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh never went to school as neighbourhood children of her age. Sabina was born with deafblindness, though her parent’s do not know the exact cause of disability. They noticed something was not right with her at the age of 1 year. Sabina has been diagnosed with low vision and mild hearing impairment. As a result of her disability, Sabina’s parents were unable to enrol her in any school and she remained at home, which restricted the opportunity to explore and learn.

It was during a survey by Sense India’s partner organisations team Sabina was identified and enrolled under the project in February 2019. Since she never went to school her understanding in terms of the concept of numbers, alphabets and socialization were not much developed. Post clinical vision and hearing assessment Sabina was provided spectacles. After a year of work with her, Sabina is now able to read alphabets when enlarged. Her Special Educator focused to make her independent in activities of daily living and in orientation and mobility. With support from the project team, Sabina’s parents dream to get her enrolled in a regular school got fulfiled. She has been enrolled in a government school near their house. She is following 1st-grade curriculum currently. The project team has guided parents in making disability certificate for Sabina to avail train concession certificate.

“My daughter now walks on her own from home to school and comes. She identifies her own things and I’m very happy to see her progress”, says Sabina’s mother.

• Marching Ahead (PDF)