Timeine test
Key advocacy moments
1994
Set up our work in India
Romania and Peru set up in 1999, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2003, Bangladesh in 2008 and Nepal in 2017.
1999
First accredited teacher training programme for deafblindness in India
2005
Pioneering programme in Romania to identify children with deafblindness as early as possible through sensory screening in maternity wards and specialised early intervention centres supporting those families.
2007
Romanian Government recognised deafblindness as a distinct disability categorising it as one of the most ‘severe’ disabilities, for which support should be made available. The Peru government followed in 2010, India (2017), Nepal (2021), Bangladesh (2022). We are still waiting for the East Africa government to pass the same recognition.
2018
Learning Support Assistants model for inclusive education and inclusive curriculum is adopted by Tanzanian Government and the importance of this support for children with disabilities.
2018
Groundbreaking research into the prevalence of deafblindness launched with support from Sense International – there was very little literature prior to this. Key stat; Persons with deafblindness make up 0.2% to 2% of the population (150m people globally) and are one of the most marginalised and excluded groups. Second report in 2023.
2019
The government finally began vaccinating children against rubella, a major cause of deafblindness.
The Ministry of Health reached 18m children, representing almost all those in the target age-group.
2019
First ID card mentioning ‘Deafblindness’ as Unique disability.
Normally Disability ID cards will mention ‘multiple disability’ but rarely deafblindness as it is little understood.
2020
Class teachers and support workers for newly-established deafblind classes now funded by the Nepalese government due to our influence
2023
Asha and Shruti, both women with deafblindness, from our India programmes attended the UN World Data Forum in Bern, Switzerland to advocate for better data on deafblindness and accessibility for all.
2023
Inclusion of early screening and intervention into Kenya Health programming through roll out of Occupational Therapists.
2023
Second Global Report on Deafblindness launched
2024
Development of the National Eye Health Strategic Plan in Tanzania including occupational heatlh therapists across all regions to support early identification of deafblindness
2024
‘First Steps’ a guide to supporting parents of children with deafblindness launched in Romania