Digital resource hub to provide access to information and learning for people with deafblindness
National disability charity Sense International is launching a groundbreaking digital platform designed to empower people with deafblindness worldwide by providing vital information and resources online.
The Global Deafblindness Resource Hub brings together resources from the eight countries and four continents where Sense International works, creating an accessible, user-friendly space for access to information and learning for people with deafblindness, their families and communities. The platform connects users with wider local services and networks.
Sense International will officially launch its Global Deafblindness Resource Hub today (Tuesday 25 February 2025) at the Google Accessibility Discovery Centre in King’s Cross, London.
The event will include a panel of experts from organisations including Sense International, Google, BBC, The Valuable 500 and the World Federation of the Deafblind. The Hub is supported with funding from Nelumbo Siftung.
Deafblindness is a combination of both hearing and vision impairments that significantly affect communication, mobility, and access to information. Yet, much of the digital world remains inaccessible to them. This new platform aims to bridge that gap, ensuring more inclusive online access for millions with disabilities.
Training videos on the hub equip parents in rural communities with the knowledge to guide children with deafblindness, while providing sensory stimulation activities, enabling the user to engage in development exercises with the assistance from parents, carers, and siblings.
These digital tools play a crucial role in development and progress, offering interactive resources for communication, daily living skills (getting dressed, eating and nutrition), and mobility tactics for getting around the house both inside and outside, all accessible from the home.
The integration of technology can significantly expand the possibilities for learning and growth outside of traditional therapy settings.
Teachers and learning support assistants can also use the hub as part of ongoing learning, using the teaching guides, learning through play activities and classroom toolkits to enhance the learning experience.
Kavita Prasad, Director of Sense International, said: “The online world is a powerful place to connect and learn but sadly, it remains inaccessible for many, failing to accommodate diverse needs compounded by a significant digital skills gap.
“The Global Deafblindness Resource Hub is our way of bridging that divide—offering a platform where people with deafblindness and other complex disabilities, from South Asia to South America, can find relevant, accessible information in formats they can use.
“We hope this marks the beginning of a more inclusive, user-friendly digital space for the millions with deafblindness, as well as their carers, families, and support networks.”
RNIB Northern Ireland’s RNIB Technology Fair 2025 will take place on Wednesday 26 February 2025.