SEDB Concept Note

Organizational Overview

The Society for the Empowerment of the Deaf-Blind (SEDB) is a grassroots organization founded and led by persons with deafblindness, including a strong deaf team. We work to empower individuals with deafblindness in India through education, skill training, assistive technologies, employment opportunities, and advocacy for rights.

The Challenge

Deafblind adults in India face multiple barriers: – No access to interpreters: Communication requires tactile sign language, but professional interpreters are costly and unavailable in most programs. – Unemployment crisis: The majority of deafblind adults remain jobless due to lack of training and workplace accessibility. – Educational exclusion: Few institutions provide inclusive training for deafblind learners. – Assistive technologies such as Orbit Readers and braille devices are essential, but unaffordable for most families. – Accommodation barriers: Deafblind trainees from across India cannot always afford to stay in Mumbai, Pune, or Nashik for training. Importantly, while the number of persons with congenital deafblindness in India is relatively small, many more individuals become deafblind later in life. This includes deaf adults who gradually lose vision (for example, due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, diabetes, or age-related conditions), as well as blind persons who lose hearing later due to accidents, illness, or trauma. These groups are often excluded from mainstream disability services, and SEDB is committed to reaching them as well.

Our Mission

To create an inclusive society where deafblind individuals and the deaf community are empowered through:

  • Accessible Education – literacy, communication, and training programs.
  • Skill Development & Employment – digital literacy, vocational training, and job placement.
  • Assistive Technologies – access to Orbit Readers, braille devices, and screen readers.
  • Communication Access – provision of tactile sign language interpreters.
  • Advocacy & Rights – advancing disability inclusion under the RPWD Act, 2016, and UNCRPD.

Current Programs

  • Training Centre started in Mumbai in 2025 (AYJNISHD, Bandra West).
  • Future expansion planned to Pune and Nashik.
  • Skill Development Modules – vocational, computer, and communication skills.
  • Assistive Device Access – training in use of Orbit Readers, braille devices, accessible smartphones.
  • Employment Pathways – preparing deafblind adults for independent jobs.

 

Proposed Project (2025–26)

Title: Comprehensive Empowerment of Deafblind Adults through Education, Skill Development, Assistive Technologies, and Livelihood Pathways.

Objectives:

  1. Provide education and skill training for 10–20 deaf and deafblind students coming from across India, starting in Mumbai in 2025, then expand to Pune (same centre) and later to Nashik.
  2. Employ tactile sign language interpreters to ensure effective communication and learning.
  3. Provide assistive technology devices (Orbit Readers, braille kits, software) to 60 trainees.
  4. Establish residential hostels in Mumbai or Pune or Nashik with accommodation for both men and women, including food, clothing, and personal support.
  5. Support staff salaries (trainers, interpreters, caregivers, program coordinators) who directly assist deafblind trainees.
  6. Provide raw materials and resources for trainees to produce products that can be sold at exhibitions, malls, and public spaces, building skills and sustainable income.
  7. Create employment linkages with inclusive corporates and self-employment pathways.

Funding Requirement

SEDB seeks CSR and philanthropic support for:

  • Training delivery (faculty, curriculum, interpreters).
  • Assistive devices (Orbit Readers, braille displays, software).
  • Residential accommodation & hostels for trainees with food, clothing, and basic needs.
  • Staff salaries for trainers, interpreters, caregivers, and coordinators.
  • Raw materials for product-making and exhibition participation.
  • Employment placement & advocacy programs.

Expected Outcomes

  • 100 deafblind adults annually trained in literacy, vocational, and digital skills.
  • Tactile sign interpreters ensure quality learning and communication access.
  • 60 deafblind adults equipped with assistive devices for independent learning.
  • Safe hostel facilities with food and clothing, enabling participation of trainees from across India.
  • Trainees producing and selling products in exhibitions, malls, and public spaces, contributing to self-reliance.
  • At least 30% of trainees placed in jobs or self-employment within one year.
  • Increased awareness and advocacy for the rights of deafblind adults, including those who become deafblind later in life.

Why Partner with SEDB

  • Led by persons with deafblindness, ensuring authentic representation. – Grassroots presence in Maharashtra with potential to scale nationally.
  • Comprehensive program addressing education, livelihood, assistive tech, accommodation, and advocacy.
  • Inclusive approach: reaching congenital deafblind individuals, deaf persons who later lose vision, and blind persons who later lose hearing.
  • Strong alignment with CSR focus areas: education, livelihood, healthcare, inclusion.

Contact:

Zamir Dhale Founder & Project Director
Society for the Empowerment of the Deaf-Blind (SEDB)
Email: zamir@sedbindia.org   WhatsApp: +91 99987 51125