Sense International - Supporting people with deafblindness - Sense International

Supporting people with deafblindness to live, learn and thrive.

Find out more about out impact

*Deafblindness: a multisensory disability that involves a combination of sight and hearing impairments, leading to difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility

Learn more about deafblindness

Everyone deserves to be connected and included. But every day, people with deafblindness are being left behind at an alarming rate

People with deafblindness across the world face barriers to education, healthcare, employment and community:

Children with deafblindness are 17 times less likely to be in school than children without disabilities, and twice less likely compared to children with other types of disabilities.^*2023 WFDB

People with deafblindness are 10 times less likely to be employed than peers without disabilities, and 30% less likely than others with disabilities.^*2023 WFDB

38% of the world’s newborns and infants had no or minimal hearing screening, with coverage rates below 1% in some countries.* ^{2022 National Library of Medicine.}

Sense International is the only organisation dedicated to supporting people with deafblindness and their families. Across the 8 countries we work in, our programmes bring hope to families with nowhere else to turn, enable children to learn alongside friends, and work with local communities to break down barriers allowing every individual to thrive.

We can’t build a better world alone. Become a changemaker today and help us to be there, no matter what.

Who We Are

Two young Kenyan girls wearing bright red t-shirts cups their heads to their ears, showing off their hearing aids.

About Sense International

Sense International is the only international non-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting people with deafblindness and their families around the world.

A close up of very young Tanzanian baby who is having a hearing probe inserted into her ear

What we do

Our work focuses on ensuring that people with deafblindness are able to access education, healthcare and the means to earn a living, so that they can thrive and live life to their full potential.

Two young

Where we work

Sense International has programmes across eight countries and four continents, in places where services are limited for people with deafblindness.

A large group of around 30 Romanian young adults in colourful clothing standing on the stairs of a museum.

Advocacy and research

Sense International is working to create long term change by partnering with local and international organisations to change the way people understand and make provisions for deafblindness.

Sense International’s impact 2024-2025

Deafblindness screening 70,887 children

screened for deafblindness ensuring we reach children as soon as possible. 967 children received early intervention therapy and support.

Fundraising £3.1million was raised

by amazing supporters like you.

Training 9,178 people

were trained to support people with deafblindness, including parents, teachers and health workers.

Advocacy and research 100,000 people

trained to better support people with deafblindness.

Find out more about our impact

Support Sense International

A team of supporters on the route of the London Marathon.

Fundraising events

Fundraise for Sense International by running, walking, trekking, cycling or just fun on an obstacle course. Every penny you raise will help people with complex disabilities live life to the full.

In a bright blue playroom full of colourful toys, parents engage with their young babies

Trusts and foundations

Trusts and foundations are key partners in our work to support children and young people with deafblindness around the world to live, learn and thrive.

Three Nepali school children wearing blue shirts and ties smile with their arms around one another

Philanthropy

At Sense International we build mutually beneficial, long-term partnerships with philanthropists who believe in a world where every person with deafblindness can live, learn and thrive.

A group of people standing in front of a mountain range and holding a Sense International banner.

Corporate support

People with deafblindness often face significant barriers to communication, education, employment, and inclusivity. Your company’s support can break down these barriers.

The Global Deafblindness Resource Hub

A young child with very short hair wearing a schooldress smiles and laughs with her teaching assistant as they interact with a table with a Sense International sticker on the back

The Global Deafblindness Resource Hub is a platform built by Sense International to bridge the digital accessibility gap for people living with deafblindness globally.