28th June, 2025: In a significant global step forward, Sense International, along with Sense International India and partners worldwide, has launched the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub (GRH) — a first-of-its-kind multilingual platform offering comprehensive, accessible, and practical knowledge on deafblindness, made possible with the support of the Nelumbo Foundation. The launch marks a historic moment, aligning with the first-ever International Day of Deafblindness declared by the United Nations and celebrated globally today, on Helen Keller’s birth anniversary.

With more than 15 million people worldwide living with deafblindness and thousands more impacted indirectly, the GRH responds to a long-standing gap in accessible, reliable information. Until now, resources on deafblindness have been scattered, inconsistent, and difficult to access for those who need them most.

The virtual launch, held today from 3:00 to 4:00 PM IST, brought together global experts, individuals with deafblindness, caregivers, and advocates to introduce the platform to a wider audience. The event featured a live demonstration of hub’s accessible design and multilingual features, followed by a panel discussion on the theme “Bridging the Information Gap: Accessibility, Inclusion, and the Right to Know.” Voices from the community highlighted the need for inclusive, user-led platforms — and the event closed with an open invitation for collaborators and contributors to continue strengthening and expanding the Hub globally.

“The launch of the Global Resource Hub marks a defining moment not just for India, but for the world. For far too long, accessible and practical information on deafblindness has been fragmented or out of reach. This Hub bridges that gap by offering a one-stop, multilingual platform designed for families, educators, professionals and policymakers alike. Unveiling it on the first-ever International Day of Deafblindness makes the moment even more meaningful as it’s a global tribute to the resilience, rights and dignity of deafblind community, their carers and those working with them.” said Uttam Kumar, CEO of Sense International India.

The Global Deafblindness Resource Hub is more than just a website; it’s a practical and inclusive platform designed to support persons with deafblindness, their families and professionals, through accessible, community-informed knowledge. Key features include:

One-Stop Platform: A unified space combining training materials, research, toolkits, real-life stories, and practical resources — curated for clarity, usability, and relevance..

Multilingual Accessibility: Launched in English and Hindi, Spanish, Bengali, Nepali, Romanian, and Swahili, with plans underway to include more regional Indian languages and global translations to ensure wider reach.

Built for All Stakeholders: Whether you’re a parent, special educator, healthcare provider, policy-maker, or community worker the platform offers resources designed with your context in mind.

A Global, Evolving Collaboration: The Hub is not static — it’s an open and evolving space inviting experts, practitioners, and organisations worldwide to contribute, and shape its future..

The United Nations officially adopted the resolution to observe 27 June as the International Day of Deafblindness just this month — co-sponsored by 99 nations. This global recognition is a milestone for a community that has long remained unseen and underserved.