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Advocacy and Support
National networks
Communication has emerged to be the strongest driving force for human being in this century. The world is coming closer and closer with the advent of many new technologies every day. And suddenly we are finding ourselves in the midst of a new mantra – ‘Networking’. True to the essence of deafblindness, where communication is given maximum importance, networking among all people involved in the field, has grown to be a vital need of the field.
Over the last few years, there has been a concentrated effort to meet with each other – teachers, practitioners, grassroots level workers, professionals, family members of deafblind people and all related to deafblind people of the country. The first such attempt was made in the first National Experts Meeting organised by Sense International (India) in 1998. During which, the participants realised the need to develop the field of deafblindness and everyone came together and pooled-in available information, expertise and visions.
In February 2002, during the 2nd National Experts Meeting, many national resource persons came together and a further tangible shape was given to this need. It was unanimously felt that a formal network of Teachers / Family and Deafblind people, be formed in the country.
With the support of Sense International (India), “The National Networks of Families and Teachers of Deafblind People” have been officially registered under the Societies Registration Act and the Bombay Public Trust Act. The network members have chosen different names for their networks; “Abhi - Prerna” - for the Teachers Network, “Prayas”- for Family Network and “Udaan” for Network of persons with Deafblindness / Multi Sensory Impairment.
The objective to establish Teacher’s Network has been to begin as local or regional bodies from different parts of the country with representation to a National Network. The ultimate goal of teacher’s network is to get together and form a network to share experiences. These networks will enable teachers to gain newer skills and plan a better future for deafblind people. The network will be a source of peer support, encouragement, motivation and professional recognition.
For most of us, the family is the constant thread in our lives. Parents and family members play a central role in the lives of all children - especially those who are deafblind. In two occasions, September 1998 and February 2002, parents of deafblind children had come together on a national platform to meet each other and share their experiences and concerns. The group particularly concluded with a resolution that a national level Family Network needs to be developed in the country for parents and family members of deafblind persons. The Family Network will have the specific objectives of sharing own struggles and achievements in coping with a deafblind member within the family, to help other family members in adjusting and accommodating to the needs of a deafblind member within the family, to share information on places and practices that has worked for them in helping to provide support to the deafblind member and to identify means for lobbying and more services for deafblind people.
Networking and information sharing is an essential tool in the development of sustainable services for deafblind people. Deafblindness is a complex disability and the needs of deafblind people are complicated and varied, making the sharing of information vital. When people sharing a common problem or in a similar situation come together, it gives them a lot of hope and they start feeling that they are not alone in the prevailing situation. The ultimate goal of the Deafblind People’s Network is to establish a strong and supportive deafblind people’s national network that will enable people with acquired deafblindness to gain more control over their lives and to participate in their communities. This network will give them identification and an opportunity to raise their voices. The network formed would be a result of the efforts of Sense International (India) in screening and identifying adult Deafblind persons in India with the support of organisation’s working with deaf, blind and persons with mental retardation.
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