Hyderabad, Aug 11: Sense International India, the country’s only national organisation exclusively supporting persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, today inaugurated ‘Sparsh, Centre for Persons with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities’ in Hyderabad. Supported by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Sparsh is Hyderabad’s first dedicated centre offering comprehensive services for children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities.
The inauguration marks a significant milestone in Sense International India’s journey of expanding access to specialised care for one of India’s most underserved communities. Sparsh is the Sense International India’s seventh direct centre in the country, adding to a growing infrastructure of dedicated facilities that works in tandem with the organisation’s established centres in partnership with 72 organisations across 25 states, together reaching more than 84,000 children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. The two models are complementary, with Sense International India’s direct centres enabling comprehensive, integrated service delivery in regions where specialised deafblindness services remain scarce, while the partner network continues to extend the organisation’s reach across the country.
The new centre will provide a range of services under one roof, including screening and assessment, early intervention, special education, home-based intervention, vision and speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility training, and counselling for parents and caregivers. By bringing these services together, the centre aims to help children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities develop communication, mobility, learning and independent living skills while reducing the need for families to travel to multiple locations for support.
Speaking on the occasion, Uttam Kumar, CEO, Sense International India, said, “The inauguration of Sparsh marks an important milestone in Sense India’s journey to expand access to specialised services for persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities across the country. For nearly three decades, our network of 72 partner organisations across 25 states has enabled us to reach thousands of families across the country. Sparsh, our seventh direct centre, complements this strong partner network by providing comprehensive, integrated services in Hyderabad, ensuring that individuals with deafblindness and multiple disabilities receive specialised support closer to where they live. We are grateful to NPCI for their support in making this possible, and remain committed to ensuring that every individual with deafblindness has the opportunity to communicate, learn, live independently, and realise their full potential.”
The inauguration ceremony brought together representatives from the disability sector, government, corporate organisations, special educators, volunteers, and families of persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Guests toured the newly inaugurated facility and interacted with beneficiaries, caregivers, and professionals, reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening inclusive services and expanding access to quality care across the region.
With the opening of Sparsh, Sense India is expanding access to specialised services, ensuring that more children and adults with deafblindness and multiple disabilities can receive timely support closer to home.