SRHR equity for youth with deafblindness

The problem being addressed is the multiple barriers faced by youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, resulting in the oversight of their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs due to their disabilities. Our solution focuses on empowering these youth to overcome these barriers and enhance their SRHR outcomes through inclusive dialogue, workshops, and comprehensive support.

This solution aims to address the specific needs of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, who are often marginalized and underserved when it comes to SRHR education and support. Through a combination of workshops, accessible resources, safe dialogues, community outreach, and capacity building, it seeks to empower this vulnerable group with the necessary knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Target Location: Goa, India

Activities as below:

• Empowerment Workshops: Organize a series of empowering workshops designed to enhance SRHR, tailored to address the specific challenges of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. These workshops will feature interactive sessions, expert insights, and peer-to-peer discussions, fostering an atmosphere of mutual learning and support. The curriculum for each workshop will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to Reproductive systems, contraception, consent, STIs, gender equality, and effective communication skills. 
• Resource Development: Create accessible educational materials, including braille documents, sign language resources, and easy-to-read information on SRHR.
• Barrier-Busting Dialogues: Establish a safe and inclusive offline forum where young individuals with deafblindness and multiple disabilities can openly share their experiences and collaboratively identify the obstacles they encounter when seeking SRHR services and information. This platform encourages active engagement and participation by youth with disabilities.
• Community Outreach: Engage with deafblind and multiple disability youth in Goa through disability support organizations, schools, and community networks to ensure a wide-reaching impact.
• Educator and Caregiver Capacity Building: Collaborate with SRH experts to offer specialized training sessions for young special educators, parents, and caregivers of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. These sessions empower them with the knowledge and skills required to guide and support youth in making informed decisions concerning their sexual and reproductive health.

Direct Benefits:

Youths with Deafblindness (around 41): These individuals directly benefit from the solution by gaining access to the necessary tools, knowledge, and support to lead healthier lives in the realm of sexual and reproductive health (SRHR). This empowers them to make informed decisions about their own SRHR and enhances their overall well-being. 

Young Parents Having Children with Disabilities (around 100): These young parents benefit from the solution by gaining knowledge and support to better understand and address the SRHR needs of their children with disabilities. This, in turn, contributes to the overall well-being and safety of their children.

Educators (18): The solution directly benefits educators by providing them with the training and capacity-building needed to support people with disabilities, particularly those with deafblindness, in understanding SRHR. This empowers them to be better equipped to educate and guide their students in this crucial aspect of life.

Indirect Benefits:

Goa State in India: The solution's indirect impact on the entire state of Goa involves raising awareness and promoting a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities. This can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society where the rights and needs of people with disabilities are better recognized and addressed.

In summary, this solution has a multi-faceted approach, with direct benefits for youths with deafblindness, young parents with children with disabilities, and educators, while also indirectly contributing to the overall well-being of people with disabilities in the state of Goa, which is easily replicable and a scalable model. It aims to empower and educate, not only individuals with disabilities but also those who support and care for them.

Experience in Disability Services: Sense India's over two-decade experience in addressing the unique needs of individuals with deafblindness and multiple disabilities positions us as a highly specialized and effective organization. Our expertise, established networks, proven approaches, advocacy efforts, trust, and resource mobilization capabilities make us a key player in promoting the holistic development of this underserved population in India.

Expertise in SRHR: Our team lead is the Senior Specialist of the SRHR program with professional expertise in sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as knowledge of the specific needs and challenges of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities.

Deafblind Expert: One of our team members is a young adult with deafblindness who serves as our Advocacy Lead and is part of this solution. Her invaluable contributions and lived experience bring a unique perspective to our organization's mission, reinforcing our commitment to promoting inclusivity and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities especially youth with deafblindness.

Partnerships with Disability Organizations: Collaborating with more than 60+ organizations in India that work with individuals with disabilities helps in reaching the target audience effectively.

Trained Staff: Our team including facilitators, moderators, and educators, are well-trained in inclusive communication techniques and have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by youth with deafblindness.

Understanding of Cultural and Regional Specifics: A good understanding of the local culture and the specific needs of the youth in Goa is essential for tailoring the program effectively and our

Strong Community Connections: Building relationships within the community is crucial for successful outreach and engagement with the target audience, Sense India through its partner organization has a strong connection in Goa for the implementation of this solution.

Being well-positioned to deliver this solution we have a combination of expertise, resources, partnerships, and a strong commitment to the well-being and empowerment of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities in the context of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

During the five regional training sessions, a combined total of 95 girls with disabilities who are 10 years of age or older, were in attendance. Additionally, there were 51 female interpreters providing their services.

Furthermore, 146 adults with deafblindness or multiple disabilities attended these sessions, with 51 of them being female and 95 male. They were accompanied by 60 interpreters, consisting of 38 females and 22 males.

Special educators were also present, with a total of 75 participants, and 83 parents actively participated in these training sessions.

The proposed solution for empowering youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities on their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) journey is innovative for several reasons:

Tailored Approach: This project is tailored to the unique needs of a highly marginalized and often underserved group – youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. It recognizes that a one-size-fits-all approach to SRHR education and support does not work for this specific population, and therefore, it customizes its activities to address their specific challenges.

Inclusivity: The "Barrier-Busting Dialogues" aspect of the project establishes an inclusive forum where these youth can openly share their experiences and actively participate in identifying barriers. This empowers them to take ownership of their SRHR journey, breaking away from the traditional top-down approach.

Accessibility: The creation of accessible educational materials in braille, sign language, and easy-to-read formats ensures that information is available in multiple formats to accommodate diverse learning needs.

Peer-to-Peer Learning: The project promotes peer-to-peer discussions, fostering a supportive environment for youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities. Learning from peers who face similar challenges can be highly effective in creating a sense of belonging and empowerment.

Community Engagement: By engaging with disability support organizations, communities, and networks, the project takes a holistic approach to reach its target audience. This is a departure from isolated efforts and ensures that a wider community is aware and involved in supporting these youths.

Educator and Caregiver Training: The project acknowledges the critical role that educators, parents, and caregivers play in the lives of these youth. Offering specialized training for these individuals, it strengthens the support system and ensures a more comprehensive approach to SRHR education and guidance.

Expert Collaboration: Our in-house Sexual and Reproductive Health experts ensure that the project's content is evidence-based and up-to-date, providing the most accurate and relevant information.

Overall, the innovative nature of this solution lies in its holistic, inclusive, and tailored approach to addressing the SRHR needs of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, empowering them to make informed decisions and lead more independent lives.

Impact Goals for the Next Year:

Awareness and Participation (Year 1):

• Attract a minimum of 200 youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities to actively participate in empowerment workshops and barrier-busting dialogues.
• Achieve a 50% increase in the utilization of accessible SRHR materials among the target audience within the first year.

Impact Goals for the Next Five Years: 

Empowerment and Knowledge (Years 1-5):

• Increase the SRHR knowledge and decision-making capacity of at least 70% of participating youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities over the five-year period, reaching out to at least 10 states in India.
• Facilitate at least 80% of these individuals to actively participate in making informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health.

Community Integration (Years 1-5):

• Collaborate with organizations, and community networks to engage at least 500 additional individuals (including peers, educators, and caregivers) in understanding and supporting the SRHR journey of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities over the five-year span.
• Reduce stigma and barriers for these youth within the broader community by at least 30% over the five years.

Long-term Self-Advocacy (Years 3-5):

• Equip at least 60% of participating youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities with self-advocacy skills by the end of year five, enabling them to actively demand their SRHR rights and access to services.
• Train a minimum of 200 local educators and caregivers to ensure the continuity of SRHR support for youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities beyond the project's initial five-year duration.

Sustainability (Year 5):

By setting clear, measurable impact goals and implementing well-defined strategies, organizations and initiatives we can work towards achieving meaningful and transformational impacts aligned with the UN SDGs, especially in areas related to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Our solution aims to address the specific needs of youth with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, who are often marginalized and underserved when it comes to SRHR education and support. Here's how and why we expect our solution to have an impact on the problem:

How: 

Customized Learning: We provide tailored workshops and materials that address the specific challenges these young individuals face. By learning in ways that suit their unique needs, they gain a better understanding of SRHR.

Peer Support: We create a friendly environment where they can talk to others who face similar issues. Sharing experiences and solutions helps them feel more confident and informed.

Accessible Information: We make sure the information about SRHR is easy to understand by offering materials in braille, sign language, and simple language. This makes learning accessible to everyone.

Community Involvement: We involve organizations and communities to help create a supportive atmosphere. This reduces prejudice and barriers and encourages understanding.

Empowering Educators and Caregivers: By training young teachers, parents, and caregivers, we ensure they have the knowledge and skills to guide and support these young people.

Why: 

Empowerment: When young individuals with deafblindness and multiple disabilities understand their SRHR, they can make informed choices, protect themselves from potential risk and take control of their lives.

Inclusivity: By involving the community and educators, we build a support network that makes these young youth feel valued and included, reducing isolation and stigma.

Long-term Benefits: Equipping educators and caregivers ensures that support for these young people continues even after the project ends. 

Fulfilling Rights: Access to SRHR is a basic human right, and our solution helps these youth exercise that right, leading to better overall well-being.

In simple terms, our solution customizes learning, fosters peer support, provides accessible information, engages the community, and empowers educators and caregivers. By doing this, we expect to positively impact the lives of young people with deafblindness and multiple disabilities, helping them make informed choices about their SRHR and lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

We are 5 young adults in the age group of 18-35 years working on this solution, details are as follows:

• Vruddhi Patel: Team Lead - Senior specialist-SRHR, age 28 years
• Rashmikant Mishra: Lead trainer-capacity building, age 32 years
• Shrutilata Singh: Senior specialist- Network support, age 30 years
• Omita Ningombam: Sign language Interpreter, age 27 years
• Tanmita Dutta: Specialist- Capacity building, age 28 years

While our team had identified the need many years back, we actually began the research work a year back and conducted regional training in less than a year. We are now fully equipped to implement the solution with various groups and geographies covering youth with deafblindness. 

Sense India's approach to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into its work is characterized by a commitment to fostering a welcoming and balanced environment.

With a staff of 41 members, our emphasis on gender equality is evident, as we maintain an almost equal representation of 22 females and 19 males. Moreover, our focus on cultivating a younger generation of talent by having 22 staff members within the age group of 18-35 reflects a forward-looking approach.

The organization has proudly employed an adult with deafblindness. Notably, she assumes the role of Advocacy Lead within the organization, underlining Sense India's commitment to providing opportunities and leadership positions for those with unique abilities and experiences.

By continuously reviewing and updating policies, encouraging open dialogue, and promoting cultural awareness, Sense India creates an inclusive workplace where all voices are valued. Our dedication to recruiting a diverse team ensures that a range of experiences and perspectives is brought to bear on their mission, ultimately enhancing their ability to serve and support marginalized communities. This proactive commitment to diversity and inclusivity is integral to Sense India's ongoing efforts to create positive and impactful change.