Educating India’s deaf-blind, their caregivers, on sex and sexuality

Sex education is still seen as taboo in India, and more so when the intended audience comprises people with disabilities. Nonetheless, this is exactly what a group of experts is trying to change.

With the theme ‘Understanding Sexuality, Sexual & Reproductive Health for people with deafblindness’, a national-level workshop began here on Monday, where a group of experts imparted education about sex and sexuality to 24 deaf-blind people, their parents and caregivers. Sense India, which works for the deaf-blind, has organised the workshop for understanding sexuality, sexual and reproductive health of adults suffering from deaf-blindness.

“Sex and sexuality of children and adults with deaf-blindness are sensitive issues, and challenging for parents and teachers. It is difficult for the deaf-blind to understand their bodily changes due to lack of information. This workshop is to help them understand their body orientation and changes over the time,” Uttam Kumar, head of programmes at Sense India, said.

According to Sense India, there are 5 lakh deaf-blind in India. These are people who are deaf and also blind. Many of them are also unable to speak. The organisation is working with 77,000 deaf-blind at present. In Gujarat, the number of deaf-blind is estimated at 15,000, of which it is working with about 200 people. Once the workshop is over, the training would be continued by Sense India’s partner organisations.

Sense India’s Deepak Sharma said that for people with deaf-blindness, it is not easy to communicate, which could increase chances of social, emotional and sexual abuse, thereby making sex education important.

Kumar said that through the workshop, special educators will be able to understand the need of sex education for various age groups of persons with deaf-blindness.