Caritas Goa and partners call for better screening, inclusive infrastructure, and legal support
PANAJI
Caritas Goa, in partnership with Sense International India, the Kamal Udwadia Foundation, and the Kamal India Foundation UK, organised the Goa State-level Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Meet for persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities.
The event brought together 110 participants, including parents, caregivers, medical professionals, educators, government officials, and disability rights advocates. They discussed the theme ‘Advancing Systems and Services for Persons with Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities’, focusing on early screening, inclusive infrastructure, legal guardianship, supported living, higher education, and skill development.
Chief Guest Varsha Naik, Director of the Department for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, stressed the need for awareness and sensitisation. Avelino D’Sa, Founder of DRAG, launched the ‘Freedom from Physical Inaccessibility’ mobile app to help citizens identify and overcome accessibility barriers in public spaces.
Caritas Goa Director Fr Maverick Fernandes welcomed the participants and reflected on the milestones of the Caritas Deafblind Programme in Goa since 2012. He also shared a proposed framework for a Goa State Policy on Deafblindness and Multiple Disabilities, focusing on employment, healthcare, education, accessibility, and monitoring mechanisms.
Medical experts at the meet recommended mandatory newborn screening, mobile diagnostic units, and awareness drives on preventable causes of blindness and hearing loss. Participants also highlighted the need for sustainable, community-based residential care for adults with deafblindness, especially those without family support. Stakeholders discussed guardianship procedures, the Niramaya Health Insurance scheme, and provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
Speakers called for accessible public transport, ferries, and tourism facilities across Goa. Discussions also focused on inclusive education, transition planning, entrepreneurship, and skill training to prepare youth for independent living. During an open dialogue, parents and professionals shared real-life experiences and offered key recommendations—such as simplifying certification processes and increasing financial support.
The meet ended with a collective call to finalise and implement the Goa State Policy on Deafblindness, expand training for healthcare workers, educators, and guardianship facilitators, strengthen parent networks for ongoing consultation, and push for accessibility reforms in transport and public spaces.
In his closing remarks, Fr Fernandes said, “This meet is a reminder that advocacy must go hand in hand with action. Together with families, professionals, and policymakers, we are building a Goa where persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities can live with dignity and independence.” Caritas Goa and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to building inclusive systems, amplifying family voices, and ensuring that persons with deafblindness are not left behind in Goa’s development journey.
