Background of the ENADB

The Ethiopian National Association of the Deafblind (ENADB) was established in 2006 in Addis Ababa. At the time, awarness about deaf blind was very limited, and the founders of ENADB faced formidable challenges. among the obstacles were the very low educational oportunities, lack of resources and experties for people with deaf blindness, negative attitudes and misconception in the society, low self-esteem among individuals with the disability and they were isolated.

Achievements of ENADB

ENADB is Ethiopia’s first and only national organization focused on supporting people with both hearing and visual impairments. Since 2006, it has led the effort to ensure deafblindness is recognized as a distinct disability with its own needs and rights.

The association plays a strong role in national disability advocacy through its work with FEAPD, while also empowering deafblind individuals and their families through life-skills training, communication support, and mobility education. ENADB promotes inclusive education by partnering with schools and community centers to improve early learning opportunities for deafblind children.

Across its seven branches, ENADB distributes essential assistive tools such as Braille kits, wheelchairs, canes, and hygiene supplies. The organization also raises public awareness through events like Helen Keller Day and various stakeholder workshops.

With active collaborations both locally and internationally, ENADB continues to run major development projects, including its current nationwide capacity-building program funded by the Abilis Foundation.

Goal and Objectives

• Deafblind members have been supported through school and even graduated from university
• National awareness of deafblind issues has grown significantly
• Recognized as a unique service provider when no other organization was offering full support to the deafblind community in Ethiopia

ENADB Profile

The Ethiopian National Association of the Deafblind (ENADB) is a legally registered national association dedicated to supporting Ethiopians with dual sensory impairments — deafblindness. Established in 2006 in Addis Ababa by six pioneering individuals with deafblindness, ENADB was re-registered in accordance with the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Proclamation No. 1113/2019.

Vision

ENADB wants to create a society where all deafblind individuals in Ethiopia live with dignity, have equal opportunities, and actively participate in social, economic, and cultural life.

Who we are

ENADB is governed by a Board of Directors and an Executive Director, who is a deafblind woman and leads the organization’s staff under the oversight of the Board. ENADB is the only national association representing persons with deafblindness in Ethiopia and currently has more than 400 identified deafblind members. It is widely believed that many more deafblind individuals across the country remain unidentified and unregistered as members of the Association.

The primary goal of establishing ENADB is to empower persons with deafblindness and their families, and to promote their full inclusion and meaningful participation in society, enabling them to live independent, dignified, and fulfilling lives.