The Centre for Disability in Development

About CDD

The Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) is a not for profit organisation established in 1996 to develop a more inclusive society for people living with a disability in Bangladesh.  CDD works to improve the environment by educating the wider community on how to be more inclusive to those living with disabilities as well as working with people with disabilities to provide them with essential support to participate in society.

CDD works in partnership with a network of over 350 organisations both nationally and internationally.

How DCW and CDD work together 

We have worked together from January 2014 on a project that aimed to remove social barriers that prevent deaf children and youths participating in their communities as well as focusing on early year interventions for deaf children. Three Early Childhood Development Centres (EDCs) were set up providing support for families of deaf children including education on deaf awareness, teaching language and communication skills and providing help for deaf families to understand their rights and access to services.

The project has continued on with three long-term objectives

• Increase enrolment and retention of deaf children at mainstream schools (primary and secondary) in Dhaka, Jhenaidah, Chittagong and Nilphamari  districts
• Improve communication between deaf children, deaf young people and their families, peers and their communities
• Work with deaf children, young people and parents of deaf children to advocate for and demand equal rights and access to services for deaf communities

Mosabbir Hussain is a graphic designer at a big manufacturing company, Urmi Group in Bangladesh, he says

“It’s only through the partnership with CDD and DCW that I was made aware of the deaf club and initiatives from other organisations that opened doors for me.  I have had the opportunity for training and work placements that have lead me into my career as a graphic designer."