Recognizing the special needs of disabled people in Banke district, RHERI has been operating the only school for deaf children in the district since 1999. The Banke Deaf School provides free education to 65 pupils (25 girls, 40 boys) from Class One to Class Five. The school also organizes special regional events and activities, such as athletic competitions and cultural festivals, for hundreds of disabled children from the mid-west region. In addition to field-level programs, RHERI is actively involved in advocacy work for the rights and needs of disabled people, as well as sensitizing the community to the challenges they face.