IDE has three focuses: emergency, development and reconstruction, and human rights.

Emergency:

By tracking disaster relief efforts on an international basis, IDE works with relief organizations and organizations serving deaf and hard of hearing people to ensure that deaf people’s relief needs are met. Such needs include

shared communities, access to sign language and visual language, and access to appropriate resources.

IDE supports transparency in donations to local, regional, national, and/or International organizations to ensure the affected deaf population receives the maximum funds for recovery. 

Development/Reconstruction:

IDE, upon invitation from organizations serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, provides resources and networking for relief needs. IDE strongly believes in collaboration with relief and development organizations while

cooperating with governments. By doing so, IDE brings in Deaf professionals trained in emergency relief and preparation, nutrition and health, inclusive education, human rights, job training, and relevant fields, to provide services.

IDE also strongly believes in ensuring that domestic deaf and hard of hearing individuals can assist their governments in disaster recovery efforts, and can provide training to help make this happen. 

Human Rights:

IDE provides resources empowering Deaf people through an in-depth understanding of their home countries’ civil rights. Through appropriate and legitimate channels, IDE partners with

national and international organizations that support and practice human rights as proclaimed by the Convention of Rights of People with Disabilities.