WFDB was established in 2001 and consists today of 75 national and associated member organizations from 62 different countries from all corners of the world. Relationships have been established with The World Blind Union (WBU), The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), Deafblind International (DbI) and The World Association of Sign Language Interpreters (WASLI). In 2007 the organization attained consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is a member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) where the WFDB President serves as a member of the board. During its existence the WFDB has attained acknowledgement and recognition as the unified and legitimate world-wide representative and voice of people with deafblindness.
WFDB aims to improve the quality of life of people with deafblindness worldwide, with the objective of achieving their equal rights and equal opportunities in all areas of society, to be a worldwide forum for the exchange of knowledge and experiences in the area of deafblindness, and to increase international solidarity among organisations of people with deafblindness. The organization is governed by an Executive Council (EC) made up of 10 deafblind EC members; 4 officers: President, Vice President, Secretary General, Treasurer and 6 regional representatives: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and The Pacific. Deafblindness, a dual sensory (sight and hearing) impairment, with a consequential loss of the ability to communicate with the surroundings without assistance, and the mobility to move freely around without assistance, puts people in isolation. Deafblindness excludes people suffering from it from society, from interaction with others. Consequences that more than often leads to both physical and mental challenges in day to day life.