Deafblind Awareness Week is an annual event that is observed in the United States and Canada during the last week of June, however, for the purpose of disability inclusion the week can be marked by any focused organization since International Day of Deafblind Persons was also celebrated just a day ago.
Deafblindness is a disability in which a person has a significant loss of both hearing and vision which makes it very difficult to communicate, get around, and participate in everyday activities.
Christian Blind Mission (CBM) organization defines Deafblindness as a distinct and unique disability affecting vision and hearing, also described as a multi-sensory impairment.
The organization committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world explains that the level of hearing and vision loss varies from mild to profound, from low vision to blindness.
Deafblindness is caused by genetic conditions, acquired conditions, and trauma.
With genetic conditions, one is born deaf blind occasioned by conditions such as Usher syndrome or Waardenburg syndrome while Acquired conditions happen later in life due to conditions such as meningitis, rubella, or stroke.
Trauma, on the other hand, causes deafblindness when a person is involved in an accident that leaves them with severe head injuries.
The degree of deafblindness can vary from person to person. Some people may be able to hear a little bit or see a little bit, while others may be completely deaf and blind.
There are a variety of ways to communicate with people who are deafblind. Some people use sign language, while others use tactile communication or Braille.
There are also a number of assistive technologies that can help people who are deafblind to communicate and participate in everyday activities.
According to health experts, Deafblindness most commonly affects older adults, although it can affect people of all ages, including babies and young children.
In older people, it may develop gradually and the person themselves may not realize their vision and/or hearing is getting worse at first.
It is estimated that there are around 35 million people who are deafblind worldwide, hence to celebrate Deafblindness awareness week, everybody is encouraged to support persons who are Deafblind and help raise awareness about the disability.
The theme for Deafblind Awareness Week 2023 is “Tune in to your sight and hearing.” This theme highlights the importance of communication for people who are deafblind.