Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

Recognizing DeafBlind People

Every year the last week of June is devoted to one thing - recognition of the deaf-blind (or deafblind) people in our midst. While the purpose of Deaf-Blind Awareness Week is to pay homage to Helen Keller, the deafblind woman who was born that week, the week focuses on increasing public awareness and understanding of deaf-blindness.

According to the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), about 70,000 people have hearing and vision loss. More than a decade ago, Deaf-Blind Awareness Week became an event officially recognized by the Federal government.

Awareness Materials

If you would like to organize awareness activities for your community or classroom, free materials are available from the HKNC. In addition, the West Australian Deafblind Association offers an awareness video, " Assume Nothing," which focuses on the basics of deaf-blindness and the capabilities of deafblind people. In addition, you can send friends a deaf-blind awareness week e-card!

What Can You Do to Increase Your Own Awareness or That of Others?

Some of the things you can do include:

• Visit web sites on deafblindness. Several are listed on the Deaf-Blind subject page here at About:Deafness/HOH.
• Share tips for improving accessibility for deafblind people, with your local church or synagogue. (Although the tips are from a Jewish organization, the advice applies to churches as well).

Examples of Events

Due to its being lesser-known than Deaf Awareness Week, examples of deafblind awareness week events are scarce on the web. The Australian DeafBlind Council has some photographs on its web site of an awareness week event. At least one of the photographs shows a person communicating through the hand on hand method.