27 June marks Deafblind Awareness Day, when people with deafblindness and multi-sensory impairments are celebrated for their achievements and contributions to our communities. This date is celebrated each year to honour the birth date of Helen Keller, a deafblind author, political activist and disability rights advocate, born in 1880.
This year's theme is "Cultivating Leadership: Together, We Grow", which focuses on how leadership within the DeafBlind community flourishes through cultivation, education, and courage.
Deafblindness is a unique and isolating disability that has a significant impact on an individual's quality of life. The condition is also known as multisensory impairment due to the impact on other senses, such as touch, taste, smell, and the vestibular system that controls balance.
Most people with deafblindness have some degree of hearing and sight and they experience deafblindness in different ways, depending on the age at which both senses become impaired.
There are two types of deafblindness:
Congenital deafblindness occurs when impairments in both hearing and vision are present from birth. Limited access to experiencing the world through both primary sensory channels in early childhood leads to lifelong developmental, learning, language, and communication delays.
Acquired deafblindness is generally when a person loses hearing or sight later in life.
The most common cause of congenital deafblindness is CHARGE syndrome, a genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 15,000 people. Most people with CHARGE syndrome are born with hearing and vision challenges that can have a significant impact on their development. In addition, vestibular dysfunction frequently occurs which affects balance and orientation in space and general mobility.
Another common cause of deafblindness is Usher Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects 1 in 6,000 people. With Usher Syndrome, people are born deaf and usually develop vision impairment in their late teens. There are three types of Usher syndrome, each bringing a different degree of impairment of hearing, vision, vestibular function, and educational outcomes.
Supporting children and young people with deafblindness and multisensory impairments to reach their full potential involves a multi-disciplinary approach with tailored educational approaches and a focus on building communication, social skills, and independence. Early intervention and educational services that include specialised teaching and assessments are crucial in providing deafblind children with opportunities to learn and thrive in inclusive and supportive communities.
For more information about the impact of deafblindness on children and young people, visit:
CHARGE Syndrome Australasia
UsherKids Australia
Aurora School
Further information about deafblindness in the adult population can be found at:
Able Australia
Vision Australia
Deafblind Information Australia
Deafblind Australia
Deafblind Victoria
