Press Release

Helen Keller Deafblind Awareness Week
23 – 28 June 2008

Every year, the last week of June is devoted to one thing – the recognition of the deafblind people in our midst. While the purpose of Deafblind Awareness Week is to pay homage to Helen Keller, the deafblind woman who was born this week, the week focuses on increasing public awareness and understanding of deafblindness. The theme for this year is Education of the Deafblind Child and Early Childhood Development.

The South African National Council for the Blind acknowledges the plight of people who are living with this dual sensory disability and urges the South African media to make the public aware of the barriers these people are facing.

Definition of deafblindness:
‘Persons are regarded as deafblind if their combined sight and hearing impairment cause difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility’. Deafblindness can be found in all age groups, including children, but the incidence is greatest in older adults. (Deafblind UK website)

Deafblind South Africa (DbSA - a member organisation of the SA National Council for the Blind and DeafSA) has arranged the following meetings/gatherings to commemorate the week:

• 25 June - Open branch meeting of DbSA KZN and KZN Blind & Deaf Society at 45 Harris Crescent. The media is welcome to attend.
• 26 June - Open programme on Education at 23 Lorne Street to link to the theme for 2008. The programme will include knowledgeable speakers on education for deafblind children as well as mothers of deafblind children sharing their experiences. Media and the public are invited to attend. Contact Sandra Tyler on 031 309-4991 for more information.

According to Brian Titshall, Chairperson of DbSA in KZN, “One of Deafblind SA’s biggest challenges is to actually find people who are deafblind. We are aware that there are thousands of children and adults who are either deafblind or have some residual sight and hearing and suffer in total isolation (particularly in rural areas) because they do not know that help is available. Once we have identified the person’s needs we provide assistance which could be in the form of sight and hearing testing, specialized training and/or schooling, computer equipment, glasses and hearing aids, etc. Training methods and modern technology enables even those who are profoundly blind and/or deaf to communicate and have access to information”.