There are 394,000 deafblind people in the UK.

What is deafblindness?

Deafblindness is where a person has both hearing and sight loss which, when combined, has a severe impact on their daily life.

Deafblind Awareness Week is an annual event run by Deafblind UK to raise awareness and provide support, information and advice to those affected.

Its aim is to assist people who are deafblind to enjoy a healthier and more dignified life.

What are the causes of deafblindness?

Deafblindness has many causes.  Here are two of them:

• The most common is acquired deafblindness that happens with aging. Approximately 75% of deafblind people are elderly.
• Usher Syndrome, which is a genetic condition. There are 3 types of Usher syndrome and in 2 of them, the person is born with some level of deafness.

How does Deafblind UK help?

Being deafblind can be isolating and lonely and many people become detached from their local community.  Deafblind UK provides support and assistance by:

1. Arranging peer & social support groups, which are great because they enable those who are deafblind and their carers to:
   • meet new people and have fun
   • share information, experiences and strategies on how to cope
   • give and receive support
   • learn how to access services and activities in the local community
2. Introducing a volunteer ‘befriender’ to the person who has deafblindness so that they can go out socially or communicate regularly via email or telephone.
3. Telephoning carers twice a year to offer support and advice if needed.
4. Promoting and supporting public policies that increase and improve disabled people’s access to information.
5. Helping deafblind people to get online.
6. Offering a one to one caseworker service to provide information and advice.
7. Providing awareness talks.

Petra Heath, medical negligence solicitor

How can you help?

• become a member of Deafblind UK
• fundraise
• volunteer

Find out more on Deafblind UK’s website where you can get full contact details and discover how you can get involved.

By Petra Heath, medical negligence solicitor.