DeafBlindness
DeafBlindness is defined as a combination of hearing loss and visual impairment that impacts communication, and interaction with the world. Being DeafBlind doesn’t always mean that you are profoundly deaf and totally blind. You can have any combination of hearing loss or visual impairment and be DeafBlind. What matters, is the impact these conditions have on your ability to move through the world, rather than the actual level of the hearing loss or visual impairment.
DeafBlindness is highly stigmatised, particularly in the current world of social media, where misinformation can “trend” without much resistance. For example, the recent social media trend that claims that Helen Keller was not real, which was based on the ableist assumption that DeafBlind people cannot participate in society.
Other prominent figures in the DeafBlind community are Haben Girma, the first DeafBlind person to graduate Harvard Law School; Catarina Rivera, a DeafBlind content creator; and John Lee Clark, a DeafBlind poet and writer. It is certainly possible to be successful as a DeafBlind person.
My DeafBlind Solo Travel
How does DeafBlindness impact solo travel? Join me as I chat about my first ever solo trip, where I was invited to perform at a German Deaf festival, as my drag persona Papa Smear. I also talk about flying as a DeafBlind person, and language barriers while out and about in Germany.
What Is DeafBlindness?
In this video, I talked about what DeafBlindness is, from both an official, medical definition, and a personal perspective of how being DeafBlind affects my life. I also share some insights about the stigma of being DeafBlind, and the impact stigma itself has had on my life.
Symbol Canes for DeafBlindness
Have you ever heard of a symbol cane? A symbol cane is one of the lesser known canes used for visual impairment. In this video, I talk about how I use a symbol cane as a person with Visual Snow Syndrome, and as a DeafBlind person. This is an older video, filmed before I started using a long cane.
White Canes And Their Uses
A follow-up video from my symbol cane video, where I talk about the different white canes I have tried and used along my DeafBlindness journey. I discuss the differences between symbol canes, and different long canes, and their benefit for helping me navigate the world as a DeafBlind person.
Useful Websites
Sense
Sense is the UK’s leading DeafBlindness charity. They don’t solely focus on DeafBlindness, and they provide support for those living with complex disabilities as well. They also provide support of carers and parents of their children who have complex disabilities, or are DeafBlind.
Action Deafness
Action Deafness is a UK based, Deaf-led charity that supports DeafBlind people through access to pro-tactile interpreters and reporters. They also provide care and support services. Action Deafness also offers learning opportunities, so no Deaf person gets left behind.
DeafBlind UK
DeafBlind UK prides itself on providing practical, emotional, and technical support for DeafBlind people in the UK. They also provide information for professionals to support their journey to becoming accessible for DeafBlind folks, which includes information for schools.
Max Fisher RSci 