Online Reporter
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
THE 2018 Global Report on Persons with Deafblindness highlights a concerning reality.
The issues faced by people with deafblindness have been largely ignored over the past decade.
Globally, deafblind individuals are often wrongly perceived as “good for nothing”, relegated to a passive existence.
However, Zimbabwe is taking proactive steps to counter this perception.
The National Disability Policy (2021) directly supports deafblind people and their families across all 10 provinces, in both rural and urban areas.
Crucially, the policy also mandates their inclusion in national development initiatives.
The term deafblind describes individuals with both significant hearing and vision loss. This dual sensory impairment presents unique challenges in communication, mobility and access to information, often more complex than being solely deaf or blind.
Globally, an estimated 160 million people are deafblind, yet they remain a largely hidden and diverse group. They are disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment and lower educational outcomes.
To raise awareness and promote their rights, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed June 27 as the International Day of Deafblindness.
This day commemorates the birthday of Helen Keller (1880-1968), the most iconic figure in the deafblind community. Keller, who became blind and deaf at the age of 19 months, went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Radcliffe College of Harvard University.
She became a prolific author, writing 14 books and hundreds of speeches and essays. Additionally, she was a global disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer.
Keller’s example powerfully demonstrates that with the right support, deafblind people are capable of leading fulfilling lives and contributing meaningfully to society.
Deafblind individuals often use a variety of communication methods tailored to their unique needs and levels of sensory loss.
Tactile sign language communication partners sign directly into the person’s hands. For instance, Keller learnt about water when her teacher made motions on her palm while running cool water over her other hand.
Zimbabwean Sign Language can be adapted for tactile use.
The braille system allows for reading and writing through tactile symbols. Deafblind individuals may use braille displays connected to digital devices or braille paper.
Physical objects may be used to represent different concepts, activities or places, helping deafblind people understand their environments.
Communication boards or books can be customised with symbols, pictures or words that the individual can touch or feel to indicate their wants or needs, sometimes with tactile indicators for abstract concepts.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants can enhance sound perception and improve communication for those with residual hearing, used in conjunction with other methods.
Adapted technology also plays a crucial role.
For example, alerting devices that vibrate can communicate messages, such as alarms or smartphone notifications, helping deafblind individuals stay informed about important events.
It is important to recognise that the level of hearing and vision loss varies widely among deafblind people, requiring individualised approaches to education, rehabilitation and daily living.
As Zimbabwe continues to strengthen the inclusion of deafblind people in national development initiatives, robust training for support personnel and family members who work and live with individuals with this condition is essential.
This training will enable them to provide better assistance in various settings, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She can be contacted on: [email protected]
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter