Online Reporter
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
Imagine living in a world where you cannot see or hear, yet your right to inclusion is still denied.
IN the global conversation on disability rights, one group remains persistently overlooked: people who are deafblind.
In many countries, deafblindness is not formally recognised as distinct from other disabilities, leaving millions of people invisible in statistics, policies and programmes.
Deafblindness is often treated as a subset of other disabilities.
Policies may categorise deafblind persons as either “deaf” or “blind”, erasing the unique nature of their needs.
Yet deafblindness is a distinct disability, with specific challenges, barriers and requirements for support.
For persons with deafblindness, everyday life presents extraordinary hurdles.
Communication, mobility and access to information are profoundly restricted.
Unlike those who are solely deaf or blind, people with deafblindness cannot rely on one sense to compensate for the other.
Tasks such as navigating public spaces, accessing education and healthcare or participating in community life become far more complex.
Without tailored support, many individuals with deafblindness are confined to their homes, dependent on family members and excluded from society.
This isolation erodes mental health, limits opportunities for independence and perpetuates poverty.
One of the most vital supports for people with deafblindness is the professional interpreter-guide.
These specialists provide access to information, communication and services by adapting sign language, tactile methods or spoken language to the individual’s needs.
They also assist with mobility, guiding deafblind persons through public spaces, workplaces and social settings.
Interpreter-guides are more than translators; they are enablers of independence.
With their support, individuals with deafblindness can attend school, participate in meetings, access healthcare and engage in civic life.
Yet in many countries, interpreter-guides are scarce or not formally recognised as essential professionals.
Deafblindness must be explicitly recognised in all disability frameworks.
Investment in interpreter-guides is essential. Awareness campaigns should highlight the distinct nature of deafblindness, challenge misconceptions and promote inclusion.
Tactile communication devices, braille displays and accessible mobile apps can help bridge gaps in communication and information access.
Organisations such as the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) have campaigned for recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) affirms the right of all persons with disabilities to full inclusion, but implementation remains uneven.
Around the world, individuals with deafblindness have demonstrated resilience, creativity and leadership.
In the United States, the late Helen Keller is celebrated as an example of a deafblind person who achieved extraordinary success. Despite losing both her sight and hearing at a young age, she learnt to communicate through the guidance of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, and became the first deafblind person to earn a college degree. Keller went on to become a renowned author, lecturer and activist, advocating for disability rights, women’s suffrage and social justice.
Haben Girma, born to Eritrean parents, is the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School (2013).
She works globally as a disability rights lawyer, focusing on digital accessibility and inclusion.
She has been honoured by the White House and listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Her story shows how resilience can shape global disability leadership.
David Geyer, born in Brakpan, South Africa, became deafblind after contracting tuberculosis (TB) meningitis as a child.
He co-founded DeafBlind South Africa in 1996, one of the first organisations dedicated to deafblind advocacy.
He attended the Helen Keller Centennial World Conference on Deafblindness (1980) as the first South African deafblind participant.
He has promoted lifelong learning, independence and technology use among deafblind persons.
These life stories, among many others, demonstrate that deafblindness is not a barrier to participation but a different way of experiencing the world.
With support, determination and inclusion, persons with deafblindness can overcome immense challenges and contribute profoundly to society.
Recognising deafblindness is, therefore, not optional, but a moral and legal imperative.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She can be contacted on: [email protected]
