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Deaf-Blind Awareness Week was first celebrated in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation in recognition of the birth of Helen Keller. Since then, Deaf-Blind Awareness Week has been used as a time to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the deaf-blind community, while recognizing the work still to be done.
The theme for this year's week is "Deaf-Blind. And Thriving." The Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) notes, "of all the obstacles people who are deaf-blind overcome, misconceptions don't have to be one of them." Deaf-blind people thrive in their everyday lives- at work, at play, and at home. They work as computer programmers, teachers, and television hosts! According to HKNC, companies with people who are deaf-blind are more productive, have higher company morale, and are nearly twice as likely to be innovative. By providing the right supports, we can make the community more accessible and inclusive for people who are deaf-blind.
Deaf-blindness encompasses a range of visual and auditory impairments. For more information on deaf-blindness, check out some of the great organizations listed below:
The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) is gathering information about support service provider (SSP) and co-navigator (CN) services for deaf-blind Texans to help develop these programs. If you or a loved one receive these services or can provide input, please complete our survey by Friday, July 10th.
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