See below an announcement from Deafblind UK
“A new Deafblind UK Centre for Education and Research based at Birmingham City University (BCU) has been hailed as 鈥渓ife-changing鈥� and a 鈥済ame changer鈥� in the fight to address the 鈥渇rustrating and overwhelming isolation鈥� felt by many deafblind people.听听
The centre, which is the first of its kind, will connect researchers, practitioners, and people living with deafblindness to increase knowledge and raise awareness.
It will also equip junior researchers and the workforce with the knowledge and skills to become future leaders in deafblindness research and practice.
British Labour Party politician Lord Blunkett, who is himself blind, said: 鈥淎 great deal is known about sensory challenges for blind people and those with profound deafness, but much less about the dual challenges that deafblind people encounter on a daily basis.
鈥淭his Centre will make an important contribution 鈥� both to greater understanding and public awareness to the ways in which social and technological innovation can assist in the future.鈥�
Deafblind UK CEO Nikki Morris added: 鈥淭here鈥檚 an urgent need to better understand the impact of deafblindness on people and their loved ones. This new Centre will help to fill that gap.鈥�
, Associate Professor, Head of College of Education and Social Work at BCU, said: 鈥淭his Centre will be a game changer in how we understand more about deafblindness and what we can do to make the lives of all those affected better.
鈥淭he research undertaken in this area is shockingly low. The new Centre won鈥檛 just meet the knowledge gap, it will be an important beacon of hope to those affected by dual sensory loss.鈥�
Deafblindness affects everyone in different ways. Some people might have mild sight and hearing loss whereas others can鈥檛 see or hear anything. It can be isolating and lonely and can lead to mental health issues 鈥� but it鈥檚 far more common than many people realise. Around听听are affected by sight and hearing loss in the UK.
鈥淭he spectrum of deafblindness is unique,鈥� said Deafblind UK member Ricky Blair.
鈥淐ertain situations are isolating and overwhelming, like knowing when it鈥檚 your place to speak.
鈥淔rustratingly, there are often adjustments in place for those who are deaf or blind. People often forget that many people have to grapple with both disabilities simultaneously.鈥�听
Deafblind UK partnered with BCU in 2019. The University went on to launch the听听in collaboration with Deafblind UK and a consortium of charities in 2021, welcoming its first cohort of students in March 2022.
The only one its kind in the UK, the course is run by BCU鈥檚听, who is internationally renowned for his work and will lead the new Centre.
鈥淗elen Keller, author, disability rights advocate, political activist and perhaps one of the world’s most well-known deafblind people, described life as either a daring adventure or nothing at all,鈥� said Dr Simcock, an Associate Professor of Social Work and a Deafblind UK ambassador.
鈥淥ur Deafblind UK Centre will play a vital role in responding to the urgent need for more research, supporting deafblind people to enjoy this daring adventure to the full.鈥�”
