June 2, 2025 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“June 2025, marks 10 years since the Senate of Canada declared June as National Deafblind Awareness Month. This milestone gives us all a chance to recognize and highlight the important contributions of Canadians who are deafblind,” says Penny Bennett, a person who is deafblind and who serves as Co-chair of the National Deafblind Awareness Committee.

The 2015 Senate proclamation focused on building a deeper understanding while celebrating the many contributions that people who are deafblind make in society. This year, four Canadians who are deafblind were among those nominated to receive the King Charles III Coronation award, including: Elio Riggillo, Eddie Morton, Kevin Frost and Penny Bennett.

Deafblindness is characterised as a combined loss of hearing and vision to such an extent that neither the hearing nor vision can be used as a means of accessing information to participate and be included in the community.

The 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability data from Statistics Canada, confirms that over 2% of Canada’s population 15 years and over (or 602,160) are deafblind. According to the survey, 52% of those who are deafblind (or 314,260) are 65 years and older.

Penny notes, “for people who are deafblind, having access to a professional intervenor who facilitates communication for a person who is deafblind is very important. We have the right to participate equally in our community by attending special events and interacting with others. In fact, our basic human rights are denied without access to Intervenor Services.”

Throughout the month of June, the National Deafblind Awareness Committee encourages all Canadians to learn more about the distinct disability of deafblindness by participating in activities and events that will be organized around the country to  celebrate and recognize the contributions of Canadians who are deafblind.

The committee is comprised of people who are deafblind, as well as advocacy and service groups from across Canada.

 

For more information about the lighting up of landmarks in blue, proclamations across towns, cities and provinces, bowling throughout June and tactile art displays in public spaces where yarn is wrapped or connected to objects, also known as “yarn bombing,” check out: https://www.deafblindnetworkontario.com/news-events/

 

Members of the National Deafblind Awareness Month Committee include:

Canadian Deafblind Association – National

Canadian Deafblind Association – British Columbia

Canadian Deafblind Association – Saskatchewan

Canadian Deafblind Association – New Brunswick

CHKC (Canadian Helen Keller Centre)

CNIB Deafblind Community Services – British Columbia

CNIB Deafblind Community Services – Ontario

Connect Society

DeafBlind Ontario Services

RCMDB (Resource Centre for Manitobans Who Are Deaf-Blind)