By: Alison Byczok
June is National Deafblind Awareness Month, a time to recognize the experiences, contributions, and rights of people who are Deafblind across Canada. First proclaimed by the Senate, this month also honours the legacy of Helen Keller and the ongoing fight to remove barriers to full participation in society.
Deafblindness is a unique disability involving combined vision and hearing loss, creating significant barriers to accessing information, communication, and community life. With the right supports, particularly intervenor services, people who are Deafblind can live independently and fully engage in their communities.
At Deafblind Community Services (DBCS), Deafblind Awareness Month is about more than awareness, it’s about advancing rights. Intervenor services are essential, rights-based supports that enable access to communication, information, and choice. Without them, many individuals who are Deafblind face exclusion from everyday life.
Throughout June, DBCS will join partners across the country in a coordinated effort to raise awareness and drive change. This includes community events, social media campaigns, and public activations such as yarn installations and creative tactile displays that symbolize inclusion and connection.
DBCS will also lead a national media outreach campaign featuring clients and staff from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. By amplifying lived experiences, this campaign will highlight the real impact of intervenor services and the urgent need to recognize them as essential supports across Canada.
Take action this June
Creating a more accessible and inclusive country requires collective action. You can support our efforts by sharing CNIB and DBCS content with your networks to help amplify awareness, challenge barriers, and support the rights of people who are Deafblind.
You can also visit deafblindservices.ca to learn more.