If you can see it, you can support it

Worum geht es?

PREFACE

The Nordic definition of deafblindness states that it is a combined visual and auditory impairment of such severity that sight and hearing have difficulty compensating for one another. Deafblindness therefore presents a specific disability in relation to the surrounding environment.

Communication is one area that is almost always affected. The need to utilise tactility to receive information and participate in communication is significant.

The word communication is often defined in general terms as the ability of people to exchange information, ideas, or feelings.

On a deeper, figurative level, communication also means connection, affinity and unity.

Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities offers the following definitions:

• “Communication” includes languages, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as written, audio, plain-language, human-reader and augmentative and alternative modes and formats of communication, including accessible information and communication technology;

• “Language” includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of non-spoken languages.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified by all Nordic countries and as such must be implemented. States shall work to promote, protect and ensure the rights of all, regardless of functional ability.

Disability can mean an impairment to physical, mental or intellectual ability. Disabilities are those impairments that present an obstacle to an individual in relation to their environment. In the case of communication, the obstacle may be societal lack of knowledge and inability to communicate with a deafblind individual. The consequences may be physical and mental isolation.

If people with deafblindness are to have the opportunity to participate in the Nordic welfare society on equal terms, knowledge about communication and language development must improve.

While the Nordic countries share many common challenges and have similar needs for greater and better knowledge, there are also examples of organisations in which new knowledge has been developed and implemented.

It is our hope that this book will contribute to the provision of improved conditions for the exchange of experiences, preservation of competencies and development of knowledge and methods that promote the linguistic development of persons with deafblindness.

This book is intended to contribute to more girls and boys, women and men with deafblindness having the opportunity to develop their communication and language abilities so that they have the resources for inclusion and participation in our Nordic societies.

Eva Franzén
Director
Nordic Welfare Centre

• Taubblindheit
• Kommunikation