27 June - International Day of Deafblindness

Helen Keller and Ragnhild Kaata were both inspirations for the establishment of Eikholt.

Today marks a historic milestone in the work to raise awareness of deafblindness and promote the rights of people living with double sensory loss. The United Nations General Assembly has decided that 27 June will be the International Day of Deafblindness from 2025 onwards.

Helen Keller: An Inspiration for Deafblind Rights

Helen Kelelr and Ragnhild Kaata were both inspirations for the establishment of Eikholt.

It is no coincidence that 27 June is International Day of Deafblindness. 27 June is the birthday of Helen Keller, one of the most famous people with deafblindness. Born in 1880, Helen Keller lost both her sight and hearing as a result of illness when she was 19 months old. Despite these challenges, she became a pioneer and advocate for disability rights. 

Helen Keller was inspired by Ragnhild KaataRagnhild Kaata was the first deafblind person in Norway to receive proper schooling. Ragnhild Kaata lost her sight and hearing as a result of scarlet fever when she was three and a half years old. Despite this, she learnt to speak, write and read braille, and her story became an inspiration to Helen Keller. 

The history of deafblind rights has been long and demanding. In 1977, the first Helen Keller Conference was organised in New York, with the aim of giving people with deafblindness a platform to share experiences and learn from each other. This led to the establishment of World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) in 2001, which has been an important voice for deafblind rights globally.

Important milestones in the history of deafblind rights in Norway

The history of deafblind rights in Norway has been characterised by important milestones. In 1957, deafblind people in Norway established their own interest and service organisation, Norwegian Association of the Deafblind (FNDB). In 1997, the National Association for the Combined Visually and Hearing Impaired/Deafblind (LSHDB) established, and in 2024 Life with Combined Sensory Loss was established (LMKST).

King Olav shakes hands with Olaf Frøiland

Eikholt was opened in 1980 by the then King Olav, and Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Deafblindness (NKDB) was established in 2013. NKDB is part of the specialist health service in Norway, and consists of several centres with both regional and national tasks. The service collaborates with others in the specialist health service, research environments, NAV, and municipal and county actors to ensure a comprehensive and interdisciplinary programme for people with deafblindness.

We need to raise awareness of deafblindness

In today's world, people with deafblindness still face many challenges. An international day that puts deafblindness on the agenda is an opportunity to raise awareness of deafblindness, break down barriers and create a more inclusive society for all. By raising awareness, supporting rehabilitation, ensuring access to interpreter and companion services, and promoting research and development, we can make a difference.

Read more?

Read about adaptation courses on NAV's website: Adaptation course - nav.no

Read about NKDB's services: Offers and services - National Advisory Unit on Deafblindness

Read about Eikholt's mission: Our missions - Eikholt

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