HISTORY OF DEAFBLIND SOUTH AFRICA

On 26 July 1996, a group of Deafblind people, professionals and other interested persons came together at the Cape Town International Airport to establish Deafblind South Africa, the first ever organisation in South Africa which would cater exclusively for Deafblind people.

The main objective of Deafblind South Africa is to break the isolation that surrounds Deafblind people. Because deafblindness can be considered a communication disability, many Deafblind people live in isolation and they are very often unable to utilize services that might be available to other people. Deafblind South Africa sees its role as a lobbying organisation to promote better services for Deafblind people and also to be the mouthpiece of Deafblind people in South Africa.Some of the services DbSA desires to render are:

• Correct Diagnosis - It is vitally important that a correct diagnosis be made as early as possible in order to assure the correct provision of services for deafblind children.

• Early Intervention - If early intervention services are not available, it may lead to the Deafblind child not developing properly.

• More capable Education units – Urgent attention should be given to the establishment of units for the education of Deafblind children in all the provinces of South Africa.

• Strategic Partnerships – Form partnerships with other organisations.

• Identification of Deafblind people – identifying Deafblind children and in ensuring that Deafblind children receive adequate education.

• Lobbying Forum for parents – Deafblind South Africa would like to provide parents with the opportunity to come together and to lobby together with adult Deafblind people for better education for their children.

• Role Models for children - We believe that adult Deafblind people can serve as role models for Deafblind children in order to show them what Deafblind people can achieve.