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Deafblind Community Services etiquette session at the London Community Hub

CNIB Deafblind Community Services is one of Ontario’s leading providers of specialized support and emergency services for people who are Deafblind. Funded by the Government of Ontario, DBCS intervenor services and literacy programs enable people who are Deafblind to maximize their independence and engagement with the world around them.

To celebrate National Deafblind Awareness Month, the CNIB Foundation Ontario West hosted a Deafblind awareness session at the CNIB London Community Hub. Participants had an opportunity to learn more about Deafblindness with Kristeen Elliott, a Deafblind community member and DBCS Ambassador and Christine, an Intervenor.

Ryan Hooey poses for a photo at the London Hub with Kristeen Elliott, a Deafblind community member and DBCS Ambassador, and Christine, an Intervenor. The presentation focused on communication methods, helpful techniques and current advocacy initiatives.

Kristeen shared personal stories from her life as a person who is Deafblind and showed the group how she uses an intervenor to communicate and interact with surrounding environments. 

"The Deafblind community is full of independent people – the only difference is that they make use of an intervenor," says Kristeen. "The intervenor just acts as a facilitator of the conversation. Speak to the person – not the intervenor. That is critical to independence."  

Kristeen is driven to educate others about Deafblindness and break down stereotypes and myths associated with people who are Deafblind. 

Thank you, Kristeen and Christine, for sharing your experiences and knowledge with us! 
 

Read more articles from the September 2019 issue of Equalize:

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April 17, 2024 – Yesterday, the Government of Canada released Budget 2024 and announced that the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit will start in July 2025, pending a regulatory design process. The benefit will be funded with $6.1 billion over the next six years. 

This investment equates to a proposed maximum of $200 per month for eligible recipients who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. Further, Budget 2024 does not invest in a strategy or programs that enable people who are blind or have low vision to join the workforce. 

While the passage of the Canada Disability Benefit Act was an important first step, CNIB joins the growing list of organizations and advocates calling on the government to commit to more support to lift people with disabilities out of poverty.  
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