We started small in January 2020 when DbI’s Communication Committee (ComCom) put out a “call to action” inviting people to share DbI’s communication and assist DbI in being THE point of connection in deafblindness worldwide.
Now the Ambassador group has grown to almost one hundred members from around the world…and DbI is always looking to add more Ambassadors to the group.
Let’s continue to “Connect to Act” – join us as a Communication Ambassador!
What does it mean to be a DbI Communication Ambassador?
We expect an Ambassador to take DbI’s communication to the next level by leveraging your knowledge and expertise in this area. As the old saying goes, it takes a village.
We assume that an Ambassador has well established communications with local, regional and/or national media, an inspiring website and/or an involving social media presence. We believe that these resources can help us to spread the word about deafblindness, quality services and DbI all over the world.
What are the responsibilities of a Communication Ambassador:
- Assist DbI in ensuring that its social media posts are reposted on your organization pages within a short period of time (1-5 business days).
- Assist DbI by sharing DbI press releases and communication with your personal professional networks within a short period of time (1-5 business days).
- Assist DbI by sourcing regional news and information that could be shared with DbI membership and posted on DbI social media pages.
- DbI would be grateful to have the key contact act as an ambassador and connector within their geographic area.
- Organizations serving as DbI Communication Ambassadors may use the official DbI Communication Ambassador Logo freely in all of their communication. You will have your finger on the pulse of DbI’s communication and be fully informed about worldwide developments in our field.
- Twice a year Ambassadors are invited to join an online meeting with ComCom to review DbI’s communication focus themes, other updates, and connect with other Ambassadors.
- Be an individual member of DbI! Individual membership is available to any person who believes in the mission of DbI, and membership is free of charge. You can easily register here: https://www.deafblindinternational.org/about-us/become-a-member/individual-members/
Help us to make a difference for people with deafblindness worldwide and join us as a DbI Communication Ambassador!
Please reach out directly to Leslie Giesbrecht at SHOW EMAIL or Sue Wookey at SHOW EMAIL about your interest.
Ambassadors
AFRICA
Burkina Faso
Kafamdo Zomgo
cefise/bemaja, Burkina Faso, SHOW EMAIL
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jonas Tuombe
Democratic Republic of the Congo – GOMA NORTH KIVU, SHOW EMAIL
Kamonyo Botanyi Joie Pascal
Francophone Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, SHOW EMAIL
Prisca Kamala Luanda
Democratic Republic of the Congo – GOMA NORTH KIVU, SHOW EMAIL
Shabana Nsenga Florentin
Lubumbashi, Africa, SHOW EMAIL
Toussaint Balumuene Lukoki
Democratic Republic of the Congo, SHOW EMAIL
Egypt
Dr. Amal Ezzat
Chairperson of the board in Hope City Foundation, Egypt, SHOW EMAIL
Maii Amin
Egypt, SHOW EMAIL
Ethiopia
Emnet-Ayele
Ethopia National Association of DB, Ethiopia, SHOW EMAIL
Meklit Bahiru
Ethopia National Association of DB, Ethiopia, SHOW EMAIL
Kenya
Austin Otieno
Maseno Deaf/Deafblindness Orphanage Centre, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Barack A. Odhiambu
Maseno School for the Deaf and DB, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL, SHOW EMAIL
Bernice Mary Mavyuva
TSC, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Catherine Inyuma
Kenya Institute of Special Education, SHOW EMAIL
Dan Onyango Odingo
Nirasha deaf community basec organization, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
David Omare
Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Davies Silali
Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Davies Silerly
Nairobi Metropolitan Services – physiotherapist, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Derick Ridge
Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Dorine Munialo
Sense International, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Emma Mbugua
Sense International, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Everlino Nyokabi
Maseno University, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Faith Nyaboke Omache
Sense International, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL, SHOW EMAIL
Francis Saya
Matunge Special School, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
George Bonyo
Sikri vtc/BD, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Grace Maina
Student at Kenya Institute of Special Education, SHOW EMAIL
Grace Wanza Makau
Specially Abled Circle (SPACE) Group, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Hellen Otieno
Pursing a Diploma in Special Needs – Deafblind option, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Isaac Makhanu Wanyama
KISE Student Teacher DB, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Jared Orihda Rakiro
Kabarnet school for DB Children, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Jimmy Ywaya
Pursing a Diploma in Special Needs – Deafblind option, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Josphat Mbugua
Sense International, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Joyce Ngara
Kwale Unit for the DB, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Kahindi Stembo
Student at Kenya Institute of Special Education, SHOW EMAIL
Linet Liphede
Empowerment of Disabled Development, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Mary Maragia
Head of Deafblind Unit Kilimani Integrated Primary School, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Masayl Dellilah
TSC, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Mercy Gichangi
Kilimani Primary School Nairobi, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Mercy Opanda
Maseno University, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Merylin Boit
Student at Kenya Institute of Special Education, SHOW EMAIL
Nancy Ndirangu
Nairobi County NMS PMH, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Patrick Makete
KITUI DeafBlind, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Peter Eringo
Nairobi County Kamiti Prisons, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Racheai W Kariuki
KISE Student Teacher DB, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Salina Binot
Kabarnet DB, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Samuel Mwangi
Kilimani DB Unit, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Soloman Buschala
Kenya Society for the Blind, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL, SHOW EMAIL
Spencer Kirawa
SIKRI TVC for the Blind and Deaf, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Sylvester Mpusia
HISAN, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Venant Mwazumbi M’bori
Kenya Institute of Special Education, SHOW EMAIL
Wilson Masinza
Kenya National Association of DB, Kenya, SHOW EMAIL
Malawi
Anthony Kapindula
Malawi, SHOW EMAIL
Rwanda
Joseph MUSABYIMANA
Rwanda Organization of Persons with deaf Blindness (ROPDB), Rwanda, SHOW EMAIL, SHOW EMAIL
Tanzania
Rev Prof Juvenalis Asantemungu
Archbishop Mihayo Universty College of Tabora, Tanzania, SHOW EMAIL
Uganda
Alice Nabbanja
Uganda, SHOW EMAIL
Aniyamuzaala James
Uganda, SHOW EMAIL
Victor Locoro
Kyambogo University, Uganda, SHOW EMAIL
Zambia
Geoffrey Mulenga
Executive Director
Lotus Flower Community School, Zambia, SHOW EMAIL
Brighton Kumatongo
Zambia College of Education, Zambia, SHOW EMAIL
ASIA
Nepal
Niraj Phuyal
Nepal, SHOW EMAIL
United Arab Emirates
Basem Mohamad
University of Sharjah – United Arab Emirates, SHOW EMAIL
AUSTRALIA
Australia
Frances Gentle
International Resource: ICEVI-Network, SHOW EMAIL
Jane O’Keefe
Able Australia, SHOW EMAIL
Meredith Prain
DeafBlind Australia, SHOW EMAIL
EUROPE
Croatia
Darija Udovicic
Perkins Director, SHOW EMAIL
France
Chloé Horn
CRESAM French National Centre for Deafblindness (France), SHOW EMAIL
Germany
Vikram Choudhary
German Deafblind Association, SHOW EMAIL
Ireland
Deirdre J. Leech
Anne Sullivan Centre (Ireland), SHOW EMAIL
Netherlands
Trees van Nunen Schrauwen
Kentalis (Netherlands), SHOW EMAIL
Russia
Irina Moiseeva
Con-nection (Russia), SHOW EMAIL
Switzerland
Mirko Baur – President of DbI
Deafblind Inclusion, SHOW EMAIL
United Kingdom
Naomi Dainty
Deafblind UK, SHOW EMAIL
Richard Kramer
Sense (UK), SHOW EMAIL
Steve Rose
Steve Rose Therapy & Consulting – United Kingdom, SHOW EMAIL
LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
Argentina
Graciela Ferioli
Argentina, SHOW EMAIL
Maria Elena Nassif
Argentina, SHOW EMAIL
Valeria Franco
Argentina, SHOW EMAIL
Chile
Carolyn Sanchez
Chile, SHOW EMAIL
Dominican Republic
Benita González Reyes
Ministerio de Educación de la República Dominicana (Dominican Republic), SHOW EMAIL
Guatemala
Carmen Lucía Guerrero
Guatemala, SHOW EMAIL or SHOW EMAIL
Mexico
Alma Lorena Leyva Luna
Center Specialized in Multiple Disabilities and Deafblindness (Mexico), SHOW EMAIL
Ana Paola Rodea Saldivar
Mexico, SHOW EMAIL
Isabel Galindez
ASOMAS (Asociacion Mexicana Anne Sullivan IAP), SHOW EMAIL
Maria del Carmen Schleske Morales
Center Specialized in Multiple Disabilities and Deafblindness (Mexico), SHOW EMAIL
Martaelena Ramirez
Mexico, SHOW EMAIL
Raul Gutierrrez
ASOMAS (Asociacion Mexicana Anne Sullivan IAP), SHOW EMAIL
Yvette Gallegos Barro
Mexico, SHOW EMAIL
Peru
Ricardo Zevallos
Sense International (Peru), SHOW EMAIL
Venezuela
Ramón Hernández-Villoria
Venezuelan Society of Phoniatricians (Venezuela), SHOW EMAIL
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
Cheryl Ramey
George Brown College (Canada) – Deafblind & Intervenor Studies Certificate Program, SHOW EMAIL
Leslie Giesbrecht
DeafBlind Ontario Services, Canada, SHOW EMAIL
Madison Smith
DeafBlind Ontario Services, Canada, SHOW EMAIL
Nicole Austin
(filling in for Samantha Gaspar while Sam is on mat leave – from March 2026)
Sensity (Canada), SHOW EMAIL
USA
Chris Woodfill
Helen Keller Centre (USA), SHOW EMAIL
Dr. Doreen N. Myrie
Jackson State University, Mississippi, USA, SHOW EMAIL
Please note the DbI Ambassador list is updated annually