Over the past several years, many of you have contributed to, collaborated on, or supported our international research exploring the lived experiences of people who are deafblind across the Global North and Global South. We are very grateful for the time, knowledge, experience, partnerships, and funding that have made this work possible.
We would now like to bring everyone together to share what we have learned, reflect critically on the findings, and discuss where this work should go next.
The three principal investigators—Dr. Peter Simcock, Dr. Leda Kamenopoulou, and Prof. Walter Wittich—will present findings from this international collaboration. The programme will also feature two discussion panels: one bringing together experts working in the field of deafblindness, and another bringing together people with lived experience of deafblindness. Both panels will respond to the research findings, raise critical questions, and help us explore their implications and future directions.
An interactive World Café will provide an additional opportunity for everyone attending to contribute their perspectives, discuss the findings in smaller groups, identify unanswered questions, and help shape priorities for future research and action.
Growing Up & Being Deafblind in the Global North and South
29 October 2026: 9.00am – 4.15pm (UK Time)
30 October 2026: 9.30am – 4.00pm (UK Time)
Day 1 – Thursday, 29 October 2026: Hybrid
You can join us in person in Birmingham, UK, or participate online via Zoom.
The in-person event will be hosted at STEAMhouse, Birmingham City University, a centre for collaborative innovation in the heart of Birmingham.
Registration is free:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2000963697283?aff=oddtdtcreator
Day 2 – Friday, 30 October 2026: Online
The second day will be held entirely online via Zoom, allowing participants to join us from around the world.
Registration is free:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2000005888451?aff=oddtdtcreator
Accessibility
We are committed to making the event as accessible as possible.
Both days of the online programme will include International Sign interpretation, and Zoom accessibility features, including automated captioning, will be activated.
For participants attending in person on Day 1, British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be provided.
We hope you will join us
This research has been possible because people with lived experience, families, researchers, practitioners, organizations, institutions, and funding partners across many countries have contributed their knowledge, time, expertise, and support.
We therefore see this event not simply as an opportunity to present research findings, but as an opportunity to return those findings to the communities that helped create them, to discuss what they mean together, and to consider what should happen next.
Participation is free, and we warmly encourage you to share this invitation with colleagues, community members, organizations, and others who may be interested in deafblindness, inclusion, accessibility, education, employment, participation, and lived experience.
We very much hope that you will be able to join us in Birmingham or online on 29–30 October.
Warm regards,
Peter Simcock, Leda Kamenopoulou & Walter Wittich
on behalf of the international research team