In commemoration of International Deafblindness Day on June 27, Deafblind International (DbI) and the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) have issued a joint call to action urging global recognition of deafblindness as a distinct, highly diverse reality of life. Moving beyond the traditional definition of a dual sensory impairment, both organizations emphasize that deafblindness encompasses a broad spectrum requiring specialized, tailored support.
Central to this year’s advocacy is the widespread adoption of the ‘ICF Core Sets for Deafblindness’. Developed via an international consensus process and integrated into the World Health Organization’s framework, these Core Sets offer a standardized, holistic approach to evaluating individual needs and advancing social inclusion.
The full press release highlights the critical function of these frameworks, details the varying spectrum of communication methods within the community, and provides direct access to the newly released clinical, communication, and comprehensive ICF Core Set toolkits.