Issues

Articles about Issues commonly faced by Deafblind people in Victoria in essential services – housing, transport, education, physical and mental health, telecommunications, emergency services and the law – and helpful suggestions for how these issues might be managed.

  • Housing for Deafblind Victorians

    What does an accessible home for Deafblind people look like? Do we rent, live in supported accommodation, share, or live alone? What barriers do we face to finding a safe place to live? On 22.2.23, 10 staff from the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) Market Housing team attended an online workshop by Deafblind Victoria…

  • 30 years of the Disability Discrimination Act – a Deafblind perspective

    2022 marks the 30-year anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA). To commemorate this occasion, and to reflect on the successes and failures of the DDA, the City of Melbourne put on a forum at the Melbourne Town Hall on 24th Nov. This forum included a presentation by Heather Lawson from Deafblind Victoria on…

  • Deafblind Café – public transport accessibility reforms

    At Deafblind Café on 20th July 2022, we talked about public transport and celebrated Christmas in July. The federal government plans to change the Disability Transport Standards. Maddie Chandler visited DBV from Canberra to find out more about Deafblind Victorians’ experiences with trains, trams, buses and taxis, so the government can make better rules about…

  • 11th National Deafblind Conference – DBV group presentation

    DBV were proud to present at the 11th National Deafblind Conference on 1st July. Five DBV members gave the closing presentation for the conference: “How Deafblind people run our own organisation”. Jasper Cleland, Trudy Ryall and Michelle Stevens presented in Perth, and Alex Sar and Heather Lawson presented from Melbourne via a live video link.…

  • Deafblind tips 7 – Hospital communication

    Before my surgery last year I thought to try and created of the communication between me and nurses at the hospital. You know Sometimes interpreters or Commguide are not available to support. I typed up a short instruction and is laminated in size A4 paper then typed on words in braille. See photo of my…

  • Deafblind mental health

    Deafblind Victoria held a mental health event on 18th May 2022 that was attended by 14 Deafblind Victorians, and supported by 12 interpreters, 2 commguides, 2 DBV support staff, one Auslan student on work placement and one volunteer. Trudy Ryall, a deafblind person who has experienced mental ill health, introduced the event, acknowledging the $1000 grant…

    Deafblind mental health

  • Social isolation is not new to us – Podcast with DBV’s Heather Lawson

    Heather Lawson was invited to participate in an interview for a podcast program which was two minutes long with John McKenna – “So.. podcast”. It was published on Friday 3rd April 2020. It is called “social isolation is not new to us”. The episode featuring her is episode number 13. There is an Auslan translation…

  • Deafblind Communication Book

    Deafblind Victorians appreciate City of Melbourne for their funding in December 2016 of $14,000 to develop a Deafblind Communications Book. Deafblind Victorians are currently developing a book for deafblind people to give out to businesses with in their communities so business can have better communication access with deafblind people and how to approach and guide deafblind people. This book will be ready…