(July 2024 – June 2026)
The Deafblind Community Hub facilitates access to mainstream activities for deafblind Victorians, by supporting individuals to:
- explore recreational, arts and cultural activities, out in the community and online
- try new communication technologies and connect to digital services
- share skills with others to foster community participation and contribution
- raise awareness about deafblindness, changing attitudes and improving practices,
and supporting mainstream community organisations to:
- improve engagement with deafblind people
- access resources and advice on deafblindness – enhance accessibility and service delivery.
In a survey of DBV members, the biggest barriers found were communication, lack of services, loneliness, and mobility (physical access to the wider community). In general, neither deaf services nor blind services cater well to deafblind individuals; deaf access is visual, while blind access is auditory. These approaches fail to serve people whose primary sense is touch. Deafblindness constitutes a distinct disability for which there are significant gaps in services, and exclusion from both the Deaf and the blind communities.
The Hub facilitates access to community activities through three events per month (Deafblind Café, Craft Group, and Recreation Program) and a weekly drop-in program containing new & emerging tactile technologies for social & community connection, information and entertainment.
Funded by the Department of Social Services.