We were delighted to support DBUK in Northern Ireland to explore joining Scotland and of course the rest of the UK in formally recognising Deafblindness as a distinct disability. Good luck to our friends over the Irish Sea. Photos shows Robbie butler MLA and Deafblind people from Northern Ireland sitting beside our CEO at the end of the table.

Isabella and Andrena were delighted to meet Deafblind colleagues from New South Wales yesterday. Stephen Hailinsn and Alisha Cooper were in Glasgow to present at a Community Development conference at the University of Glasgow. Many ideas were shared and we hope to continue sharing with our respective wider membership online as part of our 25th anniversary 'independent but never alone' programme.

This new paper provides a meaningful and informative resource on the psychosocial literature on Usher Syndrome. Building on existing reviews, it focuses on key themes—such as emotional wellbeing, identity, social support, and future planning—and what they mean for real‑world support and services, drawing on a wide range of research and lived experience. Taking a psychosocial perspective, this overview considers Usher Syndrome holistically across the life span. With this focus

Understanding Deafblindness as a Spectrum: A New Resolution in Deafblind Awareness Month Deafblindness is unique, distinct AND also diverse. The Board of DbI and the Executive Committee of the World Federation of the Deafblind have adopted a resolution to reflect this diversity. DbI has just published it on the website - right on time for Deafblind Awareness Week. "Endorse the understanding of deafblindness as a spectrum, referring to it as the “deafblind spectrum” without in

22nd- 28th of June 2026 The theme for Deafblind Awareness Week 2026 is See Hear Us, with the aim to emphasise that each person living with deafblindness has their own strengths, just like anyone else. We also want to use stories from the community to show how experiences of deafblindness can bring unique skills, abilities and capabilities which are often under recognised. We have multiple short talks which will be posted throughout the week which emphasise this. This year we

In June 2025, after much campaigning, Deafblindness was recognised as a distinct disability in Scotland. Now the Scottish Government policy guidance is being created, and we need your help. We will be gathering lived experiences from deafblind people, people at risk of deafblindness and their families across Scotland. Hearing your experiences will: Inform Scottish Government policy guidance Improve early identification Strengthen lifelong support pathways from birth to older

A Groundbreaking Initiative I am thrilled to share the exciting news about the first "Right to Dream" Deafblind Awareness Training Programme! This fantastic initiative was delivered by Deafblind Scotland in partnership with the University of Strathclyde’s Disability & Wellbeing Service. Together, we are making strides in raising awareness about deafblindness and creating a more inclusive society! Understanding Deafblindness The first seminar was a deep dive into the history o

The Inclusive Communication Toolkit provides practical guidance and resources to support clear, respectful, and accessible communication for all audiences. It is designed to help individuals and organisations communicate in ways that are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to diverse needs, backgrounds, and experiences.

A Call to Action for Deaf Children The National Deaf Children's Society Scotland has produced an important document, ‘National Deaf Children’s Society: Getting it Right for Every Deaf Child - A Manifesto for the Scottish Parliament Session 2026-2031’. This manifesto is published ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election on 7th May. The National Deaf Children’s Society is dedicated to supporting deaf children, regardless of their level of hearing loss. The Reality for Deaf Chi

For Text only version please scroll down Text only version: Deafblind Scotland's Election Manifesto 2026 Deafblind Scotland is the Scottish authority on Deafblindness and the only national Charity supporting people who live with this condition. There are around 34,000 people living with Deafblindness in Scotland; their condition is at a level where one sense can no longer compensate for another. Most people acquire both sensory losses or their second sensory loss in adulthood

National Usher Syndrome Helpline launched to provide one-stop support for people with Usher Syndrome (largest genetic cause of deafblindness) Deafblind UK and Deafblind Scotland have announced the launch of a new Usher Syndrome Helpline, a dedicated national support service for people living with Usher syndrome and for families, carers and professionals supporting them. Launched by the charity partnerhip the free helpline is the first of its kind in the UK and has been create

written by Andrew Pettigrew (member of Deafblind Scotland) What is love? To me, it’s the hand that touches mine, that traces invisible letters, etching light into my palm— a language of silence, without sight, creating a pocket of air in a burning world that shields me from its noise and flame and rage. In the inferno your hand is all I have— light for my lightless eyes, guiding me through smoke and ash and dizzying heat, constant even as the ground gives way and others aband

Living with deafblindness presents unique challenges that affect many aspects of life, from communication to social participation. These challenges often lead to inequalities and psychosocial barriers that can limit opportunities and wellbeing. A new three-year funded project aims to change this by developing a tool designed specifically to help deafblind individuals recognise and reduce these barriers through guided reflection and personalised goal-setting. This project is s

We are excited to announce a new wellbeing project, "Don’t Worry Be Happy", designed specifically to support Deafblind people in East Renfrewshire! This initiative will provide regular contact and support tailored to individual preferences, whether through phone calls, FaceTime, email, or home visits. Funded by the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, distributed by The Community Hub East Ren and The Scottish Government, this project aims to improve the quality of life

The Access to Elected Office Fund: Empowering Disabled Voices in Scotland ========================================================================== Standing for election can be a daunting task, especially for disabled individuals. The Access to Elected Office Fund is here to help! This fantastic initiative covers the additional disability-related costs that can make it harder for disabled people to run for office. Let’s dive into the details! Who Can Apply? -------------- Th

Deafblind Scotland member has written and published a new book called 'Edward and Stacey' Edward thought dog camp would be just another summer. He didn't expect to meet Sally - a kindred spirit on four legs , Stacey, a spirited, full of life and loyal - or Caroline, the girl who made everything feel different. But as bonds form and feelings grow, a bitter rival watches from the shadows. When jealousy turns to sabotage, Edward must choose: stay silent and lose everything... or

Deafblind Scotland has joined more than 200 third sector health and social care leaders in signing an open letter to the First Minister warning of the crisis facing our sector. The letter, published on 17 August, highlights the scale of the challenge: without urgent action, Scotland’s social care system risks collapse, with devastating consequences for disabled people, older people, families and the workforce. It also warns that this crisis will deepen existing inequalities a

Last month, our Deafblind Centre in Kirkintilloch welcomed Radio 4 journalist Ian Hamilton to speak with some of our members about an important topic, the recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability in Scotland. During his visit, Ian interviewed members Iain and Andrew, along with our Chief Executive, Isabella, to share their experiences and perspectives. The conversation explored why formal recognition matters, how it can help improve access to services, and the im

The Deafblind Scotland BSL Choir recently had the incredible opportunity to perform at the Lenzie Community Festival on Saturday 9th August. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on the unique experience of performing music with British Sign Language. At the festival, we performed two songs: 'I have a dream' and 'thank you for the music'. The choir's beautiful rendition of these songs truly showed the magic of BSL. We are so proud of our choir members and we can't wait for ou

Deafblind Scotland is thrilled to announce the opening of recruitment for our upcoming BSL Level 2 Course! This is an incredible opportunity for anyone eager to enhance their understanding and ability to communicate effectively in everyday situations. Let's dive into the details! Why Choose Our BSL Level 2 Course? This comprehensive 40-week course is designed specifically for learners who already possess a basic understanding of British Sign Language (BSL) and are ready to ta