A ‘life-changing’ new research centre for deafblind people is opening

A new deafblind UK centre for education and research based at Birmingham City University (BCU) has been hailed as “life-changing” and a “game changer” in the fight to address the “frustrating and overwhelming isolation” felt by many deafblind people.

Deafblind research centre: the first of its kind

The centre, which is the first of its kind, will connect researchers, practitioners, and people living with deafblindness to increase knowledge and raise awareness

It will also equip junior researchers and the workforce with the knowledge and skills to become future leaders in deafblindness research and practice.

British Labour Party politician Lord Blunkett, who is himself blind, said “A great deal is known about sensory challenges for blind people and those with profound deafness, but much less about the dual challenges that deafblind people encounter on a daily basis”:

This Centre will make an important contribution – both to greater understanding and public awareness to the ways in which social and technological innovation can assist in the future.

Deafblind UK CEO Nikki Morris added:

There’s an urgent need to better understand the impact of deafblindness on people and their loved ones. This new Centre will help to fill that gap.

David Childs, associate professor, head of College of Education and Social Work at BCU, said “This Centre will be a game changer in how we understand more about deafblindness and what we can do to make the lives of all those affected better:

The research undertaken in this area is shockingly low. The new Centre won’t just meet the knowledge gap, it will be an important beacon of hope to those affected by dual sensory loss.

Birmingham to break ground for deafblind people

Deafblindness affects everyone in different ways. Some people might have mild sight and hearing loss whereas others can’t see or hear anything. It can be isolating and lonely and can lead to mental health issues – but it’s far more common than many people realise. Around 450,000 people are affected by sight and hearing loss in the UK.

“The spectrum of deafblindness is unique,” said Deafblind UK member Ricky Blair:

Certain situations are isolating and overwhelming, like knowing when it’s your place to speak.

Frustratingly, there are often adjustments in place for those who are deaf or blind. People often forget that many people have to grapple with both disabilities simultaneously.

Deafblind UK partnered with BCU in 2019. The University went on to launch the Certificate and Diploma in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) in collaboration with Deafblind UK and a consortium of charities in 2021, welcoming its first cohort of students in March 2022.

The only one its kind in the UK, the course is run by BCU’s Dr Peter Simcock, who is internationally renowned for his work and will lead the new Centre.

“Helen Keller, author, disability rights advocate, political activist and perhaps one of the world’s most well-known deafblind people, described life as either a daring adventure or nothing at all,” said Dr Simcock, an Associate Professor of Social Work and a Deafblind UK ambassador:

Our Deafblind UK Centre will play a vital role in responding to the urgent need for more research, supporting deafblind people to enjoy this daring adventure to the full.

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