Deafblind Awareness Week
June 21 - June 27
About Deafblind Awareness Week
Deafblind Awareness Week is held during the last week of June each year, anchored around the birthday of Helen Keller on 27 June. The week raises public understanding of the experiences of people with combined sight and hearing loss and showcases the contribution of the deafblind community. In 2026 the week runs from Sunday 21 June to Saturday 27 June.
What is Deafblind Awareness Week?
Deafblind Awareness Week is an international observance dedicated to people who live with combined sight and hearing loss, sometimes called dual sensory loss. The week was first proclaimed by United States President Ronald Reagan in 1984 to commemorate Helen Keller, the author, educator, and disability rights advocate born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on 27 June 1880. It is now marked across the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries by deafblind charities, schools, and disability organisations.
When is Deafblind Awareness Week?
Deafblind Awareness Week takes place during the last week of June each year. In 2026 the week is generally observed from Sunday 21 June to Saturday 27 June, with the precise dates varying slightly by country and organising charity. Helen Keller’s birthday on 27 June is at the centre of the observance. The official hashtag is #DeafblindAwarenessWeek.
Why Deafblind Awareness Week Matters
Deafblindness is more common than many people assume. The charity Deafblind UK estimates there are around 450,000 people in the UK living with sight and hearing loss, and the number is expected to rise sharply as the population ages. Globally, the World Federation of the Deafblind estimates between 0.2 and 2 per cent of the world’s population is deafblind. Many people with combined sensory loss face significant barriers to communication, mobility, employment, and social inclusion. The week aims to challenge those barriers by educating the public, training service providers, and celebrating the leadership of deafblind people themselves.
How to Get Involved in Deafblind Awareness Week
Anyone can take part, with activities ranging from simple gestures of inclusion to fundraising and policy advocacy:
- Learn the deafblind manual alphabet – The deafblind manual is a tactile fingerspelling alphabet that takes only an hour to learn the basics; charities such as Deafblind UK offer free guides.
- Support a deafblind charity – Donate to or volunteer with organisations such as Deafblind UK, Sense, the Helen Keller National Center, and Deafblind International.
- Read books by deafblind authors – Helen Keller’s autobiography The Story of My Life is a starting point; recent memoirs by Haben Girma and Robert Smithdas offer contemporary perspectives.
- Improve accessibility at work – Use the week to audit your workplace’s communication accessibility, including BSL-trained staff, written backup for spoken instructions, and high-contrast signage.
- Run a school assembly – Free resources from deafblind charities include age-appropriate films, lesson plans, and activities such as guided sensory walks.
- Share deafblind voices on social media – Amplify content created by deafblind activists and creators rather than speaking for them.
- Push for policy change – Advocate for full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and for accessible transport, healthcare, and digital services.
History of Deafblind Awareness Week
Helen Keller was born on 27 June 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and lost both her sight and hearing at 19 months old following an illness. She learned to communicate through finger-spelling with her teacher and lifelong companion Anne Sullivan from 1887 onward, and went on to graduate from Radcliffe College cum laude in 1904. Keller spent her life as a writer, lecturer, and activist for people with disabilities, women’s suffrage, labour rights, and pacifism, becoming one of the most recognisable disability rights advocates of the 20th century.
On 22 June 1984, US President Ronald Reagan signed Presidential Proclamation 5214, designating the week beginning 24 June 1984 as Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. The proclamation honoured Helen Keller’s birthday on 27 June and recognised the contributions of deafblind people and the organisations that support them. Other countries quickly followed, and the week is now widely observed across the English-speaking world. UK charity Deafblind UK has marked the week each year alongside parallel observances by Sense and the Helen Keller National Center in the United States.
Noteworthy Facts About Deafblind Awareness Week
- Helen Keller was born on 27 June 1880, the date around which the week is anchored.
- President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week in 1984.
- An estimated 450,000 people in the UK live with combined sight and hearing loss (Deafblind UK).
- The deafblind manual alphabet uses tactile fingerspelling on the palm.
- Helen Keller graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1904.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deafblind Awareness Week?
An international observance during the last week of June that raises awareness of combined sight and hearing loss and celebrates the deafblind community.
When is Deafblind Awareness Week in 2026?
Sunday 21 June to Saturday 27 June 2026.
Why is Deafblind Awareness Week held in late June?
Because it commemorates the birthday of Helen Keller, the deafblind author and activist, on 27 June 1880.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Deafblind Awareness Week with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtag #DeafblindAwarenessWeek on social media. The more people who learn about deafblindness, the more inclusive our communities become.
Related Awareness Days
- World Mental Health Day – Recognises the mental health impact of isolation that deafblind people can experience.
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – Many older adults develop combined sensory loss, putting them at higher risk of social isolation.
- World Hand Hygiene Day – Highlights the role of touch-based communication and care, central to deafblind support.
Links
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