Vinko was the first person with deafblindness we ever met. Completely deaf. Completely blind. A person with so-called practical deafblindness.
When we first visited him in his apartment, he said words that left a lasting impression on our hearts:
“I live like a loner on a deserted island.”
He was sad, lonely. He asked who would help him. Who would accompany him to the store so he could buy groceries—otherwise, he would go hungry. That was the moment we realized that something had to be done.
So we, a group of like-minded individuals, founded the Slovenian Deafblind Association DLAN – out of real need, out of pain that could not remain unanswered.
Today, 20 years later, Vinko is a changed man. Brave. Proud. He regularly visits the DLAN Association, where he creates extraordinary pieces from modeling clay – small houses, bowls, horses, candleholders, hands with hearts that symbolize the organization’s message: Heart in the Palm.
Every piece he creates is a touch of his soul. Through his work, he brings joy to others – and that gives meaning to his life.
The world around Vinko is silence and darkness – but his inner world is rich and vibrant. He communicates exclusively through the language of the deafblind – through touch, via the palms. His words travel across the skin. And Vinko has much to say.
He often emphasizes that the DLAN Association and people with deafblindness have been waiting for 20 years for their rights to be recognized.
Today, he speaks publicly with joy and courage. He shares his story. He says that without the DLAN Association, he would not have survived.
Now he lives a peaceful and content life. And we are proud to be part of his world.
Ljubljana, 30. 4. 2025
