We are proud to share the wonderful news that people with deafblindness now have their own international day. Starting this year, June 27 – the birthday of the legendary Helen Keller – will be celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Persons with Deafblindness.
This is a day when we hear the quiet yet powerful voice of a community that is too often overlooked. The voice of individuals who face the combined challenges of hearing and vision impairment every day – and who, despite these challenges, persist, live, create, and long to be seen and heard.
Our heartfelt gratitude for this important recognition goes to Dr. Sanja Tarczay, President of the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB), Vice-President of the International Disability Alliance, and President of the Croatian Association of Deafblind Persons DODIR. Through her unwavering dedication and compassion, and with the support of her professional team, she paved the way for the official declaration of this day – a day of identity, equality, rights, and inclusion.
This day is an opportunity to remember those who are often invisible. It is a reminder that every person has the right to a full life. It is an invitation to build a society together in which everyone is accepted, understood, and included.
Let the words of Helen Keller, who became a symbol of hope through the strength of her life, inspire us today as well:
“We are never really happy until we try to brighten the lives of others.”
Join us in celebrating this special day – and contribute to a more understanding, accessible, and just society for all.
