On the 23rd of October, just one day after celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN, a historic moment took place in Slovenia: the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia unanimously adopted the Act on the Use of the Deafblind Language. This is a law that gives a voice to those who often cannot express it with words and recognition to those who perceive the world through touch.
This is not just a law. It is a recognition of the language, culture, and identity of people with deafblindness. It is a step that says: we see you, we hear you, we understand you. It is a personal victory for the deafblind community.
Language is identity. It is the tool with which a person enters the world. When a country recognises a language, it also recognises the dignity, existence, and equality of the community that uses it.
For twenty years, deafblind people have persistently tried to explain that deafblindness is not the sum of deafness and blindness – it is an independent disability with specific needs for those who live with it every day. After two decades, their voice has been heard.
Deafblindness is an independent, complex disability that requires specialised knowledge, adjustments, and a professional approach. Only with an approach grounded in the real needs of people with deafblindness can we create a society that is dignified, inclusive, and fair — fair to everyone, regardless of the challenges they face.
The message of this historic moment may be precisely this: people who communicate in the deafblind language have the right to be understood by the world, and to understand the world that surrounds them.
People with deafblindness are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society. The adoption of the law is the result of the collective work of the community of people with deafblindness, professionals, volunteers, families, the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN — which has been paving the way for understanding and support for 20 years — and all who helped in any way and never gave up. A heartfelt thank you to the members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for listening to a language that does not sound, but is felt.
The Act on the Use of the Deafblind Language brings not only rights. It brings what may be the most precious element of any society — the recognition of human dignity. It is a reminder that a just society is created when there is space for those who are the easiest to overlook.
At the link below, you can read and learn more in detail about what the Act on the Use of the Deafblind Language includes:
https://pisrs.si/pregledPredpisa?id=ZAKO9280
Ljubljana, 21 November 2025
