On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3rd of December, the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN, in cooperation with international organisations, focused on the treatment of mothers with deafblindness within the healthcare system.
Through a project carried out by the World Federation of the Deafblind, the aim is to highlight a frequently overlooked and particularly vulnerable group – women with various forms of disability and their healthcare treatment in all stages of motherhood.
The World Federation of the Deafblind, in cooperation with the Croatian Association of the Deafblind Dodir, presented the findings of a case study that draws attention to key aspects of cooperation between healthcare professionals and mothers with deafblindness.
Participants highlighted numerous communication barriers, as healthcare workers are often unfamiliar with the language of the deafblind. They were not adequately included in conversations with medical staff, no one inquired about their psychological well-being after childbirth, and problems also appeared in ensuring appropriate care in the area of women’s reproductive health. They described positive experiences in cases where healthcare professionals learned the basics of tactile communication – in those moments, they felt heard, respected, and treated as persons. Proper communication was crucial for creating a sense of safety.
Our own users also shared their experiences of motherhood and confirmed that communication with healthcare workers remains the greatest challenge.
Therefore, it is essential to develop the language of the deafblind and strengthen the community in which all of us learn it. Only in this way can we ensure the accessibility of services, the exercise of rights, and the protection of human dignity. Lack of knowledge of the language must not be an excuse for excluding mothers from important decisions healthcare staff make about their health and the health of their children.
Mothers with deafblindness emphasized the key role of family, partners, friends, and above all, interpreters of the language of the deafblind and personal assistance in everyday life. Only with adequate support can a mother fulfil her role and care for the well-being of her children.
Living with a dual sensory impairment requires many adaptations in the living environment so that a mother can properly care for her child. Everything at home must always be in the same place, and children often hold their parents’ hands so that they can sense their movement and safety and always know where they are. Technical aids are also important, such as vibration devices and other equipment that alerts parents when a child is crying, awake, or in need of help.
None of the mothers ever considered deafblindness an obstacle to fulfilling their desire for motherhood.
One of our users said:
“I never thought about not having children. Today we live like a completely ordinary family. With the help of personal assistance, I can carry out the most everyday tasks. It’s not that I can’t do things – I just need help to do what I want.”
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we wish to send the following message to all mothers with deafblindness:
Being a mother is a special mission. Being a mother with deafblindness is proof of how immense the love of motherhood truly is. Love surpasses all boundaries of what is possible.
Ljubljana, 3rd of December 2025
