More than 30 deaf-blind affiliates of The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind participated in a 3-day workshop in Wellington from March 12th to 14th. The workshop was aimed at extending a platform for the deaf-blind people to socialize and enhance their social network. They were supported and assisted by the volunteers of the seminar for enhancing their leadership skills. They were also given a brief on the community services available for their guidance.

A number of guest speakers like Lex Grandia, President of The World Federation of the Deafblind, and Associate Minister for Disability Issues Pansy Wong and Government and community services workers presented their speeches.

RNZFB Chief Executive Sandra Budd said that this is a special kind of impairment that comes at the cost of the sufferer’s inability to communicate and grasp information.

“This workshop has been an excellent opportunity for deaf-blind people to share their experiences within a supportive environment and discuss solutions for the future", Sandra said.

Merv Cox, President of Deafblind Incorporated, appreciated the initiative of RNZFB, saying that the expansion in the social web of deaf-blind people should be supported by the authorities and related organizations.

In general, the deaf-blind people live with the inability to see or hear. However, for some of them, one of the senses remains relatively active, i. e., either the sight or hearing.

Reportedly, more than 1500 deaf-blind people in New Zealand have shred that their impairments have affected their lives, severely.