Dual Sensory Impairment Project
Capturing the hidden epidemic
Dual Sensory Impairment Project
Capturing the hidden epidemic
This has been a big week: with a council cleanup, an occupational therapist home visit, the moving around of objects and furnishings alongside the purchase of items to make life easier or safer (or both). It therefore seems timely to write about home modifications. In my experience, very, very few professionals and organisations have experience in the complexities and challenges …
At NextSense, Macquarie University, the Hunter Deafblind Project from CDAH and Newcastle Deafblind members came down from Newcastle to run their Deafblind Awareness Week 2025 event. Community members Carleeta, Lisa and Pat shared their lived experience. They spoke on how their deafblindness turned their world upside down, some of the many challenges they face, and how they remain positive as …
Join us at Nextsense for Deafblind Awareness Week, a global event. Let’s celebrate the unique diversity of the Deafblind community. This event will include: Event details: When: Friday 20th June 2025 Sessions available: 10am-12pm or 12:30pm-2:30pm Where: 2 Gymnasium Rd, Macquarie Park Tickets available at: eventbrite – A journey without sight or sound Register Now – it’s free!
While in Helsinki, Annmaree Watharow, Skye Wallace, Amanda Francis and Tony Yee met with Russ Palmer, Riitta Lahtinen and interpreter Stina Ojala at the Hotel Lilla Roberts to conduct a Social-Haptic Masterclass. Russ is a deafblind person with Usher syndrome, and he and his wife Riitta began developing social-haptic communication in 1991. For over 30 years, they have been working …
Annmaree Watharow, Susannah McNally, Skye Wallace and Amanda Francis Annmaree, Amanda and Skye from the Dual Sensory Impairment Project travelled to Helsinki for the Nordic Network for Disability Research conference held at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Annmaree, assisted by Amanda (social-haptic communication) and Skye (driving the tech devices and communication), presented on one aspect of the survey we …
Research Study: Developing integrated care models for older adults with combined vision and hearing loss, and their family carers. We are conducting a research study about the impact of combined vision and hearing loss (also known as dual sensory impairment [DSI]) on older adults and the close family members who provide care. We know from previous studies we have conducted …
Filling in the gaps and joining the dots The Dual Sensory Impairment Project is delighted to announce the upcoming National Dual Sensory Impairment-Deafblindness Conference, taking place this November at the University of Sydney.We are co-convening this important awareness-raising, experience-sharing and skills-building event with the Dual Sensory Impairment Fellowship at Macquarie University. Support and sponsorship have also been provided by: This …
The Dual Sensory Impairment Project held an annual Christmas party in mid-December! We celebrated 2024’s achievements, discussed challenges, solutions and big plans for 2025 projects, chatted about our holiday fun and ate a delicious array of food! Our chief cheerleader Suzie was absent, although we mustn’t feel sorry for this as she was in France enjoying her beautiful new house, …
Annmaree Watharow and Susannah McNally People have been using on-body touch signals for centuries. Most people use touch and gestures, for example, to signify support (patting on the back), and love (holding hands, kissing). People with disability and their families have sometimes created individual systems when sight, hearing or speaking senses are not working well enough for them to ‘know …
Annmaree Watharow and Susannah McNally So, we have our super team in place (see part one). What else do we need to have a better health or hospital experience? We need lots of systemic and attitudinal changes, but we can help ourselves (and our health caregivers) by being prepared. In order to be better prepared for hospital and healthcare encounters, …