Province Proclaims June as Deafblind Awareness Month

Released on June 1, 2023

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed June 2023 as Deafblind Awareness Month to raise awareness and learn about the experiences of Saskatchewan residents who are deafblind.

Individuals are considered deafblind if they have a combined loss of both hearing and vision to the point that neither can be used as a primary source of information gathering and communication.

"Our government is building a Saskatchewan that is inclusive and accessible, where all people can participate to the best of their abilities," Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said. "Through The Accessible Saskatchewan Act, we will continue to prevent and remove barriers that residents, including those who are deafblind, experience to ensure they can achieve their potential and live their lives to the fullest in their communities."

Deafblind Awareness Month has been proclaimed in partnership with the Canadian Deafblind Association - Saskatchewan Chapter (CDBA-SK). CDBA-SK's mission is to provide individualized programs that honour the unique needs of persons who are deafblind while advocating for independence and a quality of life that ensures dignity and respect.

"CDBA Saskatchewan provides both residential and day program supports for people experiencing deafblindness to empower individuals to be as independent as possible," CDBA-SK Executive Director Leanne Kerr said. "Our Intervention Team comes up with amazingly creative ways to support individuals while continuing to honour one of the most important Principles of Intervention: 'Do with, not for.' We continue to strive for the best in providing person centered supports, and the assistance of the Saskatchewan government makes achieving this goal possible."

In the 2023-24 provincial budget, government increased funding of $170,000 to fulfill government's four-year commitment to enhance services for D/deaf and deafblind people in Saskatchewan.

The Government of Saskatchewan also recently passed The Accessible Saskatchewan Act to prevent and remove accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities. The Act allows government to establish accessibility standards through regulations in the following areas: the built environment, information and communications, employment, transportation, service animals, procurement and service delivery. Government will soon develop an application and selection process to appoint members to the Accessibility Advisory Committee, which will be comprised of persons with disabilities and impacted stakeholders, who will make recommendations about accessibility standards. Government has also started work on the general regulations that require public sector bodies to develop accessibility plans.

To keep up to date with the progress of Saskatchewan's accessibility legislation, please visit accessiblesk.saskatchewan.ca.

For more information about CDBA, please visit www.cdbanational.com.

-30-

For more information, contact: