Voices of Deafblind People Gather in One Place... First National Conference of People with Deafblindness

[Financial News] The first national conference will be held where people with deafblindness gather to discuss the guarantee of their rights and institutional improvements. It is an occasion to share the experiences of people directly affected and expand interregional exchange networks.
According to the Miral Welfare Foundation on the 9th, the Helen Keller Center will hold the "1st National Conference of People with Deafblindness" on October 27–28 at the Grand Ballroom of L7 GWANGMYEONG by LOTTE HOTELS in Gwangmyeong City, Gyeonggi Province. The theme is "Our Rights to See and Hear," and the event is sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Happy ICT Foundation.
The event will involve approximately 200 participants, including people with deafblindness, interpreters and activity support workers, and staff from related organizations. Opinions on institutional improvements will be shared through a declaration of rights and statements by people directly affected, and exchange programs such as a mini-Olympics will also be held.
At the venue, sign language, text, and tactile sign language interpretation services will be provided, along with informational materials in print or Braille. Accommodation and meals will be provided for participants from regional areas and their accompanying assistants. If rooms remain available, people living far from Seoul and the metropolitan area may also receive accommodation support.
To provide people directly affected with opportunities to speak, they also need means of communication for conveying their opinions and the conditions to attend in person. The provision of interpretation, materials, and accommodation support together reflects these participation requirements.
To apply, download the application form from the foundation's website, fill it out, and submit it along with a copy of your welfare card to the reception center for your residential area. Participation is free, but each participant must be accompanied by one assistant, such as an activity support worker capable of interpreting, a family member, or a sign language or tactile sign language interpreter.
Hong Yu-mi, director of the Helen Keller Center, said, "I hope this conference will become a valuable starting point for people with deafblindness hidden throughout the country to hold one another's hands and not be left in social isolation."
Meanwhile, the Helen Keller Center opened in 2019 as Korea's first support institution for people with deafblindness and was designated as a dedicated support agency for people with deafblindness by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2024. It supports communication and independence through peer counseling, training tactile sign language interpreters, and distributing Braille information terminals.

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