In Peru, an estimated 650,000 people live with a mild form of deafblindness and approximately 65,000 people live with a severe form of deafblindness.*
*World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB), 2018 At risk of exclusion from CRPD and SDGs implementation: Inequality and persons with deafblindness.
Deafblindness is recognised as a unique disability and establishes provisions for the care of deafblind people. Peru’s Law No. 29524 (2010) defines deafblindness as:
A disability that is manifested by simultaneous hearing and visual impairment, in partial or total degree, in a sufficient and serious manner to compromise communication, mobilization and access to information and the environment.
This definition means that not only is considered a dual disability, it also takes into account their overall needs as a person. Although the definition is an achievement, progress has been slow around access to service, accessible communication and or training and integration into the labour market.
The 2017 national census found that the population living with disabilities in Peru has low levels of education. 14% of people with disabilities have not attained any educational level, and 32% have not studied further than primary level.** For those that have access to education, schools are often poorly prepared to adequately include them, with many teachers feeling untrained to deliver a quality education.
People with deafblindness still remain isolated and need access to support that is specific to their needs to be more visible and engaged in their communities.
Access to technology can be a game-changer for people with deafblindness, providing new ways to access information, communicate with others, and participate in daily life.
These resources will enable people with deafblindness and those that support them to live, learn, and thrive.