News & Stories

Prepared by Mia Sellars, Summer Student at London 1

Teams from London 1, London 2, and Sarnia came together to honour Deafblind Awareness with a heartfelt and inspiring event. The day offered a meaningful opportunity for participants to come together in the spirit of learning, connection, and inclusion. Through a variety of interactive activities and thoughtful conversations, attendees were able to deepen their understanding of the lived experiences of individuals in the deafblind community. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of awareness, empathy, and advocacy in creating a more inclusive world for all.

As part of the event, we had the opportunity to learn about accessible coping strategies from one of our inspiring guest speakers, Cindy Xie, intervenor at London 1. The presentation focused on practical tools to support emotional well-being, tailored to the unique needs of the individuals we support. Indoor strategies included calming activities such as listening to music or enjoying a warm drink like tea or water. Outdoor approaches highlighted the importance of nature and movement, including taking a walk or simply resting while seated in a quiet environment. We also explored the vital role that mental health plays in overall well-being and discussed the value of using personalized coping techniques to support each individual’s needs in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

London 1’s Intervenor Services Coordinator, Carolina Cohoon, led an immersive simulation activity that created a reflection on the challenges faced by individuals who are deafblind. Participants used virtual reality goggles, an app (Tengo Baja Vision), eye masks, and earplugs to tackle a trivia on cane tips and deafblind technology, gaining first-hand empathy for environmental barriers like background noise that hinder communication and cause fatigue.

Alicia Merola, Intervenor Services Coordinator at London 2, also led a meaningful conversation on personal and ethical values and how intervenors can bring them into the workplace to be our best selves.

A standout moment of the evening was the Blind Kitchen products demonstration, where Leeann with the support of her intervenor Sarah Dick, showcased how adaptive tools and personalized strategies empower individuals who are deafblind to achieve greater independence in daily living.

Want to learn more about the products used during this demonstration? Check out this resource created by Sarah Dick. It was an inspiring and educational event that brought teams closer together and strengthened the collective commitment to inclusion and advocacy. Sincere thanks to everyone who participated, and a special acknowledgment to our guest speakers Leeann, Sarah, Alicia and Cindy!