The Context
There are an estimated 27,000 people living with deafblindness in Wales – a higher prevalence than any other UK nation.
And this number is only projected to rise. An ageing population, chronic conditions such as diabetes and glaucoma and lengthy waiting times to access treatment will all play a part.
Current Welsh policy
The recent Disabled People’s Rights Plan 2025 – 2035 sets out a cross-government ambition to ensure disabled people can live independently, access services, and participate fully in society. It says…
“[The] Welsh Government is… committed to developing accessible, high quality, responsive and citizen-centred services which meet the needs of all deafblind people in Wales”
But beyond this, there is currently no explicit recognition or clear definition of deafblindness in Welsh law or statutory guidance.
Wales has strong legislative and strategic foundations for supporting people in need of social care more broadly. And the Welsh Government has clearly committed to improving overall health and disability outcomes.
But without a consistent legal definition of deafblindness, people living in Wales with dual sensory loss will not get the consistent care and support we should all be able to access.
Support for deafblind people in Wales
Our experience supporting people across Wales suggests that policy and guidance is not being consistently implemented. People with combined sensory loss to not reliably receive appropriate assessments or access to specialist support.
Deafblind people can fall between support pathways relating to hearing loss, vision impairment, disability and older people – leaving then with unmet needs for support.
What are we calling for?
What have we been doing?
We have sent our manifesto out to candidates from all major parties across the nation.
And once the new Members of the Senedd are elected, we will be reaching out to work together to improve the lives of everyone affected by deafblindness in Wales.
Read the full manifesto
Have any questions or want to find out more?
Contact our Communications Officer, Evangeline on [email protected]
