World Federation of the Deafblind
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| Abbreviation | WFDB |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2001 |
| Type | International non-governmental organization |
Region served | Worldwide |
Members | 75 national and associate member organizations in 67 countries |
| Website | wfdb |
The World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) is an international non-governmental organization representing people with deafblindness and deafblind organizations worldwide.[1] It advocates for the rights, inclusion and participation of people with deafblindness.[2][3]
The WFDB started in 2001 and achieved a special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2007.[4] It is also a member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA).[5]
History
The decision to create a world federation of people with deafblindness occurred during the sixth Helen Keller World Conference in Paipa, Colombia, in 1997. A provisional committee was appointed to prepare the development of the federation.[6]
WFDB held its first and founding General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand, on 11–12 October 2001, during the seventh Helen Keller World Conference. Stig Ohlson of Sweden was elected president, Daniel Álvarez Reyes of Spain vice-president, Lex Grandia of Denmark secretary-general, and Jeffrey S. Bohrmann of the United States treasurer.[6][7]
In 2007, WFDB obtained special consultative status with ECOSOC.[4]
Organization and membership
According to their own sources, WFDB is a global organization led by and for people with deafblindness. As of 2026, it reported 75 national and associate member organizations from 67 countries.[3]
Its membership structure includes national members, associate members, individual members, sponsoring members and regional members. National member organizations are expected to represent people with deafblindness in their respective countries, and at least half of the board of a national member organization must consist of people with deafblindness.[8]
WFDB maintains worldwide relationships with organizations including the World Blind Union, the World Federation of the Deaf, Deafblind International and the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters.[3]
International advocacy
WFDB advocates for recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability and for access to communication, interpreting, education, support services and participation in society [1]. It also participates in international disability-rights advocacy through the International Disability Alliance.[2] Academic literature has also cited WFDB in relation to the international rights and social inclusion of people with deafblindness, including concerns about exclusion from ageing, welfare and development policies.[9] WFDB has also promoted international recognition of the red-and-white cane as an identifying mobility aid for people with deafblindness.[10] In 2018, WFDB adopted a resolution calling for universal recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability and for publicly funded professional deafblind interpreting services.[11]
Global reports on deafblindness
In 2018, WFDB published its first Global Report on the Situation and Rights of Persons with Deafblindness. According to the International Disability Alliance, the report combined analysis of 22 population-based surveys, a review of the academic literature, and surveys of WFDB members and partners. It addressed inequalities affecting people with deafblindness and made recommendations concerning implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals.[12] WFDB's global reports have subsequently been cited in peer-reviewed research on the prevalence, health, participation and support needs of people with deafblindness.[13][14] [15] The second global centered in Good Practices and Recommendations for the Inclusion of Persons with Deafblindness . Hospimedia highlighted WFDB's recommendation that people with deafblindness should be directly involved in the development of public policy.[16] WFDB has stated that its global reports are intended to monitor the situation and rights of people with deafblindness and the implementation of international disability-rights commitments.[2]
International cooperation
WFDB has participated in international advocacy and policy activities together with organizations including the International Disability Alliance and Sense International. In 2018, it organized activities connected with its Global Report and the Helen Keller World Conference, including events in Geneva and the fifth WFDB General Assembly in Spain.[17]
The fifth WFDB General Assembly, held in Benidorm in 2018, was also covered by the Spanish news agency Europa Press in the context of international cooperation on deafblindness.[18] In June 2025, the Permanent Mission of Croatia to the United Nations collaborated with WFDB on a side event at the 18th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concerning recognition of the International Day of Deafblindness.[19] [20]
International Day of Deafblindness
WFDB was involved in the international campaign for formal recognition of an International Day of Deafblindness WFDB was involved in the international campaign for formal recognition of an International Day of Deafblindness.[21]. In June 2025, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 27 June as the International Day of Deafblindness. The date commemorates the birthday of Helen Keller.[22][23] [24]
The World Federation of the Deaf stated that it had supported WFDB's advocacy for the recognition of the day.[25] In 2026, the Office of the President of Croatia described the UN recognition as resulting from a proposal involving the Croatian Association of Deafblind Persons and WFDB, with support from Croatian institutions.[21][26]
See also
- Deafblindness
- International Disability Alliance
- World Blind Union
- World Federation of the Deaf
- Disability rights movement
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Quadrennial reports for the period 2007–2010 submitted by non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (Report). United Nations Economic and Social Council. 11 October 2011. E/C.2/2012/2/Add.14. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "World Federation of Deafblind". International Disability Alliance. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "About Us". World Federation of the Deafblind. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "World Federation of the Deafblind, The - WFDB". United Nations. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "All Commitments made by The World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB)". International Disability Alliance. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "World Federation of the Deafblind General Assembly – WFDB GA". World Federation of the Deafblind. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Address 7th Helen Keller World Deafblind Conference". New Zealand Government. 8 October 2001. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Become a Member". World Federation of the Deafblind. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ Simcock, Peter; Wittich, Walter (2019). "Are older deafblind people being left behind? A narrative review of literature on deafblindness through the lens of the United Nations Principles for Older People". Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. 41 (3): 339–357. doi:10.1080/09649069.2019.1627088.
- ↑ "Un bastón rojo-blanco identificará a las personas con sordoceguera". Europa Press. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Resolution: 5th General Assembly of the World Federation of the Deafblind". International Disability Alliance. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "World Federation of the Deafblind launches initial Global Report!". International Disability Alliance. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ Wittich, Walter (2021). "Device abandonment in deafblindness: a scoping review...". BMJ Open. 11. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044873. Unknown parameter
|article-number=ignored (help) - ↑ Bright, Tess; Ramke, Jacqueline; Zhang, Justine H (2023). "Prevalence and impact of combined vision and hearing (dual sensory) impairment: A scoping review". PLOS Global Public Health. 3 (5). doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001905. Unknown parameter
|article-number=ignored (help) - ↑ Baur, Mirko (2024). "LET ME IN: Globale Bildungskampagne von Deafblind International DbI – samt positiven Auswirkungen in der Schweiz". blind-sehbehindert (in Deutsch) (4). doi:10.3278/BSB2404W011.
- ↑ Allier, Edoxie (5 April 2023). "La construction des politiques publiques doit solliciter les personnes sourdaveugles". Hospimedia (in français). Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Newsletter from the IDA Secretariat, 10 October 2018". International Disability Alliance. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "España contará por primera vez con un censo de personas sordociegas". Europa Press. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Recognizing June 27th as the International Day of Deafblindness". United Nations Web TV. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Världens första lopp för dövblinda". SVT Nyheter (in svenska). 17 September 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Statement introducing draft resolution A/79/L.92, International Day of Deafblindness" (PDF). United Nations. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Statement by Croatia introducing the draft resolution on the International Day of Deafblindness" (PDF). United Nations. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "International Day of Deafblindness". United Nations. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "Historisk dag för dövblinda". SVT Nyheter (in svenska). 27 June 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "UN Recognition of the International Day of Deafblindness". World Federation of the Deaf. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
- ↑ "President Milanović Meets the Croatian Association of Deafblind Persons on the International Day of Deafblindness". Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia. 24 June 2026. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
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