The Uganda Project

The members of the Danish Association of the DeafBlind have for years worked on establishing a well functioning organisation and to construct a exact identity. When the association had accomplished stability and a high level of activity the next step was to share their experiences with deaf-blind people in other countries.

Uganda was the chosen focus in the project because of the possibilities for a good contact with deaf-blind people from Uganda. They were capable to be an active part in the process of raising awareness about deaf-blindness as a self-contained handicap and to participate in a mobilising work in the field. 

From the beginning the project has had focus on self-help and on cooperation about the boundaries of the project.
The project contained many aspects, where only a few is mentioned here:

Identification of adult deaf-blind people and information to the families involved and to the authorities in different regions of Uganda.
Interpretation for deaf-blind people.
Training in visual frame signing.
Accompaniment by deaf-blind people.
Communication and ADL’s (activities of daily living).
Deaf-blind theatre and drama.

The social activities were among others: visits to institutions and organisations for deaf-blind people, meetings with different groups of deaf-blind people, visits at deaf-blind people’s homes, tandem biking, exercise, sport and chess with deaf-blind Danes.