Deafblind Advocacy Training

<< Background >>We applied for this project to address the significant barriers faced by deafblind individuals in participating actively in society, including their exclusion from decision-making processes due to inaccessible information and communication. By providing fully accessible and culturally tailored advocacy training, we aimed to equip deafblind participants with the tools and skills necessary to undertake effective advocacy actions and claim their rights. Additionally, we sought to address the lack of deafblind-led organisations in some of the partner countries, and empowered the participants to play a role as multipliers in their communities towards deafblind governance, network, and participation. We also recognized the importance of allies in supporting deafblind advocacy and leadership and aimed to train them with the right attitudes and approaches to effectively support deafblind participants. Moreover, we facilitated the development of long-lasting advocacy tools that can be used by deafblind leaders and allies in their advocacy work. Finally, we sought to build expertise in providing training on deafblind advocacy and in developing the skills of deafblind workers, supporting the expert work of the deafblind trainers. << Objectives >>Our project aimed to achieve several key objectives aimed at empowering deafblind individuals and allies. Firstly, we sought to deepen awareness of deafblind identity, resilience, and rights through comprehensive training sessions. Secondly, we aimed to develop crucial advocacy skills necessary for effective deafblind rights advocacy among participants. Additionally, our project assisted participants in identifying pressing advocacy priorities within their respective countries. We provided practical application opportunities through role-playing exercises to implement advocacy strategies. Furthermore, we facilitated transnational exchanges to enrich perspectives and strengthen advocacy efforts at a European level. By fostering cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration, participants gained valuable insights and shared experiences. Through interactive workshops and discussions, participants honed communication strategies and negotiation techniques. Needs assessments were conducted to tailor action plans to specific local contexts and challenges. Ultimately, our project aimed to foster a more inclusive and equitable society by empowering deafblind individuals and allies to advocate for their rights effectively. << Implementation >>The project team comprised Stephanie Floux from AccesVisuel (France) as the project leader, Timothy Rowies from Empoway (Belgium) as the support coordinator, Maxime Batifol from Fondazione Istituto dei Sordi di Torino (Italy) as the Deafblind worker, and Pedro Mourão from Associação Portuguesa de Surdos (Portugal) as another Deafblind worker. They collaborated online and in a transnational meeting in July 2023 in Brunoy, France, to prepare for the communication and content of the training programme. In October 2023, in Brussels, Belgium, the team executed a deafblind advocacy training programme. Trainers included 3 deafblind trainers, with two external trainers from Sweden and Germany, along with 3 deafblind workers/facilitators. Six deafblind participants and three ally participants from France, Portugal, and Italy were trained. The programme encompassed community understanding, identity, leadership, empowerment, resilience, rights, and advocacy strategies. Participants formulated and tested actionable plans in small groups. Reflection sessions followed to discern country-specific action plans.<< Results >>The project yielded tangible outcomes aligning with initial objectives: 1. Participants gained profound insights into deafblind identity, resilience, and rights, vital for effective advocacy. 2. Tailored training equipped them with practical advocacy skills, facilitating policy change advocacy. They identified key priorities and crafted strategic plans for targeted efforts in their respective countries (France, Italy and Portugal). 3. The transnational exchange fostered collaboration and best practice sharing, enhancing ongoing support beyond the scope of the project. 4. Confidence and pride in advocacy work surged, highlighting the training's transformative impact. 5. Participants surpassed expectations, creating impactful advocacy tools such as Checklists on Deafblind Leadership and Allyship, a Manifesto of Deafblind Persons, and a Poster containing key principles on Deafblind Rights, elevating awareness nationally and across Europe.6. Trainers gained expertise in providing a deafblind advocacy training session to deafblind leaders and deafblind allies. 7. And a successful deafblind advocacy training programme is now existing and available for future similar training sessions to be conducted by the partner organisations.