My Voice, My Hands: Self-Advocacy for People with  Deafblindness

This keynote challenges traditional advocacy by shifting the focus from speaking for deafblind people to empowering them to speak for themselves. It highlights three core barriers—limited access to information, communication challenges, and reduced confidence—that restrict self-advocacy. The keynote introduces the TOUCH+VOICE Hub, an affordable, tactile toolkit co-created by deafblind individuals that combines simple cards with mobile technology. Using the proverb “teach a person to fish,” the keynote will demonstrate how just four weeks of training can enable deafblind people to understand their rights, share their stories, and demand change. The speaker calls on organizations such as WFDB and DBI to pilot these hubs in Africa, support deafblind trainers, and measure success by amplifying deafblind voices. Ultimately, the keynote urges innovation, collaboration, and empowerment so the world can listen through touch, resilience, and courage.