Helen Keller National Center Announces 2025 DeafBlind Awareness Week Campaign

Cultivating Leadership: Together, We Grow

Annual advocacy campaign to highlight leadership development across all life stages in the DeafBlind community

SANDS POINT, NY – May 13, 2025 – The Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC) has announced its theme for the 2025 DeafBlind Awareness Week campaign: “Cultivating Leadership: Together We Grow.” The national advocacy campaign, which takes place during the last week of June (June 22-28, 2025), will focus on leadership development within the DeafBlind community across all life stages.

Since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating the last week of June as “Helen Keller DeafBlind Awareness Week,” HKNC has led annual campaigns to highlight the achievements and capabilities of DeafBlind individuals nationwide. The week coincides with Helen Keller’s birthday on June 27 and serves as an opportunity to raise public awareness about individuals with combined hearing and vision loss.

“This year marks our 41st annual DeafBlind Awareness Week campaign, and we’ve chosen to focus on the journey of leadership development that spans from youth to older adulthood,” said Ryan Odland, Associate Executive Director of HKNC. “Our theme ‘Cultivating Leadership: Together We Grow’ reflects the nurturing process required to develop leaders and emphasizes the collective support that helps leadership flourish within our community.”

The 2025 campaign will feature DeafBlind individuals at various life stages who exemplify leadership in their communities, workplaces, and families. Supporting materials will include a nationally distributed print poster, digital content, and educational resources for schools, rehabilitation agencies, and community organizations.