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Helen Keller National Center Launches 2025 DeafBlind Awareness Week Campaign – ‘Cultivating Leadership: Together, We Grow’

HKNC launches its 2025 DeafBlind Awareness Week campaign, "Cultivating Leadership: Together, We Grow," featuring five DeafBlind individuals who represent the leadership journey from youth to older adulthood.

HKNC 2025 Deaf Blind Awareness Week poster.

SANDS POINT, NY – The Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC) today officially launched its 2025 DeafBlind Awareness Week campaign, “Cultivating Leadership: Together, We Grow.” The annual campaign, taking place June 22-28, 2025, focuses on leadership development within the DeafBlind community across all life stages.

Leadership within the DeafBlind community flourishes through cultivation, education, and courage—creating a continuous cycle of growth that connects generations. The campaign focuses on the journey of leadership development that spans from youth to older adulthood. The theme “Cultivating Leadership: Together We Grow” reflects the nurturing process required to develop leaders and emphasizes the collective support that helps DeafBlind individuals thrive within the community.

This year’s campaign poster showcases five DeafBlind individuals who represent the progression and diversity of the journey at various life stages, positioned along a path leading to a lighthouse—symbolizing how individual progress illuminates the path for others to follow. The poster, which includes a braille message component, is distributed nationally to vocational rehabilitation agencies, partner organizations, and other groups working with the DeafBlind community.

The campaign website features the 2025 poster with detailed visual and audio descriptions, profiles of the five featured individuals, and downloadable campaign graphics for social media sharing. Visitors can also access a comprehensive perspective article, “Leadership Across the DeafBlind Community: A Journey of Growth,” which explores the deeper themes of leadership cultivation, intergenerational mentorship, and the role of technology in empowering DeafBlind individuals.

Additional resources include a sample proclamation template for local advocacy and educational content through HKNC’s Learning Center covering DeafBlind culture, communication approaches, and assistive technology. Special for DeafBlind Awareness Week, HKNC is offering free access throughout June to two comprehensive paid courses: “Ensuring Access to Communication” for direct providers and “Technology Solutions for Older Adults with Combined Hearing and Vision Loss” for professionals and caregivers.

For more information about DeafBlind Awareness Week 2025, including downloadable campaign materials and resources, visit helenkeller.org/DBAW25 or contact HKNC at 516.944.8900.

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