How Sudbury is adding colour, making waves for Deafblind awareness

Sudbury marks National Deafblind Month with yarn bombing, proclamations and a blue-lit water tower to boost inclusion and awareness.

June is recognized as National Deafblind Month in Canada, and the City of Greater Sudbury has also proclaimed it.

“We think it’s amazing just to have the inclusion and to feel for our individuals so that they feel like they’re like everybody else,” said Michelle LaVoie with Sensity Deafblind and Sensory Support Network of Canada.

‘Just over 2% of the population’

“We know that just over two per cent of the population, according to Statistics Canada, are Deafblind – that’s people who are living with both hearing and vision loss combined,” said Karen Madho from Deafblind Ontario Services.

In Greater Sudbury, there are supportive homes in Hanmer and Sudbury that provide support to local residents living with Deafblindness.

“In Sudbury, currently, we have three supported living homes,” said Crystal Pigeon-Way, also with Deafblind Ontario Services.

“We’re supporting eight individuals who experience life with Deafblindness.”

Yarn bombing to spark conversation

Following tradition, Deafblind Ontario Services and supporters are decorating the city in a tactile way by yarn bombing to spark conversation.

“We do a big initiative called yarn bombing in Sudbury,” said Pigeon-Way.

“Last year, you may have seen the colourful coins of Sudbury kind of roaming around. This year, we’re doing something a little bit different – we have, I think, 16 or 17 companies, organizations, installations out across the city.”

“We’re also including some information about it and encouraging people to find out more about the Deafblindness, to find out more about the services that are available, and really just to learn more, to have a deeper understanding,” added Madho.

Peace Tower to be lit blue

The advocacy goes beyond yarn. In just a few weeks, the Sudbury Peace Tower will be lit blue, connecting it to different landmarks to represent making waves from coast to coast. The CN Tower and Jumbo the elephant in St. Thomas will also be participating in the blue wave.