Exploring the mobility safety concerns of Australians with deaf-blindness.

People with deaf-blindness (PWDB), both hearing and vision loss, are amongst the most marginalised and isolated individuals in society. Deaf-blindness impacts communication, mobility, socialisation, education, employment, finances and independence. We want to better understand the complex issues for PWDB in simply leaving their home (e.g., navigation in the community and safe road crossing). Able Australia, Macquarie University and NextSense will ask “What are the mobility safety concerns of PWDB in Australia?” Our project is strongly supported by the Australian deafblind community, who are often excluded from national research due to their complex communication needs. We have confirmed collaborative participation with deafblind organisations in NSW, WA, and VIC to directly include the diverse deafblind community in our research. Through a co-designed research project which uses in-person focus groups (with interpreters) the deafblind community will lead discussion that explores their unique mobility safety concerns, and their needs from personal lived experience.