Governor Proclaims Deafblind Awareness Month 2024

DEAFBLIND AWARENESS MONTH

2024

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, approximately 84,000 people in North Carolina have the combined losses of hearing and vision, among the most severe of all communication disabilities; and

WHEREAS, we recognize and appreciate the diversity and contributions of deafblind individuals in North Carolina and gain strength from them, strive for their equal rights, and celebrate the qualities that make each deafblind person unique; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages the full inclusion of deafblind people, with access and opportunities made possible by the development of self-advocacy skills and effective use of appropriate resources, such as specialized adaptive technologies, haptics, support service providers, and CoNavigators; and

WHEREAS, deafblind people receive education, participate in social activities, manage their everyday lives, and are actively engaged in their communities through employment and civic activities; and

WHEREAS, it is important to recognize the abilities and potential of individuals who are deafblind, or have combined significant vision and hearing loss, and to recognize that Helen Keller is one example of courage, hope, determination, and achievement among the deafblind population; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina Deafblind Interagency Team – including the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Division of Services for the Blind, Department of Public Instruction, NC Deaf-Blind Project, North Carolina Deaf-Blind Associates, RHA Deaf Mental Health Services, and the Helen Keller National Center Southeast – collaboratively encourages increased awareness, understanding, and support for individuals who have combined hearing and vision loss, and recognizes the many contributions made by people who are deafblind in communities across our state;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June, 2024, as “DEAFBLIND AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

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Roy Cooper

Governor

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-ninth day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth