The Anne Sullivan Centre For People Who Are Deafblind

19/06/2026

Why the absence of Audio Description for the 2026 World Cup matters.

https://vi.ie/a-missed-opportunity-for-inclusion/

19/06/2026

19/06/2026

As a person living with Usher syndrome, do you identify as deafblind?

This question is not intended to divide the community, but to help us better understand how people with Usher syndrome choose to identify themselves.

People with Usher syndrome have different experiences, different levels of hearing and vision loss, and ways of describing themselves. Some identify as deafblind, while some others prefer to identify as having both vision and hearing loss, or having dual sensory loss.

We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

 
  
Image description: White text on a dark background reading: “As a person living with Usher syndrome, do you identify as deafblind?” Beneath the question are icons of an eye and ear, and underneath are the words “Real Usher Voices” and the Usher Syndrome Ireland logo.

12/06/2026

Last week, Deirdre attended the FreedomTech/Community Hub for Assistive Technology (CHAT) event in Galway, which focussed on AT in Sport. Some fantastic presentations were given, connections made, and innovative devices on display.

Image description: A series of 4 pictures. First a banner with conference title. Second a new tactile way of experiencing foot ball match 'field of vision' . Third, 2 women presenting on stage. Fourth a selection of AT products on display

02/06/2026

Last week a group of deafblind ISL users along with interpreters and PAs visited RTE studios in Donnybrook. The group had a brilliant day, visiting the set of Fair City and the Late Late show as well as having the opportunity to see and feel costumes and props used in shows. Thank you so much to the team who put so much thought into making this tour a tactile experience for our group.

Image description: A series of 5 photos from a group tour of rte. Images are of people feeling costumes and props, a picture of the set of the Late Late show and people communicating through tactile ISL.

12/05/2026

Why are guild dogs so important?

Guide dogs help people with visual impairments travel safely and independently. They guide their owners around obstacles, through traffic, and to places like doors or crossings. They also provide companionship and emotional support.

07/05/2026

We have more great news to share about a fundraising effort by Nick, please see his message below:

I am raising money for the Anne Sullivan Centre for Deafblind people in Dublin. Since she moved there in 2018, this amazing place has given my sister-in-law, Alexis, a home and life she and we, her family, could not have believed possible. The staff there are simply remarkable; the care they show, and the opportunities they create, as well as the skills they have helped her to gain, mean that even with her challenges, Alexis has found her place in society and is leading a fulfilled life.

Their investment into braille technology for her have helped Alexis to access the most modern technology, such as using a mobile phone, sending text messages, using social media and reading up on what's going on in the world.

I am going to be cycling in the Wiltshire Sportive; a challenging 163km cycle around Salisbury and the South Downs in the UK to raise money to support the Anne Sullivan Centre to continue doing the awe-inspiring things they do every day to enhance the lives of people who are deafblind.

Many thanks for your support.
Nick
Thank you Nick and best of luck with your cycle !
Image description 1: Nick and Alexis standing together and smiling in front of the sea.
Image description 2: Poster for Wiltshire sportive with a graphic of a man cycling.
Please donate and share using the following link
https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/nickware

05/05/2026

Deaf Awareness Week helps raise awareness about deaf people’s rights. It's a week to celebrate deaf culture and sign language, and encourage better communication and inclusion. It also reminds us that sign language is a basic human right and that deaf people should have equal access to education, jobs, and public services.

29/04/2026

Today we were at the Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment in Ireland report launch. This report has been 2 years in the making, with input from AT users, service providers and agencies. It is a collaborative report between the Government and the World Health Organisation. Lots of good and impactful recommendations which we hope to see implemented over the coming years. The report is available online and comes in an Easy Read format. Our Create III project was also chosen to be highlighted through a poster presentation. We look forward to sharing more about our AT project which is an expansion of our AT library soon- watch this space!

Image description: A series of 3 photos. Photo 1 , an ISL interpreter on stage with Minister Eimear Higgins. Photo 2 image of our poster presention on our Creat III project. Photo 3 a close up of a banner which reads Assistive Technology capacity assessment in Ireland

28/04/2026

The Anne Sullivan Foundation were invited by Galway Centre for Independent Living to participate in their Service User Information Event on April 11.
It was great to meet so many lovely people and bring awareness to our services. The highlight of the day was the keynote speech from Mark Po***ck, who is able to achieve many things despite being blind and paralysed, because of amazing PAs in his life.

Image description: five pictures on one page, 1st pic: lady standing at a table. 2nd pic: man standing behind a podium speaking. 3rd pic: a man in a wheelchair speaking. Pic 4:galway independent living poster. 5th pic: Anne Sullivan foundation poster and information booklets on a table.