June 27 marks the International Day of Deafblindness, a day to raise awareness of the unique experiences, strengths, and needs of individuals who are deafblind. At DeafBlind Ontario Services, we see firsthand the resilience and potential of the people we support—individuals like Lance, whose story reflects the possibilities of living with dual sensory loss.
Lance’s life began with adversity. Born with only 40% vision due to complications from Rubella, he underwent his first eye surgery at just nine months old. Despite numerous procedures, Lance lost his sight completely. By adulthood, he had also developed hearing loss, leading to a diagnosis of deafblindness—a condition that profoundly affects how a person experiences and communicates with the world.
At 21, Lance moved into a DeafBlind Ontario Services supported living home, where he began receiving 24/7 personalized support. Here, specially trained intervenors act as the “eyes” and “ears” of the person who is deafblind through the sense of touch. By facilitating the exchange of information and assisting with communication methods, intervenors empower people like Lance to thrive.
As one of Ontario’s largest service providers for people who are deafblind, as well as those living with a developmental disability who are Deaf, hard of hearing or use non-traditional forms of communication, DeafBlind Ontario Services delivers individualized support tailored to each person’s communication preferences, needs, and goals. In Lance’s case, that support has helped him build meaningful relationships, express himself more clearly, and take part in the world in ways that once felt out of reach.
This journey is also rooted in advocacy. Lance’s father, Steven, is one of the founding members of DeafBlind Ontario Services. In the 1980s and ’90s, Steven joined a group of determined parents to address the lack of services for their children with sensory loss who were aging out of the school system at 21. Their efforts led to the creation of a network of support that now empowers individuals across Ontario—including Steven’s own son.
Steven describes Lance as someone who deeply enjoys life’s simple pleasures. “He loves being outdoors, feeling the wind on his face. Even in cold weather, he refuses to wear hats or gloves,” Steven laughs. “And when he’s in the van, he puts his hand out the window. People think he’s waving at them!” Music is another source of joy for Lance. Despite limited hearing, he finds comfort in the vibrations of sound and enjoys wearing headphones to feel connected to the rhythms around him.
Friendship and community are also important. Two of Lance’s classmates from the W. Ross MacDonald School later lived in the same supported home. They instinctively knew how to support him, often guiding him by the hand during outings. These quiet gestures of connection have left a lasting impression.
Lance’s communication skills have grown tremendously over time. Starting with hand-over-hand tactile signing, he now understands and uses key signs—like “drink”—to express his needs more independently, thanks to consistent support and reinforcement from his intervenors.
Steven reflects on the impact of this support: “Lance loves coming home to visit me, but the life he’s created and the sense of belonging he feels in his own home—that’s where he truly thrives.”
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