National Deafblind Awareness Month
June is National Deafblind Awareness Month (NDBAM)
This year, we celebrate 11 years since the Senate of Canada proclaimed June as National Deafblind Awareness Month! It’s a time to recognize, celebrate, and raise awareness for people who are deafblind across our communities. Deafblindness is a unique disability that combines vision and hearing loss. This month is an opportunity to learn how individuals communicate, access information, and experience the world in their own way, deepening understanding and fostering inclusion.
Throughout the month, we come together to champion accessibility, encourage participation, and celebrate the strength and diversity of people who are deafblind.
Why do we Yarn Bomb?
Each year, the deafblind community, service providers, and supporters come together to “make a wave from coast to coast” and raise awareness through various activities and events.
DeafBlind Ontario Services is proud to join the global initiative #CreateAndConnect, led by Deafblind International (DbI). This campaign invites communities to engage in creative expression that fosters awareness, joy, and connection.
Our chosen form of expression? Yarn bombing – a vibrant, tactile art form that symbolizes unity and the diverse talents of people who are deafblind.
Yarn bombing involves wrapping public spaces with knitted or crocheted yarn creations. These installations are not only visually striking but also serve as a metaphor for connection – between individuals, communities, and the broader world.
Each installation created by DeafBlind Ontario Services is made from handcrafted pieces crafted by the people we support, employees, friends and family, local knitting clubs, and community members from across the province.
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Meet Steven
Steven has been supported by DeafBlind Ontario Services since 1997. His journey with us began in a shared home with two roommates, but today, he lives independently with support in his own apartment – a milestone that reflects both his personal growth and the impact of our Supported Independent Living (SIL) program.
With the right supports in place, Steven is able to engage with the world around him in ways that reflect his preferences, personality, and unique way of communicating. Through adapted communication and person-centered services, Steven makes his own choices, builds relationships, and participates in daily life.
Steven’s life is rich with meaningful experiences. His intervenors help him with everyday tasks like grocery shopping and visiting the mall, to swimming and attending local events. He also enjoys going for drives around the city and dining out at restaurants.
With the help of his intervenors, Steven has played an active role in setting up yarn bombing displays in his community.
“It’s important for people to learn more about DeafBlind Ontario Services and the deafblind community,” says Steven. “Awareness directly helps people who are deafblind.”
Building Inclusive Communities
Creating inclusive communities means removing barriers, both visible and invisible. Through a community of generous individuals, and with initiatives like NDBAM and yarn bombing, we make a meaningful difference, providing:
- Accessible, barrier-free supported living homes
- Specialized communication tools and assistive devices
- Opportunities for social connection and life-enriching experiences
As yarn bombing installations appear across our communities, they serve as a powerful reminder that awareness begins with visibility, and grows through understanding, participation, and shared experience.
Check out our yarn bombing installations during the month of June:
Newmarket
- Pickering College – 16945 Bayview Ave, Newmarket
- Fairy Lake Bridge – 520 Water St, Newmarket
- Newmarket Library – 438 Park Ave, Newmarket
Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- iDEA Lab (Innisfil Library) – 967 Innisfil Beach Rd, Innisfil
- Cedarvale Lodge Retirement – 121 Morton Ave, Keswick
- Stroud-Innisfil Recreation Centre & Library – 7883 Yonge St, Innisfil
- The Link – 20849 Dalton Rd, Sutton West
- Stephen Leacock Theatre – 130 Gwendolyn Blvd, Keswick
- MURC (Multi-Use Recreation Complex) – 261 Garrett Styles Dr, Georgina
- East Gwillimbury Library, Queensville Branch – 160 Jim Mortson Drive, Queensville
- Georgina Library Branches
– Keswick – 90 Wexford Drive
– Peter Gzowski (Sutton) – 5279 Black River Road
– Discovery Branch – 261 Garrett Styles Drive
– Pefferlaw – 76 Pete’s Lane
Sudbury
- Bay Used Books – 124 Elm St, Greater Sudbury
- Colonial Sports Bar – 28 Cedar St, Coniston, Greater Sudbury
- Valley East Lions Club – Lions Den at 4611 St Joseph St, Hanmer
- Join the Great Sudbury Yarn Adventure at the following locations! Visit the Facebook group to learn more.
– Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin – 125 Durham St, Sudbury
– Bob Rumball Center – 7233 Paris St, Sudbury
– Nikki’s Jamaican Kitchen – 176 Larch St, Sudbury
– YMCA Parkside – 140 Durham St, Sudbury
– Northwest Trading – 327 Highway 17 West, Espanola
– La Jeune Cafe – 93 Notre Dame St W Unit 7, Azilda
– Otaku Game Zone – 4764 Regional Rd 15, Chelmsford
– 7 Star Dumpling House – 1899 Lasalle Blvd and 1355 Regent St, Sudbury
– Coco Mango – 1188 St Jerome St, Sudbury
– Bitter Bill’s Ice Cream Parlour – 3695 Clarence St, Val Caron
– Bell Park, Jim Gordon Boardwalk – 900 Paris St, Sudbury
– Onaping Falls Hiking Trail – Highway 144, Greater Sudbury
London
- White Oaks Mall – 1105 Wellington Rd, London
– June 3rd – 5th interactive table display, plus a window display for the month of June - Central Library London – 251 Dundas St, London
- The Grand Theatre – 471 Richmond St, London
- CF Masonville Place – 1680 Richmond St, London
– Table display June 6th
St Thomas
- Jumbo The Elephant Lighting (June 1st-7th) – 65 Talbot St, St Thomas
- St. Thomas Library – 153 Curtis St, St Thomas
- Pinafore Park – 95 Elm St, St Thomas
- Elevated Park – 1 Centre St, St Thomas
Kitchener/ Waterloo
- The Family Centre – 65 Hanson Ave, Kitchener
- Conestoga Mall – 550 King St N, Waterloo
– Table display June 23rd – 25th
Woolwich
- St. Jacobs Market – 878 Weber St N, Woolwich
– Come and visit our table at the market on Saturday, June 6th
Peterborough
- Peterborough Square – 340 George St N, Peterborough
- Peterborough Library – 345 Aylmer St N, Peterborough
- The Cork and Bean – 382 George St N, Peterborough
- Dreams of Beans – 141 Charlotte St, Peterborough
- Milk + Tea – 360 George St N #57, Peterborough
- The Venue – 286 George St N, Peterborough
Oshawa
- Oshawa Library (McLaughlin Branch) – 65 Debwewin Miikan, Oshawa
Coburg
- Coburg Library – 200 Ontario St, Cobourg
- Hear Right – 21 King St W, Coburg
Ottawa
- Rockland Library – 1525 Du Parc Ave #2, Rockland
- Vars Medical Pharmacy – 5875 Buckland Rd, Vars
- Ottawa Library, Hazeldean Branch – 50 Castlefrank Rd, Ottawa
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Join our Yarn Bombing Crew
We’re taking Yarn Bombing even bigger next year!
Whether you’re a crafter who wants to create pieces for our displays, you’ve got some time to help us set up or you’ve got an idea where we can Yarn Bomb, we want to hear from you!
Join our Yarn Bombing Crew and we’ll send you information on how you can participate!