The group of deafblind people choose Benidorm for their annual meeting, in which 51 countries participate

The international group of deafblind people has chosen Benidorm for their annual meeting, in which representatives from 51 countries participate from yesterday until June 27. The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the president of the Federation of Associations of Deafblind People of Spain (FASOCIDE), Francisco Trigueros, has presented today the details of this event, which brings together the V Annual Assembly WFDB and the XI Helen Keller World Conferences with the celebration of the International Day of the Deafblindness.

The mayor assured that "Benidorm is very lucky" to host this event, which places the city in "the global epicenter" of the struggle and visibility of the group of deafblind people. Pérez explained that City Council and FASOCIDE have been "working many months" in the organization of this annual meeting, in which there will be about 600 participants among deafblind people, interpreters and volunteers. An annual meeting to which FASOCIDE has invited Queen Letizia, honorary president of this organization, and which will close with the commemoration of the International Day of the Deafblindness and the 50th anniversary of the death of Helen Keller with an act in the Plaza de Their Majesties Kings of Spain.

The president of FASOCIDE is "delighted" to be in Benidorm and pointed out that the city is the "ideal" place for this event because it is "an accessible city". Trigueros stated that the WFDB Annual Assembly, the XI Helen Keller Conferences and the International Day of the Deafblind is a "very important" event for the group because it "gives us a voice" and "the opportunity to raise awareness among society that our disability is unique and we have our own identity and culture. "

Trigueros stressed that among the objectives pursued by the collective with this event are "that the world knows that deafblind people are also capable and have many other capabilities"; and also, "the right to universal accessibility through new technologies" in order to "have the adaptations we need to carry out our day to day". Likewise, he indicated that the days that will be held in Benidorm will serve to "know how services and experiences of deafblind people are in other countries of the world", especially supporting those who have the necessary resources and fighting "for equality" between all of them.

Program of events

After yesterday's reception, today the General Assembly of the WFDB has started at the Gran Hotel Bali, which will last until tomorrow. Various workshops will be held within the assembly, such as those focused on the efforts and experiences of women who are deafblind, access to the educational environment or the situation of the group in different countries of the world.

On Saturday 23 different accessible excursions have been programmed for Benidorm and its beaches, the Bonfires of Alicante and the Terra Mítica, Terra Natura and Aqualandia parks. The Helen Keller World Conference will take place the next day and until June 26, and also at the Gran Hotel Bali. The events will be completed with the commemoration of the International Day of the Deafblind and 50 anniversary of the death of Helen Keller in the Plaza SSMM Kings of Spain.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller was an American writer, speaker and political activist deafblind born in 1880 and, as a result of an illness, lost sight and hearing completely. He was the first deafblind person to obtain a university degree.