Malaysia Creates Dedicated Deafblind Disability Category to Improve Inclusive Policies and Public Services
GOMBAK: Malaysia has taken another significant step towards strengthening disability inclusion by officially recognising the deafblind community as a distinct subcategory within the Multiple Disabilities classification, paving the way for more specialised government policies and support services.
The recognition, endorsed by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, is expected to improve the way government agencies identify, assist and plan programmes for individuals living with combined hearing and visual impairments.
Senior Assistant Director of the Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities under the Social Welfare Department (JKM), Sunarni Mastury, said the new classification reflects a broader understanding that deafblindness is not merely the coexistence of hearing and vision loss.
Instead, she explained, it represents a unique disability requiring tailored communication methods, dedicated educational approaches, specialised rehabilitation and customised social support systems.
“The recognition goes beyond simply updating disability registration records.
“It provides an important foundation for designing targeted welfare programmes, accessibility measures, education initiatives and social protection policies that respond directly to the needs of the deafblind community,” she said while officiating Malaysia’s inaugural National Deafblind Day celebration at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
Sunarni noted that the dedicated classification will also significantly improve data collection, enabling policymakers to obtain more accurate information regarding the size and needs of the deafblind population.
Reliable data, she said, will strengthen long-term planning for healthcare services, assistive technologies, educational resources, communication support and future government funding.
According to the Social Welfare Department’s records, Malaysia had registered 69,322 persons with visual disabilities and 51,089 persons with hearing disabilities as of May this year, together accounting for around 14 per cent of all registered persons with disabilities nationwide.
The introduction of a separate deafblind category is expected to provide a clearer understanding of individuals experiencing both impairments simultaneously.
Sunarni added that the initiative aligns closely with the objectives of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which prioritises social inclusion and equal participation for all persons with disabilities.
She emphasised that no disability group should be excluded from opportunities in education, employment, healthcare or public infrastructure because of gaps in policy recognition.
The National Deafblind Day event was organised by the Deafblind Association of Malaysia for Awareness and Inclusion (DAMAIKU) together with the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf and IIUM’s Disability Services Unit.
Meanwhile, DAMAIKU Protem President Associate Professor Dr. Nor Azizan Che Embi said the organisation remains committed to improving the quality of life of deafblind individuals through advocacy, rehabilitation, family support, education, research and community empowerment initiatives.
He added that increasing public awareness is equally important in building an inclusive society where deafblind individuals are recognised not for their disabilities but for their abilities and potential contributions.
The official recognition is expected to strengthen cooperation between government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare providers and civil society organisations, ensuring that future policies become more responsive to the unique needs of one of Malaysia’s most overlooked disability communities.
