Phil Thorn
Phil is a survivor of meningitis. The illness left him totally deaf, blind and a paraplegic in 2008. Since then a cochlear implant has been installed and an audio bypass implant. Between the two implants he has gained some hearing of environmental sounds and the implants have reduced the tinnitus he suffered with significantly. Since 2010, Laura Fergusson community in Hutt City has been his home, where he is supported to live with a high level of independence. He is a dad, with two young adult children who he treasures.
For in-person meetings, deafblind tactile sign language is used to keep him connected whether via a NZ sign language interpreter, his academic support person, support worker or a volunteer. Adaptive Braille technology is his main form of connecting to the world through a computer or his iPhone. Currently he is a part-time student studying towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology. You can learn more about his journey on his website, below.
He was privileged to be selected to join the board of Deafblind Association NZ in January 2024. When a position became available, he decided to apply as he felt the board needed greater representation of people who are totally deaf and blind. He has experienced the isolation, lack of inclusion, feeling marginalised, inability to access services and not having his basic human rights of communication met. When applying for the board position, his purpose in doing so was driven by a desire to use his voice to do everythinghe can to advocate that deafblind Kiwis have their basic human rights of communication met for everyday life. Deafblind people must be treated with equality so they can access NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) interpreters for their everyday communication needs so they feel valued and they can connect to participate in their community.