greyhealth group and Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults Partner to Unveil a New Campaign to Educate Society to Connect Through the Power of Touch

New York, Sept. 22, 2017 -- To celebrate its 50^th anniversary, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults (HKNC), a division of Helen Keller Services, along with greyhealth group (ghg), launched a new initiative today designed to make society consider how we are squandering the gifts of sight and of hearing, and how we are losing the building blocks of human connection. 

“For 50 years, the Helen Keller National Center has set a remarkable standard for innovation and progress,” said Joseph Bruno, President & CEO of Helen Keller Services. “We’re proud to work with ghg. Their passion for community service has made a tremendous impact on the people we serve.” 

The campaign was inspired by HKNC’s desire to educate others about touch signals, a method of providing visual, hearing, and other environmental information to a deaf-blind individual in real time. Touch signals allow a deaf-blind person to make more informed choices and decisions about their surroundings based on a more complete picture. Touch signals are performed on the forearm, the back, and other areas of the body. The initiative illustrates how touch signals can empower a deaf-blind community and shows the power of touch through touch signals.

Entitled “Device Disabled,” the first phase of the campaign includes a guerilla marketing stunt that holds a mirror up to society and reflects the bad behaviors people engage in without realizing. Partnering with global healthcare marketing agency, ghg, and production house, Hogarth Studios, the video shows comedian Anthony Apruzzese soliciting passersby’s. Apruzzese uses an “Eye Phone Walking Cane,” a walking cane that attaches to a smartphone, so that pedestrians can remain focused on their phones while not having to worry about walking into walls, cars, or other people. A preview of the campaign can be viewed on HKNC’s YouTube page at http://bit.ly/2fdKChD.

“Technology is a godsend to everyone, especially to people who are deaf-blind and rely on it to communicate with the world on a daily basis. But we have become so dependent on technology that we tend to tune out the world around us, burying our heads in our phones or sticking headphones in our ears,” said Sue Ruzenski, Executive Director of HKNC. The deaf-blind community leads us by example, for us all to connect through the power of touch. 

The team includes Adrianna Reali, an instructor in HKNC’s Communication Learning Center. Adrianna, who is deaf-blind, was part of the ruse, and characterized herself as co-creator of the Eye Phone Walking Cane. She explained that the idea originated with her in an effort to show how deaf and blind the world has become.

The second phase of the campaign will begin in October, when HKNC will continue to encourage people to put down their cell phones while dining out. Partnering with celebrity chef and restauranteur, Marc Forgione, HKNC is placing branded smartphone charging lockers in Mr. Forgione’s Tribeca restaurant.

About HKNC 

Headquartered in Sands Point, New York, HKNC provides comprehensive vocational and independent living training to youths and adults who are deaf-blind. It offers support and learning opportunities to professionals and family members, and maintains a National Registry of Persons who are Deaf-Blind.  The Center partners with other agencies across the United States to build their capacity to work with individuals who are deaf-blind.  HKNC is a division of Helen Keller Services.  For more information, go to www.helenkeller.org/hknc.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9e9a11a-9d0e-4caa-b4bb-54573b6409e0

Deborah Rodriguez
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults 
718-522-2122 x 2204
[email protected]