Nordic Network for Psychologists Working in the Deafblind Field

The network aims to strengthen understanding of how deafblindness interacts with psychological development, cognition, relationships and wellbeing, and how psychological knowledge can sup-port meaningful participation in everyday life.

Psychological work in the deafblind field requires attention to each person’s sensory and communi-cative needs, life experiences and social environment. Through Nordic collaboration, the network provides a forum for discussing these complexities and connecting research, theory and practice.
An important aim is also to make the role and contribution of psychologists more visible within the wider deafblind field, including their collaboration with people with deafblindness, relatives and other professionals.

Members meet regularly online to share developments from their countries, discuss knowledge and reflect on questions arising from practice. The network brings together experience from clinical work, educational settings, counselling, rehabilitation and research.

Topics include:

• Psychological health, wellbeing and support.
• Cognitive and developmental assessment adapted to sensory and communication needs.
• Relationships, identity, loss and adjustment throughout life.
• Counselling and collaboration with relatives and other professionals.
• The role, responsibilities and ethical considerations of psychologists in the deafblind field.

The network also shares knowledge with the wider field through webinars and conference contributions. In 2025, the network hosted a webinar bringing together perspectives on psychological health and deafblindness. This work continued with the workshop Deafblindness and Psychological Health at the Nordic Conference on Deafblindness in 2026.

The network brings together psychologists working with deafblindness in the Nordic countries. If you would like to learn more about the network or are interested in becoming a member, please contact the network coordinators.

• Sofia Hansdotter (Nationellt kunskapscenter för dövblindfrågor/NKCDB): hansdotter@nkcdb.se
• Miriam Hielscher (Specialpedagogiska skolmyndigheten/SPSM): hielscher@spsm.se

Established in 2024, the network provides a shared professional forum for psychologists working in a specialised field. Nordic collaboration enables members to exchange knowledge across services and national contexts, learn from one another and develop shared initiatives.