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A non-profit social welfare center for people with both visual and hearing impairments or individuals with dual sensory loss: "SMILE"(Support Service Center for the Deafblind)

Deafblindness is a occurrence of concomitant hearing impairment and visual impairment. It is not just deafness which means hearing impairment, or blindness which means visual impairment. These two impairments multiply difficulties and challenges especially upon communication, access to all kinds of information, and travel safety. Many deafblind people may spend an isolated and lonely life due to these barriers.

SMILE was established in 1999, and we have been developing various activities and services for people with deafblindness to help them lead an active life and attain equal right as members of the society. SMILE is the only place which can enable people with deafblindness to fulfill their potential. 

What we provide:

1) One-to-one support 

We offer one-to-one support, which enables people with deafblindness to enhance communication, access to all kinds of information and resources, and orientation and mobility (O&M) instruction both in personal daily living and advanced social settings.

2) Vocational Program 

People with deafblindness have many potential skills for accomplishing job success. We have been developing jobs specialized for deafblindness. It promotes the independence and confidence of individuals who are deafblind. You can purchase our original products at our on-line shop and various festivals .

3) Counseling 

Our qualified counselors including peer counselors provide practical advice and support to address various difficulties and challenges that people with deafblindness and their families may face. We provide educational advice and support to children with deafblindness. We also have a library well-stocked with useful resources.

4) Lifelong Learning 

People with deafblindness can learn and enjoy their interests; for example, computer, the arts, cooking, tactile sign language, braille, and so on. This may enhance opportunities to discover new aspects of themselves.

5) Assistive Technology & Tools 

SMILE has developed and released Assistive Technology & Tools which are accessible and user-friendly for those who are deafblind. These assistive technologies and tools specifically address the challenges that deafblind users have faced. We provide the technology courses with deafblind instructors.

6) Seminar 

SMILE provides various seminars including sign language, braille, and tactile communication. We have also developed a curriculum to train interpreter-guides for people with deafblindness.

7) Recreation 

SMILE provides various activities such as recreation, sports, recreational trip, art, music, etc. A popular activity these days is playing Japanese drums!
What they are enthusiastic now is playing Japanese drums.

Call for new members
It is our pleasure that more people feel close to SMILE. For our members we distribute a magazine "I love Smile" (Japanese only) three times a year and a mail magazine once a month, which is full of episodes of SMILE and the latest information on deafblindness. We welcome your subscription -- please send an e-mail to info@db-smile.jp * Regular member (Deafblind only) \3000 annual member fee * Supporting member (Anyone is welcome) \2000 annual member fee

Donation and Contribution wanted

Your involvement will make a big difference to lives of persons with deafblindness.

Remittance
Bank:Risona Bank(りそな銀行)
Branch:Ueroku Branch(上六支店)
Classification:An ordinary deposit(普通預金)
Account No:0095993
Name: Non-profit organization visual and hearing impairments dual disabled people welfare center "Shichokaku-nijushogaisha-fukushi center Smile"(NPO法人視聴覚二重障害者福祉センターすまいる)

History 

1999 January Established an advocacy group for the right of persons with deafblindness. A periodical magazine "I love smile!" was first published.

1999 May Applied for the grant to set up a sheltered workshop.Approved as a sheltered workshop in six months.

2000 Held the first General Assembly of "SMILE."The first "Big Stage of the Deafblind in Osaka" was taken place.

2001 March Approved as a Non-Profit Organization.Make a start as A non-profit social welfare center for people with both visual and hearing impairments or individuals with dual sensory loss: "SMILE" (Shin-ichiro Kadokawa was elected as the first chairperson of the board of directors.)

2002 Started publishing a monthly magazine by e-mail(mail magazine).

2002 November Held the Third Anniversary "Big Stage of the Deafblind in Osaka."

2003 April Licensed as a Day Service Center.We also started human care services.

2003 Started developping technologies and tools which are user-friendly and easy to use for the Deafblind.
We have been developping software considering the demands of the users."EasyPad" is the first barrier-free software.

2003 July Attended the national conference for the Deafblind in the USA.(27 participants from Smile).

2004 Held the Fifth Anniversary "Big Stage of the Deafblind in Osaka."

2006 Held the Seventh Anniversary "Big Stage of the Deafblind in Osaka."

2007 April Programs and activities of "Smile" made a transition to continuous job training project according to the new law.

2009 The comemorative trip to Hong Kong celebrating our 10th anniversary of establishment.

2010 Held the 10th anniversary "Big Stage of the Deafblind in Osaka."

2012 We moved to a new office in July.

2013 Held the community festival in Temnoji-ku.
At the anniversary "Big Stage of the Deafblind in Osaka," persons with deafblindness played Japanese drums, dance, dramatic arts and other performance.It's goal for the audience is to get to know about Deafblind and their lives.

Please join us! 

We are open Mon. Tue. Thu. Fri. Sat. from 9 am.-5 pm(Wed. & Sun. Closed)
Pleased contact:
543-0028 Uehonmachi NEXTAGE Bldg, 7F Obase-cho Osaka City Osaka Japan
Tel:816-6776-2000
Fax:816-6776-2012