We’re incredibly proud to share that Able Australia has been selected as one of the recipients of the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) 2025 Round 1 funding.
Our project, “Exploring the mobility safety concerns of Australians with deafblindness” will explore the real-life experiences of people with deafblindness when it comes to navigating the world around them, from crossing the road to simply getting out the front door.
This community-led research will partner with Macquarie University and NextSense, and most importantly, will be shaped by the insights of people with deafblindness themselves. Too often, this community is left out of conversations that directly affect them. This project aims to change that.
“We know from our work developing ICF Core Sets for people with deafblindness that mobility safety is a big concern to deafblind people,” says Meredith Prain, Able Australia’s Head of Research and Centre of Excellence – Deafblind.
“We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to better understand and explore this area of unmet need with deafblind people across Australia.”
This project is supported by the National Disability Research Partnership through a grant from the Australian Government, as part of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031. The NDRP awarded $900,000 to 15 co-designed research projects focused on improving safety for people with disability. All projects are led by or with people with disability and aim to address critical gaps identified by the Disability Royal Commission.
We’re proud to be part of this important national effort and look forward to sharing more as our work progresses.
🔗 Learn more about all funded projects: NDRP 2025 Round 1 Projects
What are ICF Core Sets?
ICF Core Sets are a practical tool based on the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
They help identify the most important areas of life that should be considered when supporting people with specific disabilities or health conditions.
They’re like a checklist of what matters most, things like:
- Getting around safely
- Communicating with others
- Building and maintaining relationships
- Managing daily activities
- Access to services or supports
These sets are co-developed with people with lived experience, so they reflect what really matters, not just to clinicians or researchers, but to the people living with disability.
Why it matters for people with deafblindness:
For people who are deafblind, traditional assessment tools often miss key things like how they navigate space, use alternative communication, or build social connections.
That’s why Able’s work on ICF Core Sets for people with deafblindness is so important. It creates a shared, evidence-informed framework that can shape better research, support, and policy, all based on what the community says they need.