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Method. An extensive interview study conducted in five European countries. It has examined the level, form and accessibility of information available to people with deafblindness. This paper draws on these interviews, and other material and observations, in providing general characteristics and the results presented here. However, the data and quotations presented in this paper are from the interviews conducted by the authors in Sweden.

Analysis. The analysis of the interviews was done using the coding scheme based on the concepts of small worlds and the theory of information world looking for emerging themes. The scheme was flexible and additional themes were included into it during analysis when they emerged from the data.

Results. The study found that while the lives of most people are facilitated by an abundance of information in various forms and often in taken for granted format, this is not the case for those members of the society with deafblindness who need such information the most. The means of signification and information sources are limited for people with deafblindness not only because of dual sensory impairments, but mainly because of the limited opportunities afforded outside their small worlds.

Conclusions. The improvement of information infrastructures aimed at people with deafblindness will benefit the society and its democratic foundations as a whole and will strengthen the participation of people with deafblindness.