Background Approximately 40 people in West Dunbartonshire have a severe combined loss of hearing and sight, sometimes called dual sensory impairment or deafblindness. This causes significant problems with accessing information, communicating with others and getting around independently.
Dual sensory impairment may have a congenital cause or may be acquired in the course of people's lives. Congenital deafblindness may be associated with other disabilities such as learning disability. Acquired deafblindness is more common and effects mainly older people.
Good Practice in Communicating Assume those who have a dual sensory impairment will try to use any residual hearing and/or sight they may have, so try to implement the good practice described in the sections on communication with people who have hearing or visual impairment.
Don't assume all deafblind people can read Braille, or use sign language. Tactile communication should be tried when other options are not appropriate.
Where necessary arrange for a guide/communicator to be made available to a person with dual sensory impairment. This service can be arranged through Deafblind Scotland (see useful contacts, below)
Where a guide/communicator is to be used, implement good practice for sign language interpreters particularly regarding guide/communicator's needs for background info and regular breaks. This is set out in the section on hearing impairment.
Making Information Accessible For Deafblind People Where people have a dual sensory impairment it will be necessary to consider making the following adjustments:
Text size - Use Arial 14 font, or larger, in bold, using lower case with only necessary capitals, justified to the left and using no underlining.
Language - Take time to ensure clear unambiguous statements are used, avoiding excessive use of acronyms or jargon.
Formats - Alternative formats should include the normal large print, audiotape, Braille. In addition offer a summarised version. Other formats include CD and disk.
Communication Support - Be aware that alternative formats may not be enough and that it may be necessary to make arrangements to provide 1 to 1 specialist communication support to enable deafblind people to access routine information, use the telephone, internet or helplines etc.
Service Access - Consider the use of 1 to 1 specialist communication support, home visits, telephones, text messaging, textphones, email and the internet to improve access to your service..
Location - Staff should be aware of the importance of good lighting and the problems that can be caused by background noise and visual 'noise'. If possible use a quiet room.
Loop System - Have a working loop system available for hearing aid users.
Useful Contacts
Deafblind Scotland 21 Alexandra Avenue, Lenzie G66 5BG
Tel/textphone: 0141 777 6111
Fax: 0141 775 3311
Email:
info@deafblindscotland.org.uk
Sense Scotland 43 Middlesex Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow G41 1EE
Tel: 0141 429 0294
Fax: 0141 429 0295
Text: 0141 418 7170
Email:
info@sensescotland.org.uk
