Brighter future for deafblind community www.cumbriacrack.com, 2 Aug 2011 A bespoke new service to help Cumbrians living with dual sensory loss, or deafblindness, has been launched thanks to funding from the county council.Twelve new Communicator Guides have now completed their training and have already started providing a guiding service to people with dual sensory loss across the county. It is estimated that there are currently 3,200 people in Cumbria suffering severe difficulties as a result of dual sensory loss and with the county’s ageing population it has been estimated this figure will rise to 4,000 by 2020. Many of these people feel incredibly isolated, have little means of communication and find it very difficult to be active members of their local community.
However, thanks to funding of £40,000 from Cumbria County Council to help set up the scheme their future is looking a lot brighter. The term dual sensory loss is used when a person has both a sight loss and a hearing loss. Some people have a period of time between losing their sight and hearing and it can cause many difficulties both emotionally and practically for both the person and their family or carer. People with dual sensory loss can easily become isolated but the new guides they will have better access to local support groups, social groups and befriending services.
Support can be given to family and friends wanting to learn useful methods of clear communication. Issues that the guides can help range from using telephones or computers, helping with one-to-one conversations or group situations; helping with transport options and domestic services, to keeping safe when walking at home or outside, navigation and orientation, planning safe routes and using a red and white cane/ Other everyday activities such as making a cup of tea or using the oven or microwave safely can easily become a problem that the Communication Guides can help with. Some of the key techniques that can help communication are clear speech, lip reading, sign language, finger spelling, Braille and several others.
Cumbria County Councillor James Airey, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said: "This is a great service that the county council has helped set up and fund. Many of the difficulties that people with dual sensory loss live with are what the rest of us take for granted without a moment’s thought. "There is a need for people who are deafblind, and have profound communication difficulties, to have regular support to maintain their independence and help them continue to contribute to family and community life and deal with the considerable challenges of living with dual sensory loss. "The key information for people with dual sensory loss is that help and advice is readily available for them. Our new Communicator Guides are there to assist the individual as well as support the care that is already there for some people.” "The guides are a link between the person who is deafblind and the community, minimising isolation and teaching the skills required for ongoing independence.”
For more details on Communicator Guides contact Dee Taylor on 01229 894645 or Simon Crabbe on 01228 606766 or visit www.deafvision.co.uk
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New team will help Cumbria's deaf and blind News & Star, 6 August 2011 "People suffering from double sensory loss can call on a new team of helpers across Cumbria, thanks to a £40,000 boost from the county council. The 12 communicator guides will be on hand to go into the homes of people suffering from hearing and sight loss, to help with everything from making a cup of tea to advice on support groups and transport services. The guides have just completed their training and are ready to provide a helping hand to the 3,200 people in Cumbria who suffer severe problems due to dual sensory loss. As the population ages, the council said the figure was likely to rise to 4,000 by 2020. A spokesman for the council said the guides would help with "anything and everything”. "You name it and they’ll do it,” he said. "Living with dual sensory loss can be incredibly isolating.
Many people feel very alone, have little means of communication and find it difficult to be active members of the community.” The new guides will be able to help with practical matters such as using computers or telephones, helping with conversations and group situations, and give advice on keeping safe while out walking and using red and white canes. They will also help with everyday tasks such as making a cup of tea or using the microwave.
Cumbria County Councillor James Airey, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said: "This is a great service that the county council has helped set up and fund. Many of the difficulties that people with dual sensory loss live with what the rest of us take for granted without a moment’s thought. There is a need for people who are deaf-blind, and have profound communication difficulties, to have regular support to maintain their independence and help them continue to contribute to family and community life and deal with the considerable challenges of living with dual sensory loss.”
Mr Airey said the guides could also help carers and family members who may already be helping a person with dual sensory loss. "The guides are a link between the person who is deaf-blind and the community, minimising isolation and teaching the skills required for ongoing independence,” he added.
For more details on communicator guides, contact Dee Taylor on 01229 894645 or Simon Crabbe on 01228 606766 or visit www.deafvision.co.uk