RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

factsheet iconCommunication factsheet

About this factsheet

This factsheet is part of RNID's communication range. It is written for someone who has regular contact with deafblind people and needs to organise communication support for them. In this factsheet, we concentrate on the communication needs of people with acquired deafblindness. For help and advice about the communication needs of people who are born deafblind, please contact Sense.

Read this factsheet to find out about:

At the end of this factsheet we give you details of organisations you can contact for useful information.

About deafblind people

Deafblind people have a combined sight and hearing loss, which makes it difficult for them to communicate, get around and access information. The causes of deafblindness vary. For example, some people are born deafblind, whereas some become deafblind because of an illness, accident or old age - these are people with acquired deafblindness. This means that different deafblind people have different degrees of sight and deafness, and not all deafblind people communicate in the same way.

Some deafblind people may use a combination of methods to communicate. Before booking communication support, ask the deafblind person or find out how they prefer to communicate so you can book the right type of communication support.

How do deafblind people communicate?

  • Some deafblind people with a little useful sight and hearing use speech, hearing aids and lipspeakers to communicate.
  • People who are used to communicating in British Sign Language (BSL) and who then lose their sight will prefer to continue communicating in BSL if they can still see some signs. Even if they can't see signs, they may prefer to communicate using hands-on signing. This is where they follow signs by holding or touching the hands of the person signing. This group of people includes those who were born deaf or became deaf in early life. For more information see our leaflet "Sign Language (opens new browser window)".
  • Some deafblind people with limited or no sight or hearing communicate using the 'Block Alphabet' method. This involves tracing out the alphabet in capital letters on the palms of their hands, or other part of the body, depending on what they prefer. It is a simple but slow method for communicating.
  • A quicker method of communicating is the 'Deafblind Manual Alphabet'. It is similar to the Standard Manual Alphabet used with BSL. Words are spelt out on the fingers and hands of the deafblind person. You can learn the Deafblind alphabet in half an hour. With practice, you will be able to have a conversation at a reasonable speed with a deafblind person. Contact the RNID Information Line for a copy of our Deafblind Manual Alphabet card.
  • Very rarely, some deafblind people use Tadoma, where they place their hands on the speaker's lips or throat to feel vibrations.
  • More and more deafblind people are using technology to communicate. For example, you can easily use a computer to create a large print document, which is useful for deafblind people with partial sight. Deafblind people who read braille can use special equipment to output documents in braille. Text synthesisers can read out text for deafblind people with partial hearing.

What does an interpreter or communicator guide do?

Deafblind people communicate with the help of an 'interpreter' or 'communicator guide', depending on the situation. Generally, interpreters provide communication support in formal situations and communicator guides in informal situations.

When should I use an interpreter or communicator guide?

Interpreters provide communication support at events such as:

  • medical appointments, including a visit to a GP 
  • business or work appointments and meetings
  • conferences
  • training courses.

Communicator guides provide communication support for:

  • making a shopping list and going shopping
  • social events such as social clubs
  • writing a letter
  • making a telephone call at home.

The roles of an interpreter and communicator guide will sometimes overlap because there are more communicator guides than interpreters.

Tips for working with interpreters or communicator guides

When you have booked communication support, it will help to get the best out of the interpreter or communicator guide if you plan ahead. If possible, you should give them information about the booking in advance so that they can familiarise themselves with the subject matter and any specialist terminology.

If you have booked an interpreter for a formal occasion, you should meet some time before the booking begins to discuss communication arrangements. For example, it is important to book a room that is big enough to comfortably accommodate everyone and possibly a guide dog as well. You also need to make sure that the room has good lighting and that there are no interruptions.

You will need to allow additional time for meetings as the communication methods used by deafblind people can make meetings longer by 50 to 70%. However, remember that the interpreter or communicator guide has a right to rest and meal breaks so you should confirm these with them.

How can I book an interpreter or communicator guide?

You can book through an agency, communication services unit (CSU) or by contacting freelance people direct.

The Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) produces a directory of people who provide communication support, agencies and CSUs. This directory includes information about registered interpreters who use the deafblind manual alphabet only. It does not include interpreters who use hands-on signing. To book interpreters who also use hands-on signing, contact Deafblind UK or other agencies and CSUs listed in the CACDP directory.

Your local RNID Communication Services office can book an interpreters for deafblind people.  See the "Useful information from RNID" section for full contact details of your nearest RNID CSU.

  • Make sure you book qualified people. Communicator Guides - CACDP Level 3 Certificate in Communication and Guiding Skills for Deafblind People
  • Deafblind Interpreters (manual) - CACDP Level 4 Certificate in Deafblind Interpreting (manual)
    All interpreters and communicator guides for deafblind people should conform to a professional code of practice and keep information on assignments strictly confidential.

How many interpreters or communicator guides will I need to book?

A deafblind person needs one-to-one support. This means that you will need to get three deafblind interpreters or three communicator guides if there are three deafblind people. In a long meeting you may need two interpreters for one deafblind person. This will allow the interpreters and the deafblind person to get regular breaks throughout the meeting.

How much do interpreters or communicator guides charge?

Recommended rates of pay vary, so it is best to check with the agency, CSU or freelance person when you book. Agencies and CSUs may add a fee for booking communication support and handling the paperwork.

Can I get help to pay for their services?

Deafblind people usually won't have to pay for communication support they need. The following tells you about the different ways there are to pay for communication support.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)

The DDA may require service providers, such as hospitals and GP surgeries, to provide communication support. If you do need to organise communication support for a deafblind person let service providers know in plenty of time. For further information see our factsheet "The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) - a guide for deaf and hard of hearing customers (opens new browser window)".

Help for students

Deafblind students may be able to get help to pay for communication support or their education provider may have to provide it. For more information see our factsheets:

Disability Living Allowance

A deafblind person may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if they need help to communicate with other people. See our factsheet "Disability Living Allowance (opens new browser window)".

Access to Work

The government's Access to Work scheme may help to pay for communication support for a deafblind person at work or, if they are unemployed, for interviews. For more information see our factsheet "Deaf or hard of hearing and in work or looking for work (opens new browser window)".

How RNID can help

You can contact the RNID Information Line for more information about help with paying for communication support.

Useful information

Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP)

Contact CACDP for a list of registered interpreters who use the deafblind manual alphabet.

CACDP, Durham University Science Park, Block 4, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3UZ
Telephone: 0191 383 1155
Textphone: 0191 383 7915
Fax: 0191 383 7914
Email: durham@cacdp.org.uk
Website: Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People website (external link, opens new browser window)

Deafblind UK

Contact Deafblind UK for a list of interpreters who use hands-on signing.

Deafblind UK, National Centre for Deafblindness, John and Lucille van Geest Place, Cygnet Road, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8FD
Telephone: 01733 358100
Textphone: 01733 358100
Fax: 01733 358356.
Email: info@deafblinduk.org.uk
Website: Deafblind UK (external link, opens new browser window)

Sense

Contact Sense for help and advice about the communication needs of people who are born deafblind.

Sense, 11-13 Clifton Terrace, London N4 3SR.
Telephone: 020 7272 7774
Textphone: 020 7272 9648
Fax: 020 7272 6012
Email: enquiries@sense.org.uk
Website: Sense website (external link, opens new browser window)

RNID publications

If you want to find out more about some of the subjects covered in this factsheet, read our leaflet "Don't miss out". We also have a card that illustrates the "Deafblind Manual Alphabet".

The RNID Information Line offers a wide range of information on many aspects of deafness and hearing loss. You can contact us for printed copies of this factsheet and the full range of RNID information factsheets and leaflets.