Debbie James

Deafblind Enablement's bowling night this week extended into a fun motorbike race. Our service users are so adventurous, rising to the challenge of riding a motorbike!

It is a wonderful feeling to realise that the deafblind people we support regularly are the ones I have known for 25 to 30 years, and that we can still enable opportunities for new experiences.

Diane and I met when I was 16 — 43 years ago. Diane taught me so much about deafblindness, and about all the challenges of living with a hidden disability. Our Communicator-Guides are so valuable and experienced. We have had so many laughs over the years, and we hope for many more.

It is such a privilege.

Debbie

Our friend Emma Boswell has shared some exciting news. Congratulations and well done, Emma! Creating deafblind awareness is so important, and we are delighted to help share this. Her message is below.

Emma's message​

I am delighted to share some exciting news. My new book, Usher Syndrome, About Us, By Us, has now been published.

Usher syndrome is the leading cause of deafblindness, yet awareness and understanding of the condition remain limited. This book aims to provide an accessible and comprehensive resource for professionals, students, people with Usher syndrome, and their families.

The book covers:

• Understanding Usher syndrome and its various types
• Diagnosis and genetics
• The impact of hearing and sight loss across the lifespan
• Daily life and practical considerations
• Personal lived experiences from people with Usher syndrome
• Professional perspectives and insights

What makes this book unique is that it combines professional knowledge with lived experience. The three co-authors all have direct experience of Usher syndrome, bringing authentic voices and real-life perspectives to the subject. With the authors based in both the UK and Australia, the book also includes international perspectives.

I hope this resource will be of value to those working in health, social care, education, sensory services, rehabilitation, counselling, and related fields.

Learn more about the book or buy a copy from Lived Places Publishing

I would be grateful if you could share this with colleagues, networks, and anyone with an interest in Usher syndrome, deafblindness, or sensory impairment. Please do get in touch if you have any questions, or would like to discuss the book or Usher syndrome further.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards, Emma Boswell Co-author, Usher Syndrome, About Us, By Us BA (Hons), PG Dip. (Deafblind Studies)

Happy New Year to everyone! ❤️

What a wonderful, busy year it has been for all our service users—filled with fun, laughter, and new experiences. Most importantly, it has been a year of our users being in control and making their own choices.

We are so thankful to our valued Communicator-Guides, Interpreter Guides, family members, and friends who help us in so many different ways.

"The smallest thing you do always makes the biggest impact on the lives of vulnerable deafblind people."

We look forward to making a difference to many more deafblind people in 2026!

With love to you all,

Debbie

Congratulations to Jonathan and Elizabeth for completing the Signature Level 2 Communicator-Guide Course with us!

It is with sadness that I inform you that Catherine Fields died at home on Monday 28th April 2025.

Catherine, a deafblind lady in Essex was a great inspiration to so many people, locally and nationally. I first met Catherine in 2000 facilitating a Specialist Assessment as she was first starting to loose her vision, providing Catherine with the rehab skills and a Communicator-Guide service, as a deafblind mum to her two daughters, which she was always immensely proud of.

Catherine was a joy to be with, she campaigned for better services for deafblind people, assisted with specialist training and taught us all so much, a determined, strong willed lady who lived life to the full with a good sense of humour, and was so brave. Catherine lost her sight and developed fluent skills using Hands On, Deafblind Manual and Haptic to gain vital access to information to always be in control and have choices. Catherine was happy to be on DBE's Essex leaflet to assist us to identify further deafblind people in need. Thank you RAD team for supporting and being her family. Many of our DBE deafblind family and Interpreter Guides/Communicator-Guides at DBE will remember Catherine as she came to our Annual Rallies and she received our Interpreter Guides service. Taken from us too soon, never forgotten RIP Catherine

Congratulations to Sarah and Jess for studying their Visual Frame Hands On module, assessments Signature Deaf VFHO301 completed. Well done!

Below is Sarah with her DBE certificate - both Sarah and Jess are now fully trained DBE's Interpreter Guides.

Anyone interested in joining DBE's National Register for Interpreter Guides competent in BSL Hands On, Visual Frame, Block, Deafblind Manual, please contact training@deafblind-enablement.co.uk or contact training on 01733 686969 for details. New dates for 2025 will follow......

It's Sign Language Week!​

Thank you Heidi, DBE's Awareness Officer and Josh, DBE's Head of Training detailing the most important points to consider when using Visual Frame and Hands On communication.

Heidi says:​

I want to give you about BSL Interpreter Language most important points

• We all need good lighting;
• Plain clothing dark navy, red - it varies with deafblind people's vision;, no patterns;
• Seating: always sit face to face, opposite each other;
• Sit at the same level, not one person higher or lower than the other;
• Interpreters do not sit behind a window because it makes your face dark from the light behind; It's important to know if the person uses Visual frame, Hands On, Deafblind Manual, Block letters.
• Thank you for watching. HAPPY SIGN LANGUAGE WEEK!

Josh states:​

• Did you know that many BSL signs cannot be seen when a deafblind person uses hands-on or visual frame. This is because many words use the same sign with different lip pattern, facial expressions or location.
• Sign Language is not just about signing BSL vocabulary, it is how you communicate the whole message to convey the context, tone and meaning behind what is being said.
• Using BSL Visual Frame or Hands On alongside Deafblind Manual, Spartan Block and BSL fibgerspelling is vital to clarify and reinforce key points of a message, at DBE we believe in a "total communication" philosophy
• A deafblind person's emotional state and general wellbeing can impact on how much information they receive and retain.
• Giving the appropriate environmental information through effective communication empowers Deafblind people and allows them to regain choice, control and independence that is often lost through dual sensory impairment
• When working with Deafblind people, you need to be specifically trained to understand their individual needs and support them appropriately
• It is easier to pity Deafblind people than to understand their needs and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Come and join us on our Deafblind courses to become a Specialist Interpreter Guide / Communicator-Guide or join our team.

For information email training@deafblind-enablement.co.uk

Contact us to discuss how you can make a difference; 01733 686969 www.deafblind-enablement.co.uk

Here at DBE we are interested in what you are interested in. We do what we can to accomodate and organise social events for our service users so they can do activities they enjoy.

Here is an example of our first Craft Club for 2025. Lots of Fun!