Deafblind Training
Training is at the heart of Deafblind Enablement's business. We believe it's essential that as many people as possible have up to date skills and knowledge on how to best to support the deafblind community and we are proud to have been providing this training for over a decade.
Meet our trainers
Debbie James’ Background (Director and Lead Trainer)
Debbie James has been training Specialist Assessors, 1-1 specialist workers such as Communicator-Guides, support workers and professionals for over 43 years, with a focus on enablement and facilitating realistic outcomes within recommendations and support plans.
Debbie’s knowledge of Social Care and Health systems means she has a full understanding of the needs of deafblind people and how to improve their quality of life with issues relating to Communication, Access to Information and Mobility, as well as safeguarding and mental capacity.
Debbie continues to work as a Specialist Assessor, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist for Visual Impairment/Deafblind people and Deafblind Interpreter. She continues to manage social care services nationally and has previously worked as a Registered CQC Manager for both a residential home and domiciliary care agency.
Josh James’ Background (Head of Training)
Josh has been in the field of deafblindness working for over 12 years, gaining experience with the most complex deafblind people, using deafblind manual, hands on, visual frame signing. Josh grew up with deafblind people and has unique understanding and empathising with their life challenges.
Josh has gained the Train The Trainer, BSL Level 3, Deafblind Interpreting Level 3, Specialist Assessors qualifications, a great understanding of budget constraints as well as the knowledge of critical course content working alongside deafblind tutors and assessors on every course.
For all our training courses, enablement is the focus with tutors and assessors who are deafblind themselves.
Deafblind Awareness Officers and Signature Assessors:
DBE is the only organisation with a team of over 17 Awareness Officers working voluntarily across the country consisting of people with a dual sensory loss, who are Tutors / Assessors for Deafblind Enablement. Our Awareness Officers play an active part in raising awareness through providing information to individuals, groups and businesses. They are regularly involved in training courses provided by Deafblind Enablement providing the vital link between theory and practice.
- Talking about personal experiences
- Advising on communication methods
- Giving practical advice
- Sensory Audits
- Deafblind awareness
Our team currently consists Alberta, Annette, Charlie, Dorreen, Julia, Julie, Pat, Pauline, Peter, Ron, Diane, Heidi, Jenny, Sam, Jimmy, Janet, Angela and more! If you wish to join our team of enthusiastic deafblind people, please contact us for further information.
We offer
- One-day Deafblind Awareness course
- Sensory Loss Training
- Basic Communication Skills Training
- Basic Guiding Skills Course
- RQF Signature Level 2 Award
- RQF Signature Level 3
For all our training courses, enablement is the focus with tutors and assessors who are deafblind themselves.
One-day Deafblind Awareness course
Book Now!Online and In Person
- Define and learn about the different groups of deafblind people
- Discuss the causes, implications and identify individual needs
- Deafblind peoples' perspective on life
- Understand communication issues and learn different methods to assist them
- Discuss how to improve accessibility for deafblind people
- Learn how to safely guide a deafblind person and good practice techniques
- Understand Care Act, 2014, legislation and the services available
Sensory Loss Training
Book Now!This 4 hour online course consists of the following learning outcomes:
- Define visual impairment, discuss terminology and myths/misconceptions
- Define hearing loss/Deafness, discuss terminology and misconceptions
- Discuss common causes, implications and identify individual needs
- Understand communication issues and learn different methods to assist them
- Discuss how to improve accessibility
- Simulation exercises
- Introduction to aids/equipment and how they enhance a person’s life
- Understand legislation and the services available
Basic Communication Skills Training
Book Now!
This two-day course consists of the following learning outcomes:
- Discuss the different groups of deafblind people
- Learn different Hands On communication methods
- Learn Visual Frame Signing
- Learn Deafblind Manual - productive and receptive
- Learn good practice techniques and practice sessions with deafblind people
Basic Guiding Skills Course
Book Now!This one-day course consists of the following learning outcomes:
- Discuss how to improve accessibility, access to information and communication techniques.
- Simulation exercises
- Learn how to safely guide a deafblind and visually impaired person
- Learn good practice techniques
- Learn aids/equipment available for independent travel.
- Understanding legislation: Care Act, 2014 for Deafblind people and Rehabilitation for Visually Impaired people, and "Care and Support Policy Guidance for Deafblind Children and Adults, 2014"
RQF Signature Level 2 Award
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Communication and Guiding with Deafblind people
This five-day course is specifically designed certificated course tailored to meet the needs of support workers and professionals working with deafblind people. It consists of the following learning outcomes:
- Definition and groups of deafblind people
- Effects including emotional, physical and mental well-being
- Communication methods: including Deafblind manual, 'Block' alphabet, lip-reading, clear speech, facial expressions, gestures, BSL fingerspelling and good practice techniques
- Access to information
- Safe guiding (internal and external activities), environmental information and impact on movement, orientation and mobility
- Simulation exercises
- Specific equipment available
- Legislation and Services
Deafblind Communication qualifications - Level 2 to Level 3 - Signature
Communication and Guiding Deafblind people for Profoundly Deaf BSL Users
Details same as above to ensure national standards are met, Deaf friendly course tutors, Interpreters provided and appropriately skilled Awareness Officers/Assessors giving confidence and ensuring achievement of Signature K202 & T202 assessments with DBE’s certificate for people who do not use clear speech.
RQF Signature Level 3
Certificate in Working Effectively with Deafblind Manual (DM301)
Book Now!DM301 with Modifying Language (MOD301) modules develop skills gained on the Level 2 Communication and Guiding qualification to become a trainee deafblind manual interpreter and/or enhanced support to a deafblind manual user who requires knowledge to effective relay information, understand their needs and competent skills in a variety of settings.
Deafblind Communication qualifications - Level 2 to Level 3 - Signature
Certificate in Working Effectively with Visual Frame and Hands On (VFHO301)
Book Now!The VFHO301 with Modifying Language (MOD301) develop skills gained on the Level 2 Communication and Guiding qualifications to become trainee deafblind visual frame hands on interpreter and/or enhanced support to a deafblind person using visual frame / hands on who requires specialist knowledge, skills to adapt to every individual’s needs with effective relaying of information in a variety of settings.
Deafblind Communication qualifications - Level 2 to Level 3 - Signature
Make sure to get your level 3 first to be considered for the level 6!
Evaluation in Needs of Deafblind Adults (Specialist Assessor Course)
Book Now!Signature (previously known as CACDP) and DBE have worked to develop specialist deafblind training to meet the requirements of the Care Act, 2014 for specialist assessors, equipping staff with the relevant skills to work competently with deafblind people.
The Care Act, 2014, contains mandatory guidance with specific reference to deafblind people and their carers’. It states that every person has the right to a specialist assessment facilitated by a person with a Level 3 NVQ. The NVQ was replaced by the QCF in 2015, which in turn was replaced by the RQF in 2018. There are other courses available - beware that they are not accredited to Level 3.
There are two modules:
- Signature DK301 – Understanding Congenital Deafblindness Using a Person-Centred Approach
- Signature DK302 – Insights into Mobility and Implications for Communication with Deafblind Individuals.
Deafblind Communication qualifications - Level 2 to Level 3 - Signature
All students are required to hold the Signature Level 2 Award in Communicating and Guiding DBG2 qualification prior to enrolling on Level 3. Students holding an equivalent qualification will be required to gain the qualification by attending a refresher course or assessment prior to starting Level 3.
This certificated course, which Debbie James has been responsible for creating and delivering for over 10 years, is designed for professionals who are undertaking an assessment role with people who have sight and hearing loss to meet the Care Act, 2014 and Guidance "Care and Support for Deafblind Children and Adults", 2014.
Once completed the above Signature Level 3 Evaluating the Needs, you go onto the Specialist Assessment training day. This training day consists of good practice techniques, dilemmas and challenges and brings together the above training to reinforce competence and meet the Care Act 2024 requirements.