Skip to main content

Meet the training team


Debbie James’ Background (Director and Lead Trainer)

Debbie

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

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.

Awareness Officers
  • 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.