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Deafblind Disability Snapshot

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Deafblind Disability Snapshot

SGP KP Publishing Exported on 2026-06-17 23:43:22

SGP KP Publishing - Deafblind Disability Snapshot

Table of Contents

  • Peak body consulted … page number (not provided)
  • What is deafblindness?
  • How many people are deafblind?
  • Types of deafblindness
  • What are the characteristics of deafblindness?
  • Psychosocial impact of deafblindness
  • Communication
  • Enabling social and economic participation
  • How can I tailor a meeting to suit a participant with deafblindness?
  • Communication access and supports
  • Written communication
  • AIDS and Equipment
  • Technology
  • Helpful Links

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SGP KP Publishing - Deafblind Disability Snapshot

General Information About Deafblindness

The following snapshot offers basic details regarding deafblindness aimed at assisting NDIA (National Disability Insurance Scheme) personnel during meetings with participants so they can help them set objectives. Each individual’s specific requirements differ due personal circumstances which influence how plans are developed within these sessions; it should be noted this material specifically caters to internal use among NDIA employees rather than being distributed externally.

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SGP KP Publishing - Deafblind Disability Snapshot

Section: Peak Body Consultation

Subsection:

Paragraphs:

The following paragraph describes how a specific organization represented individuals affected by deaf-blindness during development.

  • In creating resources related specifically to those who are both blind and have hearing loss (deaf-blinded), consultation took place directly within an umbrella group that represents such individuals in their entirety—Deafblind Australia.

Deafblindness

What Is Deafblindness?:

  • Definition: A term for when someone has impaired vision and hearing.
    • Other terms: dual sensory loss/impairment;
  • Description: Unique isolating sensory impairment affecting comm., socializing, social interaction; connect w/others/mobility/daily life source.
  • Cultural Identity: May align more closely culturally with visually-impaired/deaf cultures or both/family’s cultural background.

3 How Many People Are Deafblind?

  • Studies Have Reported 0.% To 3.* Of The Population May Be Deafblind.
  • In Australia Nearly 100,000 People Are Reportedly Deafblind And Two-Thirds Over Age Sixty-Five Years.
  • A Study Found That Thirty-Six Percent (Of Individuals) Over Eighty Five Years Old Are Deafblind.

4 Types of deafblindness

Congenital deafblindness is a term used when a person is born deafblind, meaning they have combined hearing and visual impairments from before any form of language communication developed.

Causes:

  • Hereditary genetic conditions,
  • Infection contracted during pregnancy (by mother),
  • Disease affecting early development; or infection/injury impacting children’s growth stages.

#5 What Are The Characteristics Of Deafblindness?

  • A small number of people will have no sight and no hearing.
  • Other people who are deafblind will have varying degrees of vision impairment and of hearing impairment.
  • Experiences and understanding of their world will be different depending on whether a person was born deafblind or if they acquired vision and hearing loss through deterioration later in life.
  • Becoming used to new environments and travelling independently and safely are challenges.
  • Communication is a key challenge for all people with deafblindness.
  • Balance issues may affect some people with deafblindness, particularly those with Usher Syndrome type I. These balance issues can affect a person’s mobility.

Psycchosocial impact of deafblindness

The impact of deafblindness on a person’s life will vary. The impact on a person who has severe vision and hearing impairment can be significant.

  • Depression, anxiety,, frustration,,,and,boredom,cannotoccurfromtheisolationandothertotalchallenges experiencedbypeoplewithdeafblindness.Apersonwitthisdiagnosismayexperiencelow self-esteem,and,lackofconfidencetomoveaboutindependently,andoncarryoutdailytasks.

#7 Communication People with deafblindness are a very diverse group because of the varying degrees of their vision and hearing impairments. Some people who are deafblind may also have other disabilities. A wide range of communication methods might be used, including:

  • speech, oral and aural communication —(communication using verbal and non-verbal signals)
  • various forms of sign language including tactile and deafblind fingerspelling alternative and augmentative communication ( adding o communication oftenthrough devices like tactile feeling boards, useof signs anda nd gestures)print an d braille.

8 Enabling social and economic participation

A person’s support needs for social and economic participation will vary depending on their areas of strength and level of function. It is important to explore how a person with deafblindess can be supported to enable their participation in mainstream activities, education and employment, taking into consideration their interests and aspirations as an individual.

This may include using supports to assist a person through a vocational ‘discovery’ process to explore their strengths and interests in the context of work. For those who have acquired deafblindess later in life, re-exploring their strengths and interests will be important.

Individual supports can enable participants with deafblindness to build life skills capabilities and greater independence; including in the workplace. Volunteering can be a first step in building confidence and connecting to the community and the idea of employment. Peer support from other people with deafblindness can also play a key role in improving social and economic participation.

to match the level of function should be considered along with any needs related personal care at the work place or assistance travel Supports should take account degenerative nature some people sensory abilities mobility This might require NDIS funding specialist disability or employment related assessment services access retention and support initiatives such Work Assist provided Disability Employment Services (DES) program If regular intensive ongoing support required maintain meaningful participation participant workplaces Supported employment could considerredated if nothing about exemption legible. redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii)-irrelevant material Material outside scope request names contact details staff removed irrelevant rather than exempted Assistive technology interpretation may also needed for supporting participation worksupports, `Page 86/334 Enabling Social Economic Participation - 11 SGP KP Publishing Deafblind Disability Snapshot FOI 25-26-3216 National Insurance Agency Freedom under released by Act 1982

#How can I tailor a meeting to suit a participant\nwith
deafblinding?

10 Communication Access And Supports

People Who Are Deafblind Can Live Independent Lives And May Travel With CommGuides. Commguides Are Specialised Support Workers That Understand The Needs Of DeaFBlindness They Facilitate Independent Community Participation Through Communication Support And Guiding Support. Deafblind Interpreters are Important to Ensure People who Are deafblind Receive information AND Communicate Effectively in More Complex Situations Such As Attending Appointments Professional Services A commguide can also Be Used For communication support During Short Informal interactions such as at Shops Or At The Gym However, FOR Any Formal Meetings OR Workshops An Interpreter Should BE Booked In Many Instances Two interpreters Will be Required Depending on THE Length OF THE Meeting ANd THe Potential Need for tactile signing.

11 Written Communication

Some people who are deafblind have not received appropriate support to access education and may require additional assistance with literacy and numeracy tasks.

It is also important to note that for people who are deafblind and have Auslan as their first language, English is a ssecond language.

Plain Language Should Always Be Used:

it should be simple, clear and right to the point. extplains context of communication and keep it ocussed andrelevent. increase understanding by using examples. evoid slang, agrams andbureaucratic langauge.

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SGP KP Publishing - Deafblind Disability Snapshot

12 AIDS AND EQUIPMENT

There are a variety of aids and equipment which many people with deafblindness require to access communication, information and their environment. Common aids and equipment used by people with deafblindness include:

  • Hearing aids and Cochlear implants
  • Wireless microphones with Blue Tooth (Roger Pens)
  • White mobility canes
  • Seeing eye dogs
  • Home/personal alert systems
  • Magnifiers, such as Zoom text
  • Jaws screen reader
  • Closed circuit televisions
  • Smart phone with accessibility apps (sometimes paired with braille display) (Braille devices and displays (Braille watches) Smart watches with accessibility apps including haptics Vibration devices such as ‘Ditto’.Aids) and equipment – 15 Page 90 of 334

13 Technology

Technology

Accessibility Considerations:

  • Adjustable font sizes.
  • Contrasting colors.
  • Accessibility features that work well with screen reader technology such as voice commands or Braille displays can help people who are visually impaired use websites more easily without needing additional tools like assistive technologies designed specifically just for them (e.g., JAWS).
  • Plain Language: Using simple words and easy-to-understand sentences makes it easier to understand what you’re saying even if someone has trouble seeing things clearly due to their condition; this also applies when writing instructions on how something works online because those same principles apply there too! Image Descriptions - Text Format Screen Readers Do Not Pick Up Images So Picture Description Is Required.

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SGP KP Publishing - Deafblind Disability Snapshot