Thousands of people in the UK are living with sight and hearing loss, but how can you tell whether you, or someone you know, is one of them? Early signs of sight loss include: Difficulty reading books and newspapers or watching TV Difficulty recognising people, particularly in unexpected situations Often thinking that you need new … Read more
The BBC is trialing an exciting new feature called “accessible and enhanced audio” (A&E) which allows audiences to change the audio mix of a TV programme to suit their individual needs. Click here to watch an episode of Casualty and put it to the test! Deafblind UK Trustee Roger said: “Our hearing is very personal … Read more
We’ve had the pleasure of working with and writing about many of our inspirational members. However, few are as awe-inspiring as Mick, a passionate fundraiser and daredevil! Essex-based Mick began to lose his peripheral vision at the age of 25. He was referred to Moorfields Hospital in London, where he was diagnosed with optic nerve … Read more
With a whole summer of festivals lined up for us, organisers are doing their bit to make sure each event is as inclusive as possible. This summer, make sure you know what is available to you at festivals with our accessibility guide. Free access Personal assistants can generally apply for an extra ticket to attend … Read more
We are delighted to have received a helping hand from CALA Homes, having received £1,250 from the award-winning housebuilder. This will go towards funding our Peterborough social group for people with deafblindness, their families and carers called “Friendly Fridays”. It is an afternoon session of sensory stimulation activities which also gives deafblind people the opportunity … Read more
Dilwyn, 88, lives alone in a semi-detached house in one of the outlying villages of Wrexham. He began losing his eyesight 19 years ago and is now completely blind. Realising he was becoming cut off from his community, Dilwyn contacted Social Services for help for his loneliness. He says, “The biggest challenge is being on … Read more
We are delighted to have received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to tackle loneliness and social isolation amongst older people in Northern Ireland – a common issue amongst those who have deafblindness. The National Lottery Community Fund has given £497,286 over five years to support the ‘Out of the Shadows’ project which will … Read more
Deafblind UK member, Mark, will entertain commuters by playing the Elton John piano at St Pancras station on Tuesday 25th June between 4pm and 6pm. Mark Pampel from London has Usher Syndrome which has left him with no sight and very little hearing. But this hasn’t stopped him becoming a hugely successful pianist and composer. … Read more
Rajeswari (Raji) and her daughter Chandrika, both from Enfield, London, will be parachute jumping out of a plane during Deafblind Awareness Week! Raji has Usher Syndrome and was born Deaf. She now has very little vision and uses tactile British Sign Language – using her hands to feel the signs – to communicate. “I rely … Read more
Free TV licences were first introduced in 2000 for license holders over 75, at the same time as half-price licences for the visually impaired. It was announced this week that from June 2020, license holders over the age of 75 who do not receive Pension Credit will need to pay for a license. However we have been told that … Read more