Members only

The aim of the training is to support you to:

• To feel confident, inclusive and professional when meeting the needs of deafblind customers and/or colleagues
• Meet legal and organisational requirements towards deafblind people.

What will you learn?

• Learn more about different types of deafblind people, the communication methods they might prefer and how to meet their needs
• Listen to what it can sound like listening through hearing aids and look through simulation specs to learn more about different ways people experience partial sight.
• Understand more about how the law and good practice protects and empowers deafblind people
• Finally explore the barriers and solutions in relation to mobility, access to information and communication.

Who should attend?

• Front line teams
• Managers responsible for policy and processes involving disabled people
• Communications Teams.

Julie Ryder

In December 1991, I was an ACIB certified banker with nothing in the way of me and a successful career. The month is significant as it marked the start of a journey from normal hearing to profound deafness. Life would never be the same again.

The hearing aids were my first issue – ugly, uncomfortable and noticeable. Once my hearing deteriorated to a moderate loss, I began to miss out on conversation, responding incorrectly to other people and 2nd guessing what had been said. Enjoyment from music and socialising started to ebb away. Severe deafness brought a whole new set of problems, particularly at work, resulting in a significantly downgraded job role. My self confidence was dive bombing as quickly as my hearing. The final straw came once I was unable to hear even my own voice. Profound deafness had cut me off from others and I’d lost myself too.

With deafness now a permanent feature of my life, I had 2 options: give up or carry on. I started learning British Sign Language and then decided to learn to lip read too. With encouragement from Matt, my husband, I trained as a volunteer deaf awareness tutor with the UK charity ‘Hearing Concern’. This experience formed the precursor to the work we do today. The biggest breakthrough came in 2002 when I received a Cochlear Implant (CI) on my left side. For the first time in 11 years, I had stability. It was time to start living.

I felt energised and wanted to use my experiences positively. It was clear that employers and service providers needed more skills, knowledge and confidence to include deaf people (and other marginalised people too). Since 2002 I’ve been prolific in researching, developing and delivering training and whether the driver for the training is law or business, it’s important to me that people are at the heart of it.