Gain the skills to support someone with deafblindness to access information, the environment and communication.
What is deafblindness?
Someone has deafblindness if they are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and also have low vision or are blind. It is a unique, widely misunderstood and isolating disability which has a significant effect on communication, socialisation, mobility and daily living.
We live in a world that is predominantly set up for people with full sight and hearing. People with deafblindness have reduced sight and hearing. It is this combination that makes deafblindness a distinct disability which may result in unique and complex support needs. The levels of residual hearing and vision vary greatly for people with deafblindness, as well as the time of onset, so services and support must be individualised.
About Communication Guide Training
Communication Guides play a key role in facilitating communication and information access and provide human guide to enable people with deafblindness to live with the degree of independence, inclusion and autonomy they desire.
This practical and comprehensive two-day training course provides deafblind theory and practical exercises to prepare people for the role of Communication Guide, supporting deafblind people with safe guiding and access to communication, information and daily activity.
The training is presented by SensesWA Deafblind Consultants with varied professional & allied health backgrounds and people with deafblindness.
The course runs over 2 days, 9am-4pm each day.
Course Content
Training topics include:
Day 1
- The role of the Communication Guide
- Deafblind Awareness
- Deafblind communication
- Access and environmental modification
- Assistive technologies
- The psychosocial impact of deafblindness
Day 2
Human guide for people who have low vision, are blind or deafblind.
Note: Activities will include walking over a 3 hours period (with breaks) and catching public transport.
Some indoor and outdoor activities will be conducted while wearing an eyemask and/or earplugs.
This two day course is valued at $800.
Upcoming Workshop
Application for scholarship for Communication Guide Training
Thanks to the generous support of our partners, we are pleased to be able to offer scholarships to assist those experiencing financial barriers, to participate in this training.
The registration fee for scholarship winners will be subsidised $700 and the trainee will be asked to contribute $100 to the cost of their training.
This opportunity is available to people working in disability services in Western Australia. Preference will be given to those who are or will be in a position to use their learning for the benefit of West Australians with deafblindness.
To be considered for a scholarship please complete the scholarship application questions. A member of out team will be in touch. Visit https://www.trybooking.com/DDOVO
