Deaf-blind speed skater to represent Canada

Ottawa athlete Kevin Frost almost seems more concerned with raising awareness of impaired speed skating than winning gold medals reports Metro Canada (02/05/12).

The deaf-blind speed skater who suffers from Usher Syndrome will represent Canada at the Impaired Skating Championship in Scotland on May 12 and hopes to help raise awareness about getting the sport recognized as an official Paralympic sport.

More countries need to practise impaired skating before the International Paralympic Committee will consider adopting it. “If I can get another 10 people who come from different countries, that’s a gold medal to me.”

He has been training for seven years, but it hasn’t been easy. He describes his vision as looking through two plastic straws and sound has to hit 90 decibels in order for him to hear it. Yet that doesn’t stop him from training and enjoying other sports.

“At the beginning it was very difficult, but with anything in life, when you do 1,000 laps you get a hang of things,” said Frost in the middle of a training session at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex in Orleans.

The race in Scotland is a key step in his mission to get countries, including Canada, on board to raise awareness about impaired skating, attract new skaters, and get it sanctioned as a sport in the Paralympics.

To help fund his accommodations in Scotland, Toppers Pizza at 5497 Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard in Orleans is throwing a fundraiser Wednesday and will donate $4 for every large pizza sold.

Judges hail deaf writer from Leicestershire who tells of living in silent world

Lando Hilton was just five years old when he lost his hearing – and now he is gradually losing his sight reports the Leicester Mercury (27/04/12)

Although the 23-year-old, from Rothley, became deaf at such a tender age, after contracting a flu-like illness, he learned to live with it and has since had an implant fitted to help him hear.

But the biggest blow, he says, has been the deterioration of his eyesight following a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa three years ago.

The disease, which damages the eyes' retinas, could rob him of his sight altogether.

Despite this, Lando is studying for a psychology degree at the University of Leicester and hopes to become a health psychologist or researcher.

Lando penned what it was like to live a day in his shoes for a national writing competition.

So moved were the judges by his prose, which told them of his daily struggles to walk around campus, how bright sunlight hurts his eyes and how he wakes up to silence every day, that they awarded him second prize out of hundreds of entries.

In his dreams, however, life is different. He does not squint, there is no tunnel vision and he can see everything that lies before him.

He sprints across sands with boundless energy and it is there that he forgets what it is like to have no hearing or sight.

Lando captures this in his tale entitled "To all the lovely people who still have their hearing and vision".

He said: "I have no natural hearing but I've had a cochlear implant since I was eight which pretty well resembles normal hearing.

"I'm totally deaf when I take off the outer part of my implant, but I just took my hearing loss on board when I was five and didn't question it.

"It wasn't until my teens that I started to get upset about it because it affected my social life so much.

"At that age, people don't give much consideration to deaf people and they're always talking over each other, or choosing to sit in noisy places.

"But being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa was a massive blow. I'm still very hopeful about future treatments and I have some sight, but it's pretty poor."

Lando's aim was not to make people feel sorry for him, but to give others an understanding of what it is like for people living with his conditions.

The competition, by deafblind charity Senses, hopes to empower those who do not normally have a voice.

Once he started writing, Lando said he found it difficult to stop.

"I've got a lot to say when it comes to disabilities the words just flowed. The article took a couple of hours to write and I did it during breaks from making revision notes for my psychology exams."

He said just getting around the university campus was a challenge for him, but he allows extra time to get to lectures as he walks slowly.

"The university's AccessAbility Centre helps a lot by providing note-takers and my computer is set up for a visually-impaired user."

Lando entered the competition on the suggestion of his mum, Annette, who subscribes to the Senses magazine and spotted the opportunity.

He is "chuffed to bits" at coming second and hopes other people with sight and hearing loss will realise they are not alone.

At a ceremony in London, actress Rebecca Front, best known for The Thick Of It and Grandma's House, presented Lando with a certificate. She said: "I was compelled by the stirring power of these words that have so much joy and pain, life and living and the real spirit of deafblind people's experiences at their very heart. They were very powerful words."

Sensory gloves: Communication, translation for the deaf-blind

For people born deaf-blind, standard forms of communication fall short. However, if your senses are limited, then others become more sensitive in order to compensate writes Charlie Osborne for Smart Planet (18/04/12).

When I worked with deaf-blind children briefly as a teaching assistant, I found it could be very difficult to interpret the actions or behavior of a deaf-blind child — if the condition was inherent at birth, then the issue was magnified. All of the behavioral cues that we learn in early stages of development — from a smile to hand gestures — fell short.

It seemed often that limited communication and fragmented information became the catalyst for isolation in these children. Learning language and being able to establish effective communication is the way deaf-blind maintain a connection to others in a silent and dark world — so we’d often use objects, routines and repetitiveness sequences to establish this and make them feel comfortable and secure.

While touch is simply one of our senses — a useful tool — for these children, without it, they would be completely cut off from everything.

That’s why a new, prototype communication device for the deaf-blind caught my attention. TheDesign Research Lab, based in Germany, has developed the Mobile Lorm Glove — a glove that uses tactile and sensory pads to facilitate communication using technology such as texting or email.

Pressure points and sensors on the palm of the prototype glove take the place of visual or spoken language. The glove translates the hand-touch alphabet “Lorm”, a commonly-utilized form of communication to translate touching, sweeping and pressure into letters of the alphabet.

The user composes their own text-based messages using these sensory pads. Once complete, a Bluetooth connection forwards on the message to the intended recipient’s mobile device — generally sent in the form of an SMS.

Naturally, communication has to work both ways. If the wearer of the glove receives a message in return, then the SMS is sent from their handheld device to the glove — tiny, vibrating motors fixed to the back of the glove alerting the user to an incoming message.

The thin strands of communication that the deaf-blind cling to — simple, tactile points of pressure — may seem incomprehensible to those without limited sight or hearing, but a means of establishing a sensor-based language more effectively, I think it could result in improving the quality of life in many deaf-blind people.

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Blind and deaf Carlisle man left alone at home

A blind and deaf Carlisle man was left home alone after his elderly mother was taken into hospital writes Phil Coleman for News & Star (13/02/12).

The brother of Alan Foley, who is unable to speak, see or hear, has hit out at social services, saying he needs proper support and should never have been left alone overnight after his mother went into hospital.

His only protection is a Careline alarm – but as he cannot talk, his brother David, 58, believes it is of little use.

Their mother Lorna, 82, who Alan has lived with in the family home in Peel Street all his life, was hospitalised on Monday after she broke her hip in a fall.
Mr David said she was not expected to make a recovery for at least 14 weeks, leaving Alan, 56, at home with some support from carers.

Officials from Cumbria County Council’s Adult Social Care Department have agreed to spread out the 22 hours of home support he gets from Cumbria Deaf Vision. He will also spend several hours with the Glenmore Trust on Thursdays.

But David, who is offering his brother support whenever he can, said Alan now needs a higher level of support, given the severity of his disability. He said: “Our father died a couple of years ago, and since then my brother had depended on our mother. My biggest fear has always been that there should be a contingency plan if anything such as this happened, and I was assured that something would swing into place if ever our mother was taken ill. When I was on my way to see our mother in hospital I was shocked to later learn that Alan had been left on his own for the first time in 56 years in the house that night. It’s been that way since Monday".
“On Monday, I phoned social services and they offered to have the police break down the door but I did not want to further traumatise my brother. He’s in a state of shock.”
He said his brother’s only protection while at home was now a Careline alarm, but as Alan cannot talk it would be of little immediate use.
He added: “I’d like to see Alan in to some kind of sheltered accommodation because he is clearly vulnerable.”

David said he had written to Cumbria County Council, suggesting that his brother, who is among the most vulnerable people in the community, had been let down.

A county council spokesman said: “After meeting his family earlier this week, this client’s care arrangements were altered to better suit his needs following the change in circumstances.
“We have also reassured him and his family that we are looking at what the best care arrangements will be for him in the long-term.
“As we would do in any situation like this we will meet with the client and their family after a week to examine how the new arrangement is working to see what, if anything, needs to be changed.”

National Awards' Search For Regional Stars In Deaf Communications

The hunt for the UK's finest deaf communicators has begun as leading awarding body Signature launches its fourth annual awards today reports Signature (10/02/12).

Regional nominations for the 2012 Signature Annual Awards, which celebrates those who are making a positive contribution to the lives of the deaf community, opened today (Wednesday 8 February 2012).

Forming part of Signature's celebrations to mark its 30th anniversary the 2012 Signature Annual Awards, which will be held later this year, is searching for the brightest stars in deaf communications.

Signature is looking to uncover the inspirational stories behind the UK's teachers and learners who are helping to break down the barriers to communication that deaf and deafblind people regularly face.

Alongside honouring the talents of the country's regional Teacher of the Year and Learner of the Year, Signature is also looking for the individuals and organisations worthy of its national awards including Community Spirit, Communication Professional of the Year and the prestigious Joseph Maitland Robinson Award for Outstanding Contribution.

Chief Executive of Signature, the leading provider of accredited sign language qualifications, Jim Edwards, said: "Since the launch of the Signature Annual Awards in 2009 we have uncovered so many truly inspirational individuals and organisations that have shown a real passion for creating a society in which deaf and deafblind people have full access.

"Given the fantastic work that has been carried out across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the past 12 months in improving deaf awareness I am certain there is still a wealth of talent waiting to be discovered.

"The 2012 awards will be an extra special event for Signature as we celebrate our 30th year, so as well as honouring the outstanding work of today we will also be commemorating the progress of deaf communications over the past three decades."

In 2011 the Signature Annual Awards celebrated the exceptional achievements of 22 regional and eight national winners. Clark Denmark, who is leading the way in British Sign Language teaching and research, was honoured with the Joseph Maitland Robinson Award for Outstanding Contribution for his tireless dedication to deaf studies. Meanwhile Tara-Eve Forkin was named Young Learner of the Year after successfully completing her BSL Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in just two years.

Nominations for the regional Teacher of the Year and Learner of the Year awards can be submitted at www.signature.org.uk/awards until Wednesday, 2nd May 2012.

Shortlisted nominees will be announced on 16th May 2012, with the regional winners being unveiled on 13th June. Each regional winner will then progress to the national final later this year when the UK's Teacher of the Year and Learner of the Year will be chosen.

Blind and deaf runner to get a helping hand

A DEAF and blind woman is training for the London Marathon tied to a friend who will be her guide for the 26 miles reports EDF24 (10/01/12).

Caroline Boulding, 40, from Dartford, faces a tougher challenge than most having been born deaf and gradually losing her sight since she was 26.

On Sunday, April 25 she is due to take part in her first marathon, guided by her work colleague friend Kerry Southwick, from Swanley.

The couple, who work at Acacia Fitness Centre in Dartford, will raise money for the deaf and blind charity Sense.

Caroline Boulding said: "I'm really pleased to be braving the London Marathon for Sense as it offers a vital lifeline to deaf and blind people, offering them support and skills to live as independently as possible. I would like to thank all of my friends who have sponsored me for my marathon run so far and I am still appealing for sponsorship for my run so please dig deep and support me today."

With very limited vision she can see only in a restricted form of tunnel vision. She suffers from a condition called Usher type 2 syndrome, meaning people are often born without hearing and gradually begin to lose their sight.

Acting as her eyes and ears during the race, her guide revealed the pair have been become quite an eye-catching sight in during training.

A spokesperson for Sense said: "They have both been training hard around Dartford and are getting a lot of attention. Kerry tells us they are turning a lot of heads and getting a lot of support during their training around Central Park."

Click here to sponsor them or to find out more about the charity visit Sense.

Deaf and blind man Roger Mulholland in Duke award

A man who is deaf and blind was among 109 young people in Devon who have been awarded Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards reports the BBC News (07/01/12).

Roger Mulholland, 24, from Tiverton, walked 24 miles of coastal path in Pembrokeshire, Wales, over two days.

The award offers people aged 14 to 25 the chance to serve others and acquire new skills and takes an average of two years to achieve.

Mr Mulholland was among 50 people who received their awards at County Hall in Exeter on Saturday.

His walk raised money for the charity Sense, which made him the Deafblind Person of the Year in 2011.

He also volunteers as a waiter at Cafe 55, Sense's cafe in Exeter, which is staffed by volunteers who are deaf and blind.

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards are run in Devon by the county council, along with 70 schools, colleges and voluntary organisations.

Each participant has to cover five different areas of achievement, a volunteering project, skills, physical recreation, expedition and residential experience.

Deafblind girls' guide dog banned from dining hall

A deafblind girl refuses to go to school after teachers ban guide dog from dining hall because another pupil has allergy writes Jessica Satherley for the Daily Mail (12/12/11).

Molly Watt, 17, says she was left to eat lunch alone in a separate room because another pupil who uses the canteen is allergic to the dog.

She has since been signed off sick by a doctor after suffering a panic attack when she was separated from her black Labrador-retriever cross named Unis.

The A-level student, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, has not attended classes at Mary Hare School in Newbury, Berkshire, since November 3.
And the pupil, who has been nominated by deafblind charity Sense to carry the Olympic flame, says she will not return until the ban is lifted.

Her mother Jane, 46, said Molly is ‘besotted’ with her dog and becomes ‘distressed’ when her companion is not by her side.

Jane, a charity worker, said: ‘The school has banned Molly from taking Unis into the dining room. ‘The dog gives her independence and freedom and means everything to her.
‘She has been left to eat alone in a separate room and that stress has left her feeling incredibly down.
‘She should be able to socialise with friends at lunchtime like everybody else.
‘She was shaking, having panic attacks and was unable to sleep after being asked to leave Unis in a sideroom. Her doctor has signed her off sick.

‘My main concern is Molly's well-being and education. She doesn't deserve what is happening to her.’
Molly - who is studying English, textiles and performing - was born deaf and lost her sight aged 14.
That prompted her to move from mainstream education to the specialist boarding school for deaf children.
She initially relied on a cane or a friend to guide her between rooms but was ‘embarrassed’ to be seen with the stick.

She was given Unis in July and returned to school before the start of term in September so the two-year-old dog could learn the layout of the buildings.
But concerns were raised about the welfare of another pupil who has a ‘hyper sensitivity to allergens’ - particularly animals.
It means he is at risk of a fatal anaphylactic shock if he comes into contact with the dog.
Her mother said: ‘Molly used to bump into things and be covered in bruises.
‘She is a young girl who is fashion conscious and did not like to be seen with a cane. She would rather fall over.
‘The alternative arrangements the school has put in place are not good enough.’
School principal Tony Shaw says he consulted medical experts and charity groups before making alternative arrangements, which included re-timetabling lessons and banning the dog from the dining room.

He said it leaves Molly without Unis for less than two hours a week and he believes she could use alternative support - such as a stick or friend - to guide her during this time.
Mr Shaw said it was ‘regretful’ that restrictions were necessary but stressed they had the backing of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
He added: ‘One pupil has recently been provided with a guide dog to ensure her safe mobility and the school has been working hard to accommodate her needs.
‘Another student has a current medical diagnosis of hyper sensitivity to allergens and in particular to the allergens from animals, including dogs.
‘Mary Hare has an equal duty of care to both students and a duty to ensure that any adjustments affecting the use of a guide dog are reasonable and proportionate.
‘The solution has involved re-timetabling and changes of class locations to avoid use of the same rooms and two restrictions on the movements of the guide dog.

‘These restrictions involve the hall used for weekly assembly and the main dining hall.
‘The expert medical advice has been that if the dog enters either room, the other pupil cannot use them.’
Molly was named Young Deafblind Person of the Year 2010 by deafblind charity Sense and was nominated to carry the Olympic flame.

A petition called Justice 4 Deafblind guide-dog Owner Molly Watt has been signed by more than a thousand people, including former alumni.

O2 store provides help for blind and deaf customers

Operator’s Workshop store in central London fitted with hearing loops and ‘personal listeners’ as it hires its first deaf member of staff writes  Jasper Jackson for Mobile News (07/12/11).

O2’s new concept Workshop store in Tottenham Court Road has hired its first deaf member of staff. Abigail Gorman has been trained in sign language and dealing with deaf and blind customers.

O2 hired “deaf-led” consultancy, training and communications service Positive Signs to help with its accessibility programme. It has fitted the store with hearing loops and ‘personal listeners’ to help deaf people hear conversations more clearly while moving around the store.

The O2 Workshop, which is run by O2 franchise operator Telenomics, has worked with the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) to provide ‘Sight Loss Awareness’ training for its staff, who have been given training by RIM, Apple and app developers Code Factory on devices and apps to help the blind. A second member of staff, who is not deaf but is fluent in sign language, has also been hired.

O2 head of corporate responsibility Simon Davis said: “It is sometimes difficult for older or disabled customers to find the right mobile phone for their needs. By offering expert advice at our Tottenham Court Road store we’re looking forward to providing a better experience to our customers with sensory needs.

“Smartphones and apps can increase independence and confidence for those with sensory needs”, Telenomics founders Amar Radia, Adarsh Radia and Asad Hamir said in a joint statement. “We want to make these devices as accessible as possible to the sight loss and deaf communities.”

RNIB has lent its advice on making the store more accessible for blind people. The institute is also running monthly events to familiarise partially sighted and blind people with new mobile technologies and products.

The O2 Workshop store opened in September to offer free and connected work space and meeting rooms for public use. O2 says it is the only store where all staff have been trained to handle business customers.

Deafblind photographer London exhibition

An artist from Essex who has limited sight and hearing hopes his work will act as an inspiration to others reports the BBC News (01/12/11).

About 25 photographs by Ian Treherne, from Rochford, are to feature in an exhibition in London organised by the deaf-blind charity, Sense.

The 33-year-old has Usher Syndrome, meaning he has deteriorating eyesight and a hearing impairment.

He said: "I see less than most people, but I think in some ways it actually makes me see more in life."

He added: "It is a bit ironic that I need to use my eyes for my photography, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I have to think about everything I am doing and am constantly looking 10 times as hard where I'm going”

"I like to show people who take their eyesight for granted the simple views they walk past every day and do not notice."

Mr Treherne, who has been photographing seriously since he was in his late 20s, explained the genetic condition "affects me in every possible way".

He said: "I've got tunnel vision, so have very limited eyesight, especially at night time when I can't see very much.

"I have to think about everything I am doing and am constantly looking 10 times as hard where I'm going."

'Passion and enthusiasm'

Among his images of people, buildings and landscapes which will be displayed at the "Secret Window" exhibition in Soho from 13 December is a shot of the Southend Borough Council offices.

Mr Treherne said: "People do say how ugly it is. But for some reason, I've got an ability to see some beauty in something not particularly nice.

"With busy lives, you come and go to your work place. I tend to take time out and try to appreciate some of the beauty in our streets and towns."

A particular admirer of photographers David Bailey and Brian Duffy, who rose to prominence in the 1960s, Mr Treherne hopes his work will help inspire other people who had impaired sight or hearing.

He said: "I hope people enjoy the pictures, appreciate them and maybe be surprised that someone with an eye condition can take good pictures.

"And [I hope it] shows that with a bit of willing, passion and enthusiasm, no matter how hard things are you can get somewhere in life if you try a little bit harder."

Werrington community rallies to save local pub from Tesco development

A disabled man who claims he would have nowhere to go if his at-risk local pub closed down was at the heart of a protest to save it over the weekend writes Matthew Reville for the Peterborough Evening Telegraph (14/11/11).

Deaf-blind Alex McNeill (31) was one of 620 people who signed a petition to protect The Ploughman pub in Staniland Way, Werrington, during the protest.
They want Tesco to re-think its plans to bulldoze the pub as part of a £40 million overhaul of the Werrington Centre that would expand the supermarket.

The spirited protesters, which included Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson stood in the pub’s front garden - in direct view of Tesco staff and shoppers - from noon until 5pm on Saturday.

The supermarket’s slogan is ‘Proud to be supporting our local community’, and protesters mocked up signs parodying the Tesco logo that read “Save our community local”.

Mr McNeill, who is totally blind but has some hearing, lives in Rainbow Court, Paston Ridings. He is a popular local in the pub and gets a taxi there at least twice a week to meet with friends.
He said: “If it was to close, how would I see all my friends? Where would I go to meet up with them? I would have nowhere to go.
“This pub has to be saved. Why would anyone want to replace what this pub offers just to get a bigger Tesco.
“The Tesco is already big enough. Nobody has called for Tesco to get bigger, but as people turning out today showed, everyone wants the pub to stay open.”

The Ploughman was recently named 2011 Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Peterborough and District Branch.
It has also raised just under £5,000 for charities since Andy Simmonds became landlord two years ago.

Mr Simmonds said: “I was really happy with how many people joined in, it was exactly what I wanted. It was a show of local support for the local pub.
“Tesco are showcasing themselves like a peacock. They want us out of sight and out of mind. The pub is in a prominent position, and they don’t want people to see it before seeing the store.
“I would love to work with Tesco as partners in the regeneration of the Werrington Centre. I hope they talk to us about co-existing in the future.”

MP Stewart Jackson joined the protesters for an hour on Saturday after signing the petition, and plans to personally discuss the groundswell of public opinion against the proposal with Tesco bosses.

Mr Jackson said: “I will be meeting with people from Tesco in the next week and talking to them about the concerns I, and all the people here, have got.
“If they are committed to the people of Werrington they must understand it has to have a community pub. We should try to persuade Tesco to give The Ploughman and its supporters a fair hearing.
“Since Andy took over it is really flourishing as both a pub and a community centre.”

Peterborough City Councillor for Werrington North Judy Fox also joined in the protest. She said: “Me and my husband (Cllr John Fox) are regulars in the pub, we would both hate to see it go.”

Pensioner June Firas (75), from Gatenby, Werrington, said: “I come down here to play darts once a week. Where will I go if the pub closes?”

Tony Keen (50), from Canwell, Werrington, said: “How can the Werrington Centre be a community centre if there is no pub here? It’s a contradiction.”

Nobody from Tesco was available to comment.

More than 200 people have signed an online petition: www.savetheploughman.com.

Arsonists target Woodside family centre in Kingswood

A centre for blind and deaf people in South Gloucestershire has been targeted by arsonists reports the BBC News (25/10/11).

Sheds next to the Woodside family centre in Britannia Road, Kingswood, were set alight, and the fire spread to the main building.

Part of the roof has melted, and some of the rooms have been flooded.

The cost of repairs is estimated at £25,000 and the building will stay shut for two weeks while repairs are carried out.

Vandals also sprayed graffiti over the walls. Police are investigating.

Volunteer Alice Walton said the centre supported deaf and blind children and adults and their families.

"It's really unfortunate. It's had such an impact on a centre that's so heavily relied upon in the community," she said.

Avon and Somerset Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone who was in the Woodside Road area on Saturday evening to contact them.

Croydon charity worker shrugs of disability to win employee of the year

The handicap of being both deaf and blind has not prevented a charity worker winning a national award as employee of the year reports the Croydon Guardian (14/10/11).


Mother of two Emma Boswell has Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that has seen her lose first her hearing with her sight then deteriorating so she had tunnel-vision and no night-vision by the age of 20.
Unperturbed, Mrs Boswell, 38, of South Norwood, joined deafblind charity Sense, and works to support people with her own condition, earning her the title of Employee of the Year 2011 on Tuesday, October 4.

She said: “I feel very honoured to win this award - It’s a privilege to be able to work with deafblind people and their families and to meet new people and learn new skills.”
Meeting with deafblind clients, working with professionals and families, and those affected with Usher, Mrs Boswell also does presentations and attends UK conferences speaking about dealing with the disorder.

“My life with Usher did not stop me from achieving my dream of travelling solo, joining an expedition working at Camp America and achieving a degree in interior design. I have had a adapt and accept my condition.
Supported by her guide dog Drew Mrs Boswell also uses sign language and speech, though she recognizes she is not always easy to understand.
She said: “My speech is not always intelligible but my family and friends understand me because they are used to my voice and how I speak. Strangers may not always understand me.

Having been promoted to manager of the National Usher service Mrs Boswell, who works out of the Sense office in Epsom says she loves working to help people She said: “I used to work as an interior designer but realised I wanted to work with people on a more personal level.”