Blog #3 Memorable Workshop Experience!

DeafBlind Scotland Logo

On the 3rd of October, one of the best workshops I ever have been to. Was never expecting to have to something that gave me a lot of memories and experience. I knew I was going to meet deaf, blind Scotland, which is a charity based in Glasgow, that supports Deaf-Blind People for their rights, or even provide helpers to those in need.

I met two members from the Deaf-Blind Scotland, one with a guide dog and the other with just a standard stick, they both have different deafness and blindness. Still, both of them had support guides is the perfect word. As always I like to keep things quiet and sneak to the back of the room because I didn't want them to realise that I am deaf. It was quite hilarious that one of the guides found out by spotting that I have a cochlear implant.

As one of the members was doing the presentation, it was unbelievably impressive, with facts, some are pretty surprising, but it's a while back that I couldn't remember it. But one point that will always stand out to me is the number of deaf-blind people that is in the UK. There are nearly 400,000 deaf-blind people that is 0.6% of the UK population, I believe faintly if have the facts wrong. Still, I will say it anyway 1% of 6 million people in Scotland are Deaf-Blind. I know that may not sound a lot, but it is literally a lot of people with 2 senses missing, and they have to break down more barriers than we do and work as hard. These challenges can introduce, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and so on the list is endless.

The Deaf-Blind organisation is helping by teaching Deaf-Blind people skills to try to make their life "normal", like making the disability, not a barrier. Also, communication is the barrier some may have to go through, some rely on hearing aids, others may depend on sign language. Using Deaf-Blind sign language or using British sign language.

Anyway, during the presentation, he started with deafness, he did explain the fact I always knew 1 in 6 of the population is deaf in the UK. Also, I did a quick research about Scotland deaf community is that 18 per cent of the people of Scotland are deaf or will be turning deaf. It is unbelievable that there is a massive chunk in either population, UK or just Scotland. During this workshop, he introduced a challenge, a challenge which I always knew I was rubbish at, the listening challenge, which was listening to what the speaker says. Still, there is a catch, it has background noise. At the time one of the guides recognised that it was literally impossible for me because the background noise so amplified that I couldn't hear the words. But what I got out of it was observing the members that they tried incredibly hard. However, still, they couldn't make out half of the words and what the speaker was saying was things you would find in the kitchen, such a simple, challenging task.

Example of Deaf-Blind Experience

After that, they presented the blacked-out glasses, all it is just some tape and scientific goggles, with different types, so it represents different kinds of blindness. For me, it was very much quite terrifying. Trying to imagine with sight impairment it made wonder a lot one of the guides found out that I am deaf, a cochlear implant user and uses sign language.

Next was the final challenge, communication. Me and my colleague sat back to back and tried communicating, and then I struggle as soon as it started because of the background noise. I was trying to listen to what he said but nope nothing! Next was the blindfolds that made everything even worse, then off my hearing aid. Oh my days I was incredibly confused, and struggling so I was profoundly deaf and full-on blind, it was horrifying. Then I realised that I rely so much on lipreading, because when I lipread. With the sounds, that's how I often understand the conversation.

Now the best part is this lady, who has full vision blindness and moderate hearing was talking to the class about her story. She was telling us that she loved sign language, and she was planning to become the teacher of the deaf. She went through all her training at the University of Glasgow, even fell in love with sign language. But then her life changed, her sight was deteriorating which was caused her to be entirely blind also though her eyes looked "normal". She has missed sign language until one day, she visited a primary school, the class was practising the song "Singing a Rainbow" in sign language. While blind lady wrapped her hands on the young girl hands, she was singing the song, she said it was a heartfelt moment, cried her eyes out, when she got home realising that it was possible. Sign language is definitely not out of her life.

She next asked, who wants to have a go understanding the perspective of being a deaf, blind person with a blindfold trying to understand sign language. Honestly, it was lovely to see it happening as it gave me great memories when I was working with a deaf-blind person at my church. After two people had a go, being in their position being a deaf-blind person, trying to understand the signs of Sing a Rainbow song. After they had a go, I came on the last minute. I was being cautious at first. I used the deaf-blind way of saying "hi". She recognised it, like "hmmm he knows something" then I was encouraged by one of the guides to try to communicate using sign language. We chatted away, I did explain that I worked with one of the ladies who is deaf-blind.

And I knew how all the ropes worked and so on, but the exciting part is they asked me if I could be in the position of a deaf-blind person trying to understand "singing a rainbow". It was fascinating, trying to figure out which signs are which like feeling the tendons and the hand shapes, it was an experience. I was speechless, to be honest, but I had so much fun doing it, and I felt good after the session.

Afterwards, my tutor asked me to join her for lunch with the guest. It was very much fun having exciting discussions and a lovely meal at the Stravaigin just down the road from where I had my lecture. And the conversations were about perspectives and understanding more about their experiences and comparing with my experiences, I was gleaming throughout the day, it was a day to remember!

Don't think I will ever have this sort of day again, or even top it while I am here. I have also attached some videos of the experience being at the workshop, never felt so happy being there and having an enjoyable experience.

Looking at this is very long. Still, I can tell you it was a fantastic experience that I literally wanted to share with you!

God Bless

Oliver