Deafblindness is a condition that combines varying degrees of both hearing and visual impairment. All deafblind people experience problems with communication, access to information, and mobility. Deafblind people use many different communication media, depending on the age of onset of deafness and blindness and the available resources. For example, “deafblind manual alphabet” is a method of spe...

Empirical data on the development of interaction, communication, and language in deafblind children is very rare. To fill this gap, a case study was conducted in which the interaction between a teacher and a deafblind boy age 3 years 4 months was analyzed. Sequential analysis of their interaction confirmed some general clinical impressions about interaction with deafblind children, and provided...

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan estimates that there are nearly 22,000 deafblind people in Japan (2006). Communication is one of their largest barriers to independent living and participation. Deafblind people use many different communication media, depending on the age of onset of deafness and blindness and the available resources. “Yubi-Tenji” (Finger Braille) is one of th...

Following on from December’s theme of Vulnerable People I am writing to raise awareness about a service available to people with a combined sight and hearing loss who may present with other conditions. Without sight and hearing, which most of us take for granted, people can become lonely, socially isolated, and detached from their local community. Deafblind UK is a national charity which provid...

Individuals who are congenitally deafblind are presented with significant challenges when attempting to acquire language and communication skills. Since most of the information perceived is gained through direct bodily contact, cognitive processes necessary for language development remain closely connected to the body’s interaction with the environment. The embodied cognition approach, with its...

Finger Braille is one of the tactual communication media utilized by deafblind people. Deafblind people who are skilled in Finger Braille can understand the speech conversation and express various emotions. The objective of this study is development of a Finger Braille support device which assists not only verbal communication but also non-verbal (emotional) communication between deafblind peop...

We present a haptic interface to help deafblind people to practice horse riding as a recreational and therapeutic activity. Horseback riding is a form of therapy which can improve self-esteem and sensation of independence. It has been shown to benefit people with various medical conditions including autism. However, in the case of deafblind riders an interpreter must stand by at all times to co...

We present a haptic interface to help deafblind people to practice horseback riding as a recreational and therapeutic activity. Horseback riding is a form of therapy which can improve self-esteem and sensation of independence. It has been shown to benefit people with various medical conditions-including autism. However, in the case of deafblind riders, an interpreter must stand by at all times ...

This article is concerned with social and interactional processes that simplify pragmatic acts of intention attribution. The empirical focus is a series of interactions among DeafBlind people in Seattle, Washington, where pointing signs are used to individuate objects of reference in the immediate environment. Most members of this community are born deaf and slowly become blind. They come to Se...

The World Health Organizaion (WHO) states that 15 percent of world population are with disabilities. Deafblindness is a combination of vision and hearing impairments. There are a few people who are completely deaf and blind. Our world is organised around hearing sighted people, and this can present many challenges to a deafblind person. If you have little or no sight and hearing, learning to co...