Open Hand Autumn 2016

The magazine of Deafblind UK - putting you in the picture 

Autumn 2016 

Inside: 

■ Member Forum Update 

■ Deafblind NI Showcase 

Member Reminiscence Work 

■ Camden Group Trip to 

Kenwood House 

p7 

Ukelele Concert 

Fundraiser

2 Editorial 

What’s inside 

10 Colchester East 

Celebrate 

American 

Independence Day 

14 Member Forum 

Update 

16 Your TV Licence 

22 Keeping Warm and 

Well this Winter 

34 Touching 

Technology by 

Graham Hicks 

Editor: 

David Evans 

Email: davidguidedog145 

@btinternet.com 

Production: 

Email: 

info@deafblind.org.uk 

Tel: 0800 132 320 

Design: 

Tonic Media 

Published by: 

Deafblind UK 

© Deafblind UK 2016 

A word from 

our Editor 

Hello members, 

I always know when winter is 

on the way with the trees 

starting to lose their leaves 

and a warmer coat is called for 

when I go out in the early 

morning.

Editorial 

3 

In the last issue you will have 

read about the Deafblind UK 

(DBUK) member forums which 

are taking place across the 

country. The first of these took 

place at our headquarters on 

the 20th of September. 

Members are giving great 

feedback about the services 

they would like DBUK to 

provide, all of which we will 

take into consideration. 

One of the requests from the 

first forum was to print more 

stories in Open Hand from 

members about their daily 

lives. I’m pleased to tell you 

that we have included a range 

of member stories in this 

edition and as always, we 

welcome you to send in pieces 

to include. We usually look for 

up to 400 words per article so 

we may cut down longer 

pieces, or print them in 

sections. I do know that there 

is a taste for some poetry 

among members and I'm 

happy to continue to print 

poems either written by 

yourselves or favourites that 

you like, so please send them 

in. We may not be able to 

publish every submission but 

we will try to fit them in where 

suitable or reserve them for a 

future edition.

4 Editorial 

I would also like to make you 

aware that you can receive 

Open Hand in your preferred 

format. It is available in large 

print, XL print, XXL print, audio 

CD and Braille. Please get in 

touch using the details on the 

back of this magazine if you 

would like to change your 

preferences. 

In this edition you will find a 

variety of useful articles on 

subjects including your TV 

licence and accessible 

technology. There’s also an 

interesting piece on the history 

of Open Hand and a guest 

piece from our friends at the 

Blind Veterans. 

The items I look forward to 

including the most are those 

about our groups, which have 

been very busy with exciting 

activities since our last issue. 

The Colchester group 

organised an American day, in 

Wales they’ve been enjoying 

the Ukelele and the Camden 

group took a trip to Kenwood 

House, a former stately home 

in London. 

On behalf of the staff and 

volunteers we wish you all a 

very happy Christmas and best 

wishes for the New Year. 

Enjoy this autumn edition and 

I look forward to updating you 

in 2017! 

David

Chief Executive’s Report 

5 

An Update from the CEO 

It only feels like five minutes 

ago that I joined the DBUK 

family – the past few months 

have flown by! 

I have thoroughly enjoyed 

spending my time so far 

meeting our members around 

the country. A particular 

highlight for me was joining 

the Wrexham group for a 

presentation from RAF Cosford 

about a forthcoming visit to 

the RAF museum. It was a 

privilege to see the group 

members so involved in 

planning the visit, taking 

control and deciding how they 

want us to support them – 

after all, that is what DBUK is 

all about. As a member 

organisation, it is vital that we 

support you in the way you 

want. 

I have had the pleasure of 

attending each of our member 

forums to date and I am 

looking forward to meeting 

more of you at the remaining 

forums across the UK, in 

particular Wales and Northern 

Ireland. It is a joy to personally 

meet our members and to 

hear first hand what you want 

from us and our services. 

If you are unable to attend one 

of our forums, or if you just 

want to get in touch with any 

comments or suggestions 

about our services, please feel 

free to contact me by email – 

liz.bates@deafblnd.org.uk or 

by phone – 01733 358100. 

I would like to take this 

opportunity to wish all our 

members a very happy 

Christmas and new year. 

Best wishes, 

Liz

6 News 

AGM 

We’re delighted to invite 

members to attend the 26th 

Annual General Meeting (AGM) 

of DBUK on 25th January at 

2pm. 

The meeting will be held at our 

headquarters, The National 

Centre for Deafblindness, 

Cygnet Road, Hampton, 

Peterborough, PE7 8FD. Lunch 

will be provided at 1pm. 

The AGM is a business 

meeting with a focus on 

reviewing the company 

accounts, it will last 

approximately two hours. We 

welcome member’s questions 

relating to the business and 

accounts so if you have any, 

please submit them in writing 

no later than Monday 23rd 

January and we can address 

them at the meeting. 

Unfortunately, we won’t be 

able to respond to questions if 

we receive them after this 

date. 

This year’s AGM has been 

scheduled later than usual to 

avoid the Christmas period. If 

you would like to discuss this 

further, or if you have any 

objections to this, please do 

not hesitate to contact us. 

Agenda 

1. Welcome from the Chair 

of DBUK 

2. Apologies for absence 

3. Receive and approve the 

minutes of the 25th AGM 

4. Receive the audited 

accounts and annual 

report for the period 1 

April 2015 to 31 March 

2016 

5. Appoint and agree the 

remuneration of auditors 

for the period 1 April 

2015 to 31 March 2016 

6. Election of any Directors 

7. Any other business 

If you are interested in 

attending the AGM and 

would like a copy of the 

meeting papers in your 

preferred format, please 

contact Rachel Lay on: 

Rachel.lay@deafblind.org. 

uk or 01733 35810 ext: 

243 by 18th January. 

Unfortunately, we are 

unable to reimburse travel 

expenses for members or 

carers who attend the AGM.

News 

7 

Ukelele Concert 

The Princess Court Ukelele Band 

Roy, DBUK volunteer and 

member of the Princess Court 

Ukelele Band, rallied up his 

fellow musicians to put on a 

concert for everyone at the 

Trinity Centre in Llandudno. 

The event, held in August, 

raised funds for local deafblind 

groups. It was organised by 

DBUK members and 

volunteers with the help of 

outreach officer, Mike. The 

general public, members, 

volunteers and special guest 

Cllr. Carol Marubbi, Mayor of 

Llandudno, all went along to 

support DBUK and join in the 

fun! 

The ukelele band was excellent 

and played a selection of old 

favourites, so everyone had a 

good singalong whilst enjoying 

delicious tea and homemade 

cakes. When the concert was 

over there was time to look 

around the stalls which were 

selling all sorts of goodies 

including plants, gifts and even 

crafts made by DBUK 

members and volunteers. 

The event was a huge success 

and raised over £250 for local 

deafblind groups. 

If you would like to organise 

a fundraising event for 

DBUK, get in touch with the 

fundraising team using the 

details on the back of this 

magazine. 

Everyone enjoying the music!

8 News 

Deafblind NI Showcase 

Reminiscence Therapy Work 

Members and outreach officers displaying their life books 

Deafblind Northern Ireland 

(DBNI) hosted an exhibition 

event in October to celebrate 

the recent reminiscence 

therapy work they have been 

doing with local deafblind 

people. The exhibition 

showcased pieces of work 

created by deafblind members 

to encourage them to recall 

and reflect on personal 

memories as part of a 

reminiscence project supported 

by Halifax Foundation Northern 

Ireland. 

The DBNI team has been 

working with Reminiscence 

Network Northern Ireland 

(RNNI) to connect deafblind 

people with their past by using 

a variety of reminiscence 

therapy methods. This helps 

members to recall good 

memories through touch, smell 

and sound which, among other 

benefits, confirms a sense of 

unique identity. The groups 

created a range of work that 

sparks a particular memory. 

This included music, colourful 

hand art featuring facts about 

their past, and life books. The 

life books were a particular 

favourite amongst the 

members, as they are a record 

of their personal history with 

written memories, photographs

News 

9 

and memorabilia; something 

members and their families can 

treasure and use to reminisce 

together. 

“Reminiscence therapy is an 

effective method of improving 

a person’s mental wellbeing 

through the process of recalling 

forgotten memories using 

multisensory triggers. These 

multisensory activities such as 

hand print art and music 

therapy start the process of 

remembering; whether they’re 

sparked by the smell of the 

fresh paint that brings back 

childhood memories or by 

recalling simple facts like their 

mothers maiden name with the 

help of a DBNI staff member or 

volunteer. Sharing and 

reflecting on their memories 

with others of a similar age 

helps to reduce isolation and 

create new friendships as 

people find comfort and 

pleasure through common 

experiences.” Said Norman 

Mccudden, Project Manager for 

DBNI. 

The friends and families of 

deafblind members attended 

the event to view the 

multisensory work, celebrate 

member’s achievements and 

learn about their often very 

interesting histories. DBNI also 

invited other local charities and 

organisations to help them 

learn more about reminiscence 

work. 

Here’s what DBNI members 

had to say about the project: 

“I hadn’t realised just how 

many things I have done and 

accomplished in my life!” Jean 

Mackey 

“When I started reminiscence I 

didn’t know what it would 

entail. I have enjoyed doing 

this and with the help of Avril 

as my guide, I have been able 

to complete this life book.” 

John Nicholl 

“We are celebrating our 50th 

wedding anniversary later this 

year and the books will allow 

our family to see our life stories 

and listen to our favourite 

songs, songs that mean 

something to us and remind us 

of days gone by. It will be a 

permanent record for our 

children and grandchildren in 

the years to come.” Jean 

Shields

10 News 

Colchester East Celebrate 

American Independence Day 

hamburgers, hotdogs and 

french fries followed by apple 

pie and a special American flag 

cake made by volunteer 

Louise. 

Members and outreach officers 

celebrating America! 

Everybody had a great time. 

A huge thanks to Pam for 

organising the day, and to 

volunteers Rosemary and 

Louise for ensuring the event 

ran smoothly. 

The USA was all the talk at the 

Colchester East Social group 

gathering in August as they 

enjoyed a belated celebration 

of this year’s Independence 

Day with an ‘American Day’ 

extravaganza. 

The event was choreographed 

by DBUK member Pam House, 

who originates from Alabama. 

There were decorations, fancy 

dress, dancing, even an 

American themed quiz and a 

clever twist on pass the parcel 

where players rely on the 

sensitivity of their touch to 

identify prizes! 

This was all topped off with a 

wonderful lunch of mini 

Margaret with her pass the parcel prize 

If you would like to organise an 

event for your local deafblind 

group, get in touch with your 

local outreach officer or contact 

us using the details on the back 

of this magazine.

News 

11 

A Group Day Out to 

Kenwood House 

Photo credit: Courtesy of English Heritage 

After a recent trip to 

Kenwood House and 

Gardens, DBUK member, 

Mark, wrote to us to 

express how much he 

enjoyed the outing with the 

Camden deafblind group. 

Here’s what he told us: 

“I am severely sight impaired 

and wear two very powerful 

hearing aids so I really 

appreciate the DBUK Camden 

group. I regularly attend the 

group meetings to socialise and 

enjoy the various activities we 

can take part in. 

I just thought I would drop you 

a line to say how much I 

enjoyed the Camden group's 

outing at Kenwood House last 

week. 

The 

delicious 

cheese and 

pickle 

sandwich, 

freshly 

ground 

coffee and 

cone of 

chocolate 

The group enjoying 

the sunshine 

ice cream were all delightful 

treats for me (yum!). 

I enjoyed socialising in clean air 

completely surrounded by trees 

and the lovely herb garden on 

the gorgeous warm sunny day. 

We also had a short ride on the 

buggy, feeling all the little 

bumps and vibrations as we 

headed back to the car park. It 

was great! I really look 

forward to going back there 

again!"

12 News 

Arts and crafts workshop in Rhyl 

Members busy crafting 

Our members in North Wales 

were treated to an arts and 

crafts workshop in September 

where they perfected the art 

of cyanotype printing. What on 

earth is cyanotype printing we 

hear you ask? 

It is a Victorian printing 

process using objects which 

are placed on specially treated 

paper. When this paper is 

exposed to ultraviolet light 

(either in a light box or on a 

sunny window sill) and then 

plunged into a water bath, the 

strong cyan blue colour 

emerges but leaves a white 

“shadow” image of the 

objects. The duo-tone nature 

of the images is particularly 

easy for people with limited 

sight to make out. 

Members used different 

materials to create different 

designs on the paper including 

feathers, lace, pine needles, 

paper stencils and even garlic 

skin! 

This fun and interactive 

session was led by 

professional artist Sian Hughes 

and helped by two pupils from 

Rhyl High School who will be 

supporting some more arts 

and crafts sessions throughout 

the year.

Information 

13 

Join a social 

group! 

Did you know we have 

social groups across the 

UK? Social groups are a 

fantastic way to meet other 

deafblind people, share 

experiences and knowledge. 

DBUK volunteers and staff are 

there to answer any questions 

you might have and they often 

run activities including arts and 

crafts, technology sessions, 

lunches out, guest speakers 

and entertainers. Occasionally 

we organise group outings and 

past trips have included visits 

to the seaside, historic houses, 

museums and bowling. 

We currently run 

groups across the UK in 

the following locations: 

• Ammanford 

• Basildon 

• Belfast 

• Brentwood 

• Bridgend 

• Bury St Edmunds 

• Caerphilly 

• Camden 

• Canvey 

• Causeway 

• Chelmsford 

• Chelmsford (Digital 

Inclusion) 

• Chichester 

• Clacton 

• Colchester Central 

• Colchester East 

• Conwy 

• Craigavon 

• Grimsby 

• Harlow 

• Harlow (Digital Inclusion) 

• Huntingdon 

• Lisburn Group 

• Loughton (Signers Club) 

• Maldon Neath 

• Newham 

• Newport 

• Newry & Mourne 

• Newtownabbey 

• Peterborough 

• Rhyl 

• Rhyl (Craft) 

• Tower Hamlets 

• Uttlesford 

• Witham 

• Wrexham

14 Information 

Have your Say and Shape the 

Future of DBUK 

We’re proud of our status as a 

membership organisation and 

the vital support we provide to 

thousands of deafblind people 

across the UK. We want to 

make sure that we are 

providing the right services to 

you, our members, as well as 

your families and your carers, 

so we’re holding member 

forums across the UK. You’re 

invited to come along to one of 

our member forums to share 

your thoughts about our 

services and the issues that 

matter to you. These events 

will help shape the future of 

the services you receive from 

us. 

We held our first forum in 

Peterborough. The event was 

well attended - some had 

travelled from as far away as 

Tyne and Wear - and it was 

enjoyed by all. 

There was a range of round 

table discussions on the 

services we offer including 

Open Hand, digital inclusion, 

befriending and outreach 

services. These discussions 

focused on changes and 

improvements that could be 

made to the current service 

provision. 

Some of the common themes 

identified were: 

• The need for additional IT 

support

Information 

15 

• Greater information on 

accessing other services and 

support with completing 

forms and applications 

• Lack of articles written by 

members in Open Hand 

• Longer running hours of the 

Information & Advice line, 

including evenings and 

weekends 

It was also clear from the day 

that some members and their 

families may not be aware of 

all the services provided by 

DBUK. All of the issues raised 

at the forums will be taken on 

board and looked into. We will 

also continue to provide 

updates in Open Hand on the 

feedback we’ve received and 

any plans to develop our 

services. 

If you would like to attend one of our member forums listed 

below, please email: feedback@deafblind.org.uk. 

Alternatively you can call or text our Information & Advice Line: 

0800 132 320. 

Deafblind UK 

Member Forum Dates 

Region Date/Time Venue 

North 13 Dec 2016, 1pm-4pm Manchester Deaf 

Centre, Manchester 

Northern 17 Jan 2017, 1pm-4pm Belfast Central 

Ireland 

Mission, Belfast 

Essex 24 Jan 2017, 1pm-4pm Chelmsford 

Cathedral, 

Chelmsford 

South West 17 Feb 2017, 1pm-4pm The Vassall Centre, 

Bristol


All about TV Licences 

TV licences have been with us 

for years, but from 1st 

September we now need to 

have a TV licence even if we 

just download or watch 

programmes on BBC iPlayer. 

This could be on any device, 

including a TV, desktop 

computer, laptop, mobile 

phone, tablet, games console, 

digital box or DVD/VHS 

recorder. 

How can I buy a TV 

Licence? 

You can buy a TV licence 

online at 

www.tvlicensing.co.uk or 

by calling 0300 790 6165. 

You can pay with weekly cash 

payments at your nearest 

PayPoint outlet or via monthly, 

quarterly or yearly direct 

debits. There is also a savings 

card which allows you to save 

for your next TV licence whilst 

paying for your current one! 

Could I get a concession? 

Yes, if you or someone you live 

with is: 

• 75 years old or older? You 

are eligible to apply for a

Information 

17 

free Over 75 TV Licence. Call 

0300 790 6112 or visit 

tvlicensing.co.uk/over75info 

• 74 years old? You can apply 

for a short-term TV Licence 

to cover you until your 75th 

birthday. Call 0300 790 

6112 to find out more. 

• Blind and can provide the 

appropriate evidence? You 

are eligible to apply for a 

50% blind concession on 

your TV Licence. If you are 

partially sighted (sight 

impaired) you are 

unfortunately not eligible. To 

apply, go to 

tvlicensing.co.uk/blind or 

post a photocopy of your 

document of blind 

registration or a certificate 

from your ophthalmologist 

with your licence number, 

phone number and cheque 

payment to TV Licensing, 

Blind Concession Group, 

Darlington DL98 1TL. 

What if I don’t need a 

licence? 

If you don’t need a TV Licence, 

you still need to let TV 

Licensing know otherwise you 

may still receive letters asking 

for you to purchase a licence. 

Jargon buster 

Catch up TV 

A service that allows you to 

watch or download TV 

programmes through the 

internet after they have been 

shown on live TV. 

On Demand 

The term used to describe 

choosing what you watch and 

when through the internet. 

This includes Catch up TV, 

programmes available online 

before being shown on TV and 

programmes which are only 

available online. Netflix and 

Amazon Prime are examples 

of ‘On Demand TV’. 

Streaming 

The term used to describe 

watching TV, videos, 

programmes or films over the 

internet without storing the 

video on your device to watch 

later. 

For more information about TV licensing go to 

www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0300 790 6112.

Bill’s Board 

Welcome to 

Bill’s column 

Bill has been a member of DBUK since 2014. He is always on 

hand to give us insight into the lives of our members and for 

helpful tips that may be useful for you too, so we invited him 

to share them with you. 

Dear 

readers, 

I have been invited to 

share some thoughts 

and tips that I hope 

will inspire you. 

Please feel free to get 

in touch and start a 

conversation with me 

so that it can be a 

truly shared 

experience. 

Here’s a little bit 

about me: 

My mother told me 

that I was born at an 

early age in 1948. 

She assures me this 

is true as she was 

there at the time! 

At 15 I left school 

with no qualifications 

and I got a job as a 

trainee signal man for 

British Railways. Two 

years later I was 

made redundant 

(Beeching cuts!). A 

lot of us were out of 

work and jobs were 

few and far between. 

Dad got fed up of me 

mooching about and 

took me to the army 

recruiting office. 

I spent time serving 

in Aden, passed my 

exams and then a 

health problem 

resulted in a medical 

discharge. 

Returning to 

civilisation with no 

support and nowhere 

to go led to me being 

homeless. A few 

years later I was 

befriended by Peter, 

he encouraged me to 

get a flat and go to 

college. The result of 

Peter's guidance is 

that through study 

and encouragement, 

I am now a qualified 

teacher and lecturer. 

I am now a member 

of Blind Veterans, 

Combat Stress, Royal 

British Legion and of 

course Deafblind UK. 

I find that those 

trying to provide help 

often need to be 

encouraged to 

empower me rather 

than doing everything 

for me! 

I have written some 

information you may 

find useful, including 

a review of a piece of 

software for a mobile 

phone and some 

useful ‘did you know’ 

tips. 

Please let me know 

your thoughts by 

getting in touch with 

the marketing 

department at DBUK, 

email 

marcoms@deafblin 

d.org.uk or call 

01733 358 100 and 

they will pass the 

message on to me. 

Let’s see if together 

we might help create 

a brighter future. 

Bill 

18

Bill’s software review: 

Bill’s 

‘did you know’ 

tips 

• There are certain 

‘Windows’ 

operating systems 

on your computer 

that come with 

magnifying and/or 

narrator functions 

already built in 

Samsung Galaxy J5, 

adapted by ‘Synapptic’ 

I find the Synapptic adaptation on the 

Samsung Galaxy J5 advantageous for 

my needs. During the few months I 

have been using it I have been 

encouraged to text and e-mail more 

efficiently because it announces every 

letter, or reads the whole passage 

aloud so that I can check before 

sending. 

This device can do a range of everyday 

things to help you, all by voice, 

including: 

• Identify colours of washing 

• Read a paper document 

• Read labels in a shop 

• Identify local points of interest 

• Act as a spirit level 

• Act as a compass 

• Record voice memos 

• Notify you of appointments 

…oh, and guess what, you can make 

and receive calls too! You can read 

more about Synapptic on page 26. 

• You can buy a 

‘talking’ 

microwave, grill 

and convectional 

oven 

• Your Local 

Authority may be 

able to help you 

with ‘direct 

payments’. 

Depending on your 

circumstances, 

these may help 

pay for a personal 

assistant (PA). PA’s 

can help you in 

many different 

ways including 

supporting you 

with your shopping 

and cooking 

19


Charles Bonnet Syndrome 

We would like to introduce you 

to Judith Potts, health 

journalist for the Telegraph 

and founder of Esme’s 

Umbrella; a charity which 

raises awareness of Charles 

Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) and 

offers information and advice 

for anyone suffering from CBS, 

their families and friends. With 

such a wealth of knowledge 

we were excited to offer her 

the opportunity to write in 

Open Hand. 

When Hallucinations are a 

Normal Part of Sight Loss - 

By Judith Potts 

Do you know someone with 

failing eyesight who sees 

things which could not possibly 

be there? Do you – or the GP - 

think it is the beginning of 

dementia? It might well be 

Charles Bonnet Syndrome 

(CBS). 

CBS can develop when a 

person loses 60% or more of 

sight and the Syndrome brings 

with it visual hallucinations. 

These range from disturbing to 

frightening and too many 

people are suffering in silence 

because they, mistakenly, fear 

that the hallucinations herald 

dementia. This is emphatically 

not so. CBS is entirely to do 

with the brain ‘filling in the 

blanks in failing sight’ and has 

no link whatsoever to 

dementia. 

Sufferers report seeing words, 

geometric patterns or trelliswork. 

People appear, either 

Lilliputian or normal size, 

sometimes dressed in costume 

– Edwardian or Victorian – or 

with distorted faces. Water – 

in oceans or rivers – features 

often, as do buildings, dogs, 

flowers, insects, birds, snakes, 

worms and frogs. Sometimes 

the whole room can transform 

into somewhere completely 

different.

Information 

21 

It is important to remember 

that CBS hallucinations are 

completely silent. 

At the moment, there is no 

magic medication to dispel the 

hallucinations. Reassurance 

and coping strategies are all 

we can offer. 

It has become clear that too 

many doctors, nurses and 

optometrists know nothing 

about the condition. I learned 

about CBS from my Mother, 

Esme, who was tormented by 

hallucinations to the end of her 

life. With the help of Dr 

Dominic Ffytche (from King’s 

London) who is the lead 

researcher and globally 

acknowledged expert on CBS, 

‘Esme’s Umbrella’ was born, 

with an event at The House of 

Commons. 

lobby for funding for muchneeded 

research - and to 

combat mis-diagnosis. 

Charles Bonnet Syndrome is 

named after the Swiss 

naturalist and philosopher, 

who documented the ‘visions’ 

seen by his 87 year old 

grandfather, who was nearly 

blind. This was in 1760, yet 

here we are in 2016 with very 

little progress made in 

understanding or treating the 

condition. With our aging 

population and the growing 

number of people with type 2 

diabetes (which carries the 

risk of retinopathy leading to 

blindness), there will be many 

more people developing CBS – 

so it is time we focused on this 

condition. 

My aim is not only to raise 

awareness but to persuade 

ophthalmologists, GPs and 

optometrists to warn their 

patients; to offer support and 

If you would like to add your experience to the website, start a 

support group, or have any ideas about spreading the word, 

please contact Judith on the details below. 

www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk 

esmesumbrella@gmail.com Helpline 0345 051 3925


Keep Warm this Winter 

Here are 7 top tips to warm 

you up at little to no cost: 

1. Seek out and block 

draughts. Draughts are 

usually found at windows 

and doors, so make sure 

they’re air tight. If they’re 

not you can block a pesky 

draught with an old towel or 

buy a draught excluder. 

2. Make sure your furniture 

doesn’t block your 

radiators. Take five 

minutes to visit each room 

and ensure your radiators 

are free of obstructions. 

3. Get someone to check 

your insulation for you. If 

your insulation depth is less 

than 100mm you may need 

to top it up or even scrap it 

and start again. 

4. Close your doors. By 

closing the doors of every 

room you create cells of 

heat by not allowing it to 

escape into unoccupied 

areas. 

5. Use sunlight to warm 

your home. Make sure you 

open your curtains and 

allow the heat of the sun to 

penetrate your rooms. 

6. Keep the heat by closing 

your curtains before it 

gets dark. By closing your 

curtains you insulate the 

heat you gained in the day. 

You can maximise this by 

buying thick curtains and 

tucking your curtains on the 

window ledge to keep out 

any draughts. 

7. Wrap up warm and 

embrace some fluffy 

slippers! Wear extra layers 

of clothing to trap the heat 

and keep your hands warm 

with a nice hot drink. 

For more information about keeping warm and well this winter, 

call the Information & Advice Line on 0800 132 320 or email 

info@deafblind.org.uk

Here for 

you to 

talk to 

Do you, or does someone you know need 

guidance or emotional support? 

The Deafblind UK Information & Advice Line is a free service and 

we are always happy to answer your questions or concerns. 

Our trained volunteers can give you practical and emotional 

support, from giving advice on where to find help to resolve a 

problem, to simply being there for a friendly chat. We will always 

be here for you to talk to. 

Call one of our volunteers on 

0800 132 320 

or email info@deafblind.org.uk 

www.deafblind.org.uk 

Registered Charity No: 802976


Welcoming Deafblind Visitors 

to Tate Modern 

By Marcus Dickey Horley, Curator of Public Programmes 

The large building is arranged 

so that there is a relaxing 

mixture of gallery spaces 

which show art, and nongallery 

spaces where you can 

relax on a bench or a sofa, use 

the free Wi-Fi, have a coffee 

and just enjoy being at the 

heart of London’s cultural 

world. 

Photo credit: Tate Photography 

Visitor feeling a raised image drawing 

The Tate Modern art gallery 

is one of London’s busiest 

and most popular visitor 

attractions. We spoke to 

Marcus Dickey Horley, 

Curator of Public 

Programmes to find out 

how accessible it is for 

deafblind people. 

The gallery is serviced by lifts, 

escalators and occasional 

gentle slopes allowing access 

to every part of the building. It 

also has accessible toilets. 

Tate Modern recently opened a 

new exhibition space called 

the Switch House. This is an 

unusual piece of architecture; 

imagine a flat-topped pyramid 

clad in brown brick twisting 

ten stories high. Inside, there 

are some opportunities to 

enjoy touching and sensing 

the architecture of this new 

space. If you go downstairs to 

the Tanks, you can sense the 

industrial history of the 

building. It is still possible to 

go into the gigantic 

underground oil tanks, feel the

Information 

25 

cold and rough concrete walls, 

and smell the residue of 

decades of oil storage still 

detectable in the air. 

For many deafblind visitors the 

opportunity to touch art is vital 

to understanding meaning and 

to learn about artists and their 

work. Tate Modern includes a 

number of artworks that the 

public can touch. The displays 

are very lively and change all 

the time, meaning there is 

always something new or 

different to experience. 

Tate Modern also uses tactile 

diagrams to help people 

understand paintings and 

drawings to ensure that you 

experience the full range of 

artworks on display, not just 

sculptures. 

Practical Advice 

for Visitors: 

Reserved parking is available 

for disabled visitors. 

Deafblind tours can be 

provided on request, but 

please give as much notice as 

you can. Tours usually last 90 

minutes and are free. Gallery 

stools and plenty of rests 

breaks are included! 

If you would like to make an 

independent visit without 

booking a tour, the 

Information Desk can give you 

a list of the artworks which 

you are welcome to touch 

even without a guide present. 

Visiting Information: Tate Modern, Holland Street, Bankside, 

London SE1 9TG 0207 887 8888 information@tate.org.uk 

www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern


Digital Groups Discover 

Synapptics 

Responding to the growing 

interest in mobile technology, 

we’re currently developing a 

number of digital groups as 

part of ‘The World at their 

Fingertips’ and ‘At a Touch’ 

projects, to offer more 

opportunities for members to 

get in touch with technology. 

Accessible technology is an 

excellent way for members to 

take control over many 

aspects of their lives and the 

newly developed groups focus 

on some of the leading 

accessibility products available 

today. 

These two new projects, 

which have been kindly 

supported by Awards for All, 

look to benefit a wide range 

of deafblind people across 

England and Wales. 

One of the products being 

sampled in the projects is an 

Android tablet package from 

Synapptic, a product that Bill 

reviewed earlier on page 19. 

Synapptic is a company which 

designs intuitive technology 

for people with sight loss. The 

company has traditionally 

focused on products for those 

with sight loss, however, Mary 

McMahon, Operations Director 

at Synapptic explains: 

“We’re noticing that people 

with hearing loss are starting 

to use our products, 

particularly because of the fact 

that they are so intuitive and 

simple to use. In addition, 

people like the fact that our 

software works on mainstream 

Android smartphones and 

tablets, whilst remaining fully 

accessible.” 

The digital group’s initial 

feedback of Synapptic is 

promising and as the project 

grows, DBUK is hoping to 

extend this digital awareness 

to individuals within their own 

homes.

Information 

27 

We hope that our members 

will be able to make use of the 

features for managing 

everyday tasks such as 

emailing, as well as getting 

them started on their digital 

journeys. 

DBUK is working closely with 

Synapptic to provide feedback 

on the user’s experiences, with 

the intention of developing the 

products further for people 

with dual sensory loss. 

Mary continues, 

“We’re keen to support DBUK’s 

initiative in establishing these 

digital connections, because 

our wider aim has always been 

to remove barriers to 

technology for people with 

disabilities.” 

“It just seems like a great fit 

for us and we hope we can 

build our relationship with 

DBUK in the future.” 

Synapptic’s innovative 

products have recently 

received an Award for 

Excellence from the Macular 

Society. The award, in the 

category of Best Technology 

Innovation, recognised the 

unique approach Synapptic 

has taken to bridging the 

technology gap for those 

with sight loss. Now, 

Synapptic hopes to develop 

its products further for those 

with hearing loss, by listening 

to feedback from the DBUK 

digital groups. 

For further information on Synapptic, please contact our digital 

inclusion officer, Tim Locke on 01733 358 100 or email 

tim.locke@deafblind.org.uk 

You can also visit the Synapptic website www.synapptic.com 

A free trial version of the software is also available, which can 

be sampled using an existing Android phone or tablet.

28 Member Spotlight 

Check mate! 

Julian has been a DBUK 

member since 2008. He has 

always been a keen chess 

player and so Sue, one of our 

London based outreach 

officers, arranged for Julian to 

attend the monthly Kensington 

and Chelsea Disability Alliance 

Chess and Scrabble Club. He 

now attends regularly after his 

first successful visit. He likes 

to be active and has been 

known to go cycling on a 

tandem with a friend in 

Norfolk. He also enjoys Blind 

Week, an annual sailing event 

where visually impaired sailors 

can get out on the water for a 

week of cruising along the 

coast. 

Although Julian gets out and 

about, he was keen to do 

more so he requested a 

volunteer befriender. Sue 

wanted to match him with 

someone with similar interests 

so they discussed his hobbies 

and together they decided a 

befriender who could play 

scrabble with him or just come 

for a chat would be ideal. The 

DBUK volunteer team 

immediately recruited Jolyon 

as a volunteer befriender. 

Julian and Jolyon get on very 

well, they now regularly play 

chess and scrabble together. 

Sue has also managed to find 

Julian someone to help him 

with his computer and has put 

them in contact with each 

other. 

If you would like to find out 

about volunteer befrienders, 

get in touch using the contact 

details found on the back of 

the magazine.

Chat with other 

members 

Would you like to get in touch with other 

people with a dual sensory loss for a friendly 

chat and companionship? If so, we would 

love to hear from you. 

We believe that no one should feel lonely or isolated. Many of our 

members say they would like to speak to other people who have 

the same disability. If you would like to be connected with other 

people either on the phone, email, Skype, Facetime or via other 

channels, then contact us using the details found on the back of 

this magazine and we may be able to put you in contact with other, 

like-minded, DBUK members.

30 Member Spotlight - Letters 

Sheila’s Story 

I became used to being with 

blind children. We talked to 

each other through 

fingerspelling – they used 

manual finger spelling so we 

could understand them. Deaf 

and blind children were 

separated in the classrooms 

but we joined together in the 

dining rooms and dormitories. 

“My name is Sheila Mary 

Cubis, I am a regular reader of 

Open Hand magazine from 

Deafblind UK and really enjoy 

the articles and features. 

I am profoundly deaf from 

birth and went to a boarding 

school for deaf and blind 

children for 11½ years at 

Gorleston-on-Sea near 

Yarmouth. When the Second 

World War broke (on 

September 3rd) we were 

evacuated to Glyn Neath near 

Neath in South Wales and I 

stayed there until I left school 

at the age of 16. 

Being deaf from birth can be 

lonely and isolating. People 

who become deaf later are 

very different because they 

have good language compared 

with those who are born deaf. 

Although I can talk, my speech 

is not very clear and I 

mispronounce words. 

I was diagnosed in 2010 with 

Macular Degeneration. I first 

lost sight in my left eye (the 

central vision was affected) 

after I had three eye infections 

but it was too late to save my 

sight. 

Being deaf, I feel the eyes are 

very very important; I 

especially need my vision for 

lip reading. My vision in my 

right eye then started to blur. 

This time I reacted quickly and

Member Spotlight - Letters 

31 

have had treatment on several 

occasions from the hospital. 

I have two lovely daughters 

and seven grandchildren aged 

between 25–34. I also have 

one great granddaughter, 

aged two! 

My husband Patrick was deaf 

and educated at Margate 

Royal School for Deaf Children 

from age four to 16. Sadly, he 

died last year after a long 

illness with Alzheimer’s. 

I went with him to Alzheimer’s 

coffee mornings, chats and 

lectures with interpreters once 

a month. I really, really 

enjoyed going there as it gave 

me, as his carer, a great deal 

of support.” 

Thank you for sending your 

story in Sheila! We would love 

to hear from other members, 

if you have a story or letter for 

inclusion in Open Hand, please 

send it to us using the details 

on the back of the magazine.


Jim the ‘doer’ 

More than 1,000 of our 

members are aged 80 and 

over. We’re often told about 

their wartime memories, their 

service roles and the 

experiences they have had 

since World War II. Some of 

our members lost their sight 

or hearing as a result of their 

service in the war. To help 

those involved in the war 

effort we offer a service which 

has a particular focus on 

reminiscence which is 

supported by the Royal British 

Legion, ABF The Soldiers’ 

Charity, the Queen Mary’s 

Roehampton Trust and the 

Royal Navy Benevolent Fund 

as well as other kind donors. 

This has enabled us to help 

people like 93 year old Jim, 

who served in the army. Each 

month, Jim attends his 

Friendly Friday Group in 

Peterborough. Jim describes 

himself as a ‘doer’, he loves 

trying new things like archery 

and enjoys all the activities 

they do as a group, especially 

anything to do with gardening 

or cooking. Group volunteer, 

Gina said “Everyone enjoys 

Jim’s company! He really 

encourages the group to be 

active.” 

Jim lives close to a local 

country park which has a 

sailing club onsite; something 

Jim has always wanted to try! 

Unsure of how to organise a 

trip to go sailing, he 

encouraged the group to visit 

the sailing club with him. After 

acquainting himself on land 

with all the controls, Jim was 

lucky enough to sail a 

catamaran-type boat with the 

support of an instructor. The 

whole group had a fantastic 

time and Jim says he now has 

the confidence to go alone! 

Jim enjoying the group activities

Member Spotlight 

33 

Caring Neighbours 

at Rainbow Court 

by Hayley Mcmillan, Peripatetic Support Worker at Rainbow Court 

That was until his neighbour 

and DBUK Trustee, Peter 

Skivington took it upon himself 

to raise the £1,000 through 

the Peterborough Lions and 

the Richmond Trust. 

Stephen shaking Peter’s hand 

Stephen Powell lives at our 

assisted living 

accommodation, Rainbow 

Court. He recently found that 

his wheelchair was no longer 

meeting his needs, in fact it 

was preventing him from 

doing everyday things such as 

socialising, going shopping and 

going to the post office. 

What Stephen really needed 

was a power pack for his 

wheelchair; a device that 

means pushing the chair is a 

thing of the past. But at a cost 

of £1,000, the prospect was 

unlikely. 

Stephen was delighted to get 

his power pack sooner than 

expected; his quality of life has 

vastly improved. He is now 

able to go out and about by 

himself, choose his own 

shopping and pay his own bills. 

“Thank you very much to 

Peter for helping me get the 

power pack it has really 

enabled me to become more 

independent and get out 

more” Stephen said as he 

offered to buy Peter a drink 

and shook his hand. 

Peter said “I am very pleased 

that the power pack has such 

a positive impact on Stephen’s 

life and would like to thank 

Ann Barrett for her help 

through the Richmond Trust 

and for all those involved with 

the Peterborough Lion’s club 

for their fundraising.”


Touching Technology 

by Graham Hicks 

Digital Inclusion Officer, Tim with DBUK Member, Graham 

DBUK member, Graham 

Hicks has played a great 

part in developing and 

trialling accessible 

technology for deafblind 

people. Here, he talks 

about how technology has 

empowered him to make 

his own decisions and 

given him independence: 

I would like to open this 

article with a history of my 

introduction to braille 

technology, how it has played 

a major role in my everyday 

life and above all, enabled me 

to be gainfully employed and 

interact with the outside world 

in a way that would never 

have been possible without 

braille computers. 

Back in 1983 one afternoon in 

the summer my sister came to 

me to say I'd got a letter in 

print. She opened it and said 

"oh, it’s nothing interesting


35 

just something about using 

the phone". The letter was 

from the National Deafblind 

Helpers League (now called 

Deafblind UK) inviting me to 

take part in a small project 

called "HASICOM" (Hearing 

and Sight Impaired 

Communication) which was 

funded by the Department of 

Trade and Industry. Six 

deafblind people were each 

given one of the early braille 

computers called a 

‘Versabraille’. It was linked to 

an early type of modem called 

an ‘Acoustic Coupler’ so that 

we could connect to an early 

email system called ‘Telecom 

Gold’. This was to be my first 

experience of a computer. 

In 1984 I had a visit from 

Brian Payne, a blind man from 

Kent, to show me how to use 

the Versabraille and it wasn't 

long before I was up and 

running. Soon I started to 

make new friends and 

contacts through Telecom Gold 

including with many deaf 

people who also used the 

system. As the braille 

computer translates 

everything into standard text, 

there was no longer any 

barrier between myself and 

sighted people. Up until this 

time I had no access to the 

written word other than what 

was in hardcopy braille. This 

was a massive step forward in 

terms of access for me and the 

other deafblind people who 

took part in the HASICOM 

project. I was invited to join 

the HASICOM general 

committee which had been set 

up to guide and support the 

development of the project. 

The project was also 

supported by Sense, RNIB, 

RNID, Electronic Aids for the 

Blind and St Dunstans. From 

here I became involved in the 

deafblind charity sector and in 

1986 went on a two month 

Winston Churchill fellowship to 

the USA and Canada to learn 

more about deafblind services. 

In 1987 I moved from working 

in my bike shop to working 

with Sense in London as 

development officer for their 

technical and welfare services, 

thus starting my professional 

career. 

As the years went by the 

versabraille was upgraded and 

then replaced with more 

advanced braille systems, 

some of which worked with 

PC's through screen reader 

software. This opened up my 

access to MS-DOS compatible 

PC's and software such as the 

iconic WordPerfect 5.1


package, an early email app, 

Pegasus mail, an optical 

character reader and Teletext. 

For the first time I had direct 

access to BBC and ITV news 

via teletext and could scan 

printed documents and books 

into text files on the PC to 

read in braille. When the move 

to windows gathered speed I 

tried to make the switch but 

didn't find the braille access 

very user friendly. It was at 

about this time that I became 

aware of the Braillenote family 

of braille computers made by 

Humanware. These portable 

machines are designed 

specifically for braille users. 

The Braillenote apex does 

everything from wordprocessing 

to email, internet 

and even has a book reader. 

Being only 10 inches x 6 

inches x 1 inch it’s far smaller 

than one of those large braille 

books which I no longer read. 

The very latest braille device 

from Humanware breaks new 

ground in braille accessibility. 

The touch braille display and 

keyboard are built around an 

Android tablet computer, 

giving you an all in one braille 

computer. This enables the 

Photo credit: Humanware.com 

The BrailleNote Touch


37 

braille user to work with and 

share the same information 

and apps with sighted people 

via the touch screen. For the 

first time the Android tablet 

and compatible apps are truly 

accessible to the braille reader. 

What makes the touch all the 

more impressive is the fact 

that Humanware developed it 

in partnership with Google. 

The first time that a 

mainstream global company 

has supported the 

development of braille 

hardware and incorporated 

this into their own hardware. 

No longer do we need a 

separate braille display to link 

to a PC - the touch tablet does 

it all in one. 

So what do we get out of 

this technology? 

The technology I’ve described 

here gives me access to 

information which enables me 

to be independent, make my 

own decisions and be in 

control of my own life. It is my 

lifeline to the outside world 

and without which I would be 

totally cut off. From a work 

perspective, (I now run a bike 

shop again), my braille access 

devices enable me to 

communicate with customers 

by text message, email and 

through Facebook. I am able 

to prepare all orders for stock, 

research products, write out 

estimates, bills and price up 

new stock. I also manage 

finances through email and 

textphone. All this puts me in 

a much stronger position than 

before 1983 when I had to 

rely on others to do those kind 

of things. 

It really concerns me that 

many deafblind people who 

could benefit from this 

technology don't have access 

to it. Often that's due to its 

cost, but also the need for 

backup support and specialist 

training so that new users can 

get the best out of their 

equipment. It should never be 

seen as a luxury to have such 

equipment, the access I 

describe is only what most 

people take for granted. It 

should be every deafblind 

person's right to have the best 

technology to give them 

independent access to 

information and knowledge, 

giving them the power to 

make their own decisions. 

Touched by technology we 

have power. 

If you would like to get in 

touch with Graham, you can 

email him on: 

graham.hix@gmail.com


Poems by Margaret Royles 

Feelings 

Feelings aren’t easy to 

express: 

A look, a smile, a fond 

caress 

Can help you in the 

nicest way 

To find the words you 

want to say. 

They’ll come from deep 

within the heart – 

Just when did they begin 

to start? 

Was it on an early morn 

Margaret, known to many 

as Maggi, is a loyal member 

of DBUK and regularly 

attends the support group 

in Rhyl to socialise and take 

part in activities. When 

she’s at home she enjoys 

writing poetry and has 

kindly sent us a few of her 

poems to share with you all. 

Of the day that you were 

born? 

They can be happy, but 

sometimes sad; 

Also be good, but maybe 

bad. 

To your own self be 

really true 

And your feelings will 

come shining through


39 

Johnboy’s Hitting the 

Target for Tokyo 2020 

DBUK member, John 

(Johnboy), is a successful 

archer from Northern Ireland. 

He recently came second in 

the B1 Class (for archers with 

no sight) of the British Visually 

Impaired Archery 

Championships at Lilleshall; 

the home of Archery Great 

Britain. Johnboy was the only 

deafblind archer who 

competed in the 

championship; the other 

competitors all had varying 

degrees of sight loss, making 

his success all the more 

impressive. 

This result will put Johnboy 

into a good position to be 

picked up by Archery Great 

Britain (GB) as an elite athlete. 

If he is picked, this would 

attract GB sponsorship and 

bring him into the national 

coaching scene. In turn it 

would be much more likely 

that Johnboy would be 

considered for selection to be 

part of the GB and NI team for 

the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. 

Although, visually impaired 

archery is not yet a sport 

covered by the Paralympic 

games it is in contention 

following high demand for the 

sport. 

Chris Macfadyen, John’s coach 

commented: “John’s passion 

for the sport was apparent 

from the start. He soon 

discovered that he was able to 

compete alongside his ‘ablebodied’ 

counterparts, with the 

help of tactile sight, a piece of 

equipment which helps his 

alignment to the target. 

“John inspires everyone who 

works with him and is a 

fantastic ambassador for the 

club and for deafblind 

awareness.” 

We're sure you will join us in 

congratulating Johnboy on this 

fantastic achievement and 

wish him all the best for future 

challenges!

40 Features 

Open Hand – our history 

In 1929 Deafblind UK, then 

known as the Deafblind 

Heapers League, launched a 

magazine called Braille 

Rainbow. Only five copies were 

produced and posted to 

members who read it and sent 

it on to the next person. It was 

the first magazine intended for 

a deafblind readership and was 

considered so valuable that 

during the Second World War it 

was one of very few 

publications exempt from 

paper rationing! 

More recently, Rainbow was 

renamed ‘Open Hand’ and 

remains a valuable part of our 

service offering. It is produced 

in five different formats to 

ensure that all our members 

have access to it. The name 

‘Open Hand’ comes from the 

need to have an open hand to 

receive communication in 

deafblind manual. It also refers 

to the open hand in reaching 

out to others. 

If you would like to receive Open Hand in a different format, 

please get in touch using the contact details on the back of 

this magazine.

Leaving a gift 

in your Will 

Here at Deafblind UK, we rely on supporters who leave us a 

gift in their Will. Last year these funds allowed us to ensure 

that our vital Information & Advice Line was available to each 

of our members. 

If you would like more information on the difference a gift 

from you could make, or any other aspect of leaving a gift in 

your Will to Deafblind UK, please feel free to call us on: 

0800 132 320 

or email: 

info@deafblind.org.uk

42 Features 

Channel 4 Changing 

Perceptions 

Channel 4 continued to change 

the public’s perception of 

disability as it championed the 

voices of a minority via its ‘Yes 

I can’ campaign. Mars was 

keen to jump on board as it 

launched an advert in British 

Sign Language for Maltesers 

during the Paralympic games; 

it was aired in complete 

silence and is an industry first 

in the UK. 

The advert was one of three 

released by Mars after 

research found that 80% of 

disabled people felt under 

represented by TV and the 

media*. The adverts aimed to 

normalise disability and focus 

on the “lighter moments in the 

lives of those living with a 

disability”. The work that 

Channel 4 and Mars are doing 

is great to encourage people 

to really think differently about 

disability. Channel 4 will be 

continuing to promote Para 

sport for the next four years 

on the run up to and during 

the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic 

Games. 

* Huffington Post, Sept 2016

Fundraising Update 

43 

Pete’s London to 

Brighton Cycle! 

DBUK supporter Pete, cycled 

from London to Brighton, 

that’s 54 miles, with 4,000 

other cyclists raising a 

fantastic £270 for DBUK! 

Why did you choose to 

fundraise for Deafblind UK? 

“It's a great cause and my 

dear grandmother lived a very 

significant part of her long life 

with limited hearing and sight, 

so I know what a challenge 

that can be.” 

Why did you choose to take 

part in the London to 

Brighton bike ride? 

“I've never done a long bike 

ride before and in a moment 

of madness it seemed like a 

good idea. On paper it didn't 

look that hard!” 

What was the most 

rewarding part of your 

London to Brighton bike 

ride? 

“I love the comradery of being 

amongst loads of other 

amateur cyclists who were all 

just out to have fun and raise 

money for great causes. The 

most rewarding part was 

riding the last mile to the 

finish line and being clapped 

by loads of supporters.” 

Do you have any anecdotes 

from the day? 

“The funniest bit (although it 

wasn't at the time!) was 

getting lost between the tube 

station and the start line. We 

managed to do an extra 3-4 

miles before we even started. 

I tried to kid myself that it was 

all part of the warm ups like 

the professionals probably do!”

44 Friends of DBUK 

Blind Veterans UK 

independence as much as 

possible. 

Blind Veterans UK is a national 

charity which supports blind 

and vision impaired ex-service 

men and women, no matter 

when they served or how they 

lost their sight. The majority 

of people with sight loss are 

over 80, and many of the 

veterans which the charity 

supports have problems with 

hearing as well as vision 

impairment. Blind Veterans 

UK aims to provide a bespoke 

package of care tailored for 

the needs of each individual to 

help them maintain their 

Fran McSweeney, Community 

Services Manager at Blind 

Veterans UK, says, “We 

support people on an 

individual basis and help them 

achieve whatever they want 

to. We provide equipment and 

training to help them into 

employment or to carry on 

doing the things they enjoy 

most. We work in partnership 

with other charities and local 

services to secure specialised 

equipment or home 

adaptations if required. 

At Blind Veterans UK we place 

a big emphasis on making 

sure our veterans are given 

opportunities to socialise and 

keep in touch with family and 

friends. IT can really help 

people to keep in touch, 

particularly emails and social 

media”. 

One deafblind veteran 

supported by Blind Veterans 

UK is Ron Freer. Ron joined the 

Army in 1931 and, on the 

outbreak of the Second World

Friends of DBUK 

45 

Blind veteran, Ron Freer 

War, was posted to Hong Kong 

to defend the then British 

colony. In late 1941, Ron was 

captured as a Japanese 

prisoner of war (POW) and 

remained so until the end of 

the Second World War. It was 

this four year ordeal that led 

to Ron losing his sight and 

hearing because of the 

malnutrition he suffered in the 

camp. 

Ron says: “I returned to the 

UK after being a POW for 

nearly four years. Having lost 

my sight as well as my hearing 

my future seemed very dismal 

and I didn’t want to think 

about what lay ahead. This 

was until I was taken to Blind 

Veterans UK. 

“I was given my confidence 

back bit by bit through training 

such as learning Braille. My 

main objective, as a man in 

his early thirties, was to find 

employment. After I married, I 

had the opportunity of opening 

a new post office and my wife 

and I continued to operate it 

for 25 years. This was all 

thanks to Blind Veterans UK, 

who helped me to purchase 

the property.” 

Blind Veterans UK wants to 

reach out to more veterans 

like Ron. If you, or someone 

you know, served in the 

Armed Forces or did National 

Service and are now battling 

severe sight loss, find out how 

Blind Veterans UK could help 

by calling 0800 389 7979 or 

visiting noonealone.org.uk

46 Meet the Team 

Meet Amanda 

battles faced by individuals 

with a disability. 

“Hello, I’m Amanda Easton 

and have recently returned to 

DBUK as Customer & Member 

Engagement Officer following 

my maternity leave. 

I joined the DBUK group in 

2013 and worked with 

individuals to empower them 

to lead independent lives. Prior 

to DBUK I worked within the 

care sector for 10 years, which 

has given me a greater 

understanding of the daily 

My current role is to ensure 

that DBUK is a champion of 

quality services, whilst being 

responsive to member and 

customer feedback. Your 

feedback is crucial to the 

services that we provide, we 

are always looking at ways to 

improve and can only do that 

by hearing from those that are 

at the heart of DBUK, you the 

members. At the moment I’m 

busy with our member forums 

which are taking place up and 

down the country. So I’m sure 

I will speak with many of you 

over the coming months about 

these events! 

When I’m not at work, I am 

very much a family person and 

spend my days with my 

partner and our little boy who 

will be one in December. I like 

to bake and have recently 

taken up sewing and crafts. If 

I have any time left then a 

nice brisk walk or a jog are 

happily taken for five minutes 

peace!”

Do you use an 

iPad or tablet on 

a regular basis? 

We are looking for DBUK members who have a few spare 

hours a month to demonstrate how to use off-the-shelf 

technology, such as an iPad, to other members to help 

reduce isolation and improve quality of lives... 

You will receive full one-to-one training in showing other 

members how to use the device. You will learn how to break 

isolation using communication services such as email and 

discover how to access information online. Ideally you will 

already have a tablet or iPad however, this is not essential. 

So if you're a whizz at social media or surfing the internet and 

would enjoy passing these skills onto others – we’d really like 

to hear from you. Let’s get surfing! 

This is a flexible opportunity that can easily fit around other 

commitments. 

Interested? Contact Tim Locke on: 

tim.locke@deafblind.org.uk 

Tel: 01733 358100 

Mobile: 07940834307

How can we help you? 

Information & Advice Line 

A free phone line manned by 

trained volunteers who can give you 

emotional support and practical 

advice, call them on: 0800 132 320 

Community Outreach 

We have a trained team of outreach 

officers who can provide face-toface 

support at your home. 

Advocacy Service 

We can help you resolve personal 

issues such as those relating to 

benefits, homecare support and 

access to health services. 

Companionship 

We can match you to a volunteer 

who can provide companionship, 

light support at home or help you to 

get out and about. 

Social Groups 

A regular get together where you 

can meet with other DBUK 

members, trained volunteers and 

staff to enjoy activities and outings. 

Digital Support 

Our digital inclusion service teaches 

you how to use accessibility 

features on tablet computers and 

other technology that can help you 

on a daily basis. 

Holiday Caravan 

As a DBUK member you can 

enjoy a week’s stay in our 

accessible holiday caravan in 

Hopton (near Great Yarmouth) for 

free! Please get in touch to check 

availability and to book. 

If you would like to access any of the services we offer please 

contact us using the details below. 

If you would like to submit a guest article to Open Hand 

please send to us using the contact details below by the 

20th January 2017. 

The views and opinions expressed in Open Hand are not 

necessarily those of either Deafblind UK or the editor and we 

reserve the right to edit submissions. 

Contact us 

Deafblind UK, National Centre for 

Deafblindness, John and Lucille van 

Geest Place, Cygnet Road, 

Hampton, Peterborough, PE7 8FD 

Tel/Text phone: 0800 132 320 

Fax: 01733 358 356 

email: info@deafblind.org.uk 

www.deafblind.org.uk 

DBUKCharity 

@DeafblindUK 

Registered Charity No: 802976 

Company Reg No: 2426281

Open Hand Autumn 2016

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