Open Hand Winter 2017

Winter 2017 

The magazine of Deafblind UK – putting you in the picture 

Inside: 

• nDeafblind UK Turns 90 

• nHow to have a hassle free Christmas 

• nEntertainment for all 

p20 

Accessibility at 

St Paul’s Cathedral

What’s inside? 

News 

P4 News 

P7 Forums 

P8 Deafblind UK turns 90 

P10 What’s On 

P11 Member news 

Information 

P12 Regional Roundup 

P14 Digital Update 

P16 How to have a hassle 

free Christmas 

P18 Entertainment for all 

P20 Accessibility review - 

St Paul’s Cathedral 

P22 Are you fire aware? 

Features 

P24 Out and about 

and active 

P26 Did you know about...? 

P28 Saving for a rainy day 

P30 Product review 

P32 Bill’s Board 

P34 A word of thanks 

Imtiaz; Disabled Person of the Year 

Editor: 

David Evans 

info@deafblind.org.uk 

Design: 

Lovely Cuppa Design 

Published by: 

Deafblind UK 

© Deafblind UK 2017 

Pass it on 

When you have finished with 

this magazine, please pass 

it on to family and friends or 

even donate it to your local 

doctors waiting rooms. 

Welcome 

As Christmas is fast approaching it seems the ideal time 

to reflect on 2017 – and what a year it has been! It makes 

me immensely proud to read about our members who have 

achieved such great things in the space of 12 months; from 

writing poetry and publishing books to doing fitness classes 

and even running marathons. 

2018 is already shaping up to be equally action-packed for 

Deafblind UK. We will be celebrating 90 years since Deafblind 

UK was founded, 21 years since the Information and Advice 

Line was started and 15 years since the National Centre for 

Deafblindness, now our head quarters, was opened. 

The Board of Trustees will also be starting the recruitment 

of a new permanent Chief Executive Officer next year as 

Liz Bates, our current Interim Chief Executive, will sadly be 

leaving us in June 2018. Details will be on our website from 

January 2018 and we will be including members and other 

groups from across the Deafblind UK network in this very 

important selection process. 

I would like to take this 

opportunity to wish everyone all 

the best for the festive season 

and a very happy New Year. 

David Evans 

Chairman 

2 Open Hand 

Open Hand 3

News 

Peterborough 

Low Vision Day 

We were proud to host the 

Peterborough Low Vision Day 

at our very own headquarters 

in September. This was an 

interactive event with lots 

of information from various 

organisations for local people 

living with sight loss. There was 

even the chance to try yoga 

and archery and of course 

meet some guide dogs! Deafblind UK volunteer, Scott, loved 

the archery taster session so much that he has joined Invictus 

Bowmen inclusive archery club to learn more! 

Communications 

and Guiding Course 

Another group of Deafblind UK new 

recruits were put through their paces on 

our Communications and Guiding Course. 

This is a two-day course that all of our 

staff complete, giving a taste of what life is 

really like with reduced sight and hearing. 

The course ends with a written test which, 

thankfully, everyone passed! 

Scott trying out archery 

Sam experiencing life 

with deafbllindness 

Neatebox 

A unique customer service 

app designed to help people 

with specific accessibility 

needs is taking the UK by 

storm. The ‘Welcome’ app 

by Neatebox is the UK’s 

first customer service app 

for people with specific 

accessibility needs. It helps 

shops and organisations 

identify any disabled person 

who enters their store or 

venue so they can support 

their needs. To make use of 

this service, download the 

‘Welcome’ app from 

www.neatebox.com. 

The Welcome app 

Jo and Shirley with pupils 

from Oundle School 

Back to 

School 

We had a fantastic afternoon 

at Oundle School where, 

as part of their Annual Field 

Weekend, over 150 pupils 

experienced what it might 

be like to live with sight 

and hearing loss. Deafblind 

UK Trustee and Director of 

Finance at Oundle School, 

Judie Jones said: “I very much 

hope that the presentation has 

raised pupils’ awareness of the 

issues facing deafblind people 

and that they will support us 

through charitable fundraising 

initiatives in the future.” 



Be My Eyes 

‘Be My Eyes’ is a free 

mobile app for visually 

impaired people. With the 

press of a button, the app 

establishes a live video 

connection between blind 

and visually impaired users 

and sighted volunteers. 

The sighted volunteers can 

then describe whatever 

they are shown via the 

video. This amazing app 

is now available for both 

iPhones and Android 

phones – go to 

www.bemyeyes.com 

for more details. 

Deafblind Penalties 

We are in talks with a number of high profile 

football clubs who are interested in holding 

‘deafblind penalties’ at their matches. This 

would involve fans coming onto the pitch 

at half time to try their hand at shooting a 

goal whilst experiencing deafblindness. 

If anyone has a relationship with a football 

club (or footballer!) that might like to get 

involved, please let us know! 

New accessible 

bank notes 

We are pleased to see that 

the new £10 note has followed 

the same accessibility format 

as the new £5 note and also 

features a series of raised dots 

in the top left-hand corner. This 

is in addition to tiered sizing, 

bold numerals, raised print and 

differing colour palettes. 

The new £10 note 

A football on grass 

Forums 

Back by popular demand, 

Deafblind UK member forums 

will be held across the country 

next year. 

These are small and friendly 

regional events for Deafblind 

UK members to meet each 

other, give us feedback and 

make suggestions about our 

services. But don’t just take 

our word for it, here’s what 

some of our members said 

about last year’s forums: 

“This event has given 

me motivation for my 

deafblindness. It has given 

me a sense of togetherness.” 

“I have been able to connect 

for the first time and really 

speak to other members of 

the group. It has given me a 

sense of co-operation and 

feeling involved.” 

“Everyone was able 

to have their say and 

everyone was listened to.” 

Member forums in 2018 

6th February 2018 

NICVA, Belfast 


Ramada Hotel, Wrexham 


NCVO, London 

19th March 2018 

Vassall Centre, Bristol 

20th March 2018 

Heronston Hotel, Bridgend 

12th April 2018 

164 New London Road, 

Christchurch 


Midlands (venue TBC) 


North of England 

(venue TBC) 

2nd May 2018 

National Centre for 

Deafblindness, Peterborough 

For more information or 

to book your place at a 

forum, please contact us 

using the details on the 

back of this magazine. 



Deafblind UK turns 90! 

2018 will not only mark 90 

years since Deafblind UK 

was founded, but also 21 

years since our popular 

Information and Advice Line 

was launched and 15 years 

since the National Centre 

for Deafblindness was 

opened. So we’re going to 

make it a year to remember, 

here’s a sneak preview of 

what’s going on... 

Recommitment Ceremony 

25th June 2018 



An event where we will 

re-make our commitment 

to our members and the 

deafblind community. 

The Information and Advice Line 

Deafblind UK Rally 

1st July 2018 



Everyone is welcome at this 

family fun day! Come along 

and enjoy fun and games, 

food and drinks. 

Raise £90 for 90 years 

Can you support us by 

raising £90 to celebrate our 

90th anniversary. This might 

be by holding a bake sale 

or a coffee morning or doing 

a sponsored walk or run, 

we have lots of ideas so if 

you’re interested in raising 

money for us, please contact 

Deafblind UK Balloons 

Challenge events 

Did you know, we have to raise 

£26,000 every single week? 

Maybe you know someone who 

could help? 2018 will see a 

variety of challenge events from 

running the London Marathon, 

cycling London to Brighton or 

climbing Mount Snowdon. 

• nHold a fundraising event 

such as a bake sale or 

jumble sale 

• nThrow a street party to let 

your local community know 

about the good work that 

we do 

Get involved 

Sharing stories 

We are keen to use 

2018 to raise even 

more awareness of dual 

sensory loss. We would 

love to hear from you 

about how Deafblind UK 

has helped you personally 

and what impact our 

support has had on your 

life. Please contact us 

using the details on the 

back of this magazine. 

If you would like to help us celebrate in 2018, 

here are some ideas: 

• nPledge to do one thing next 

year in support of Deafblind 

UK; this might be something 

to raise awareness of sight 

and hearing loss or to raise 

money to help us support 

more people 

The National Centre for 

Deafblindness 

For more information or to talk through your ideas, please 


the fundraising team. 

contact us using the details on the back of this magazine. Open Hand 9

What’s On 

Here’s your roundup of the best places to be over the next few 

months. If you know of an event that you think we should list here, 

please let us know! 

Bristol Shared Reading Groups 

South West 

Every week! 

A free shared reading group 

at a library near you! A trained 

facilitator will read aloud great 

stories and poems - you can 

relax, listen and chat about 

what you have read. All reading 

materials provided, as are tea 

and biscuits. 

For dates, locations and more 

information contact: Emma 

Crago on 07970 247 410, 

emmacrago@thereader.org.uk 

or Samantha Weaver on 07812 

238 532 or samanthaweaver@ 

thereader.org.uk. 

Reading a book 

DEAFvibe Café 

Newcastle-under-Lyme 

2nd Saturday of every month 

A friendly and supportive café 

for Deaf, hard of hearing and 

deafblind people and their 

friends and families. The café 

includes informal chats and 

one to one support, information 

and advice, presentations, 

workshops and fundraising 

activities. For more information 

visit www.deafvibe.co.uk 

Acoustic shooting with 

Birmingham Vision 

49th Rifle and Pistol 

Club, Saltley 

10th January 

Birmingham Vision’s acoustic 

shooting sessions for blind and 

visually impaired people take 

place every other Wednesday 

starting from 10th January. 

To book your place call Luke 

Hedley on 0121 632 6180. 

Member News 

Disabled Person of the Year! 

Deafblind UK member and volunteer, Imtiaz, 

has been given the prestigious Disabled Person 

of the Year award by Sovereign Healthcare. 

Imtiaz supports Deafblind UK’s digital work 

by promoting accessible technology to the 

Deafblind community. He explains: 

“Many people are often intimidated by 

modern technology but with the right support 

they can find out how valuable it can be.” 

Marathon Madness 

Fitness-mad member and 

Trustee, John took on his first 

marathon in October! “I trained 

with my guide runner, Steve, 

for four months making sure 

that we practised doing longer 

distances. We achieved a very 

respectable 

time of 4 

hours 25 

minutes and 

56 seconds.” 

Well done 

John! 

John 

running the 

Birmingham Marathon 

Imtiaz with 

his award 

Anna’s Hope Fun Run 

Well done to Rainbow Court 

resident, Jimmy, who recently 

completed the 5km Anna’s 

Hope Fun-Run, part of the Great 

Eastern Run in Peterborough. 

Jimmy, who is deafblind, was 

joined by support workers Nikki 

and Alex as well as Nikki’s son 

Shawn who were all able to 

guide Jimmy 

and interpret 

for him along 

the route. 

Nikki, Jimmy 

and Alex after 

the fun run 



Regional Roundup: East Anglia 

In each edition of Open Hand we will bring you a roundup of the 

services and activities on offer for members in certain areas. If you 

would like to take part in any future activities, please contact us. 

Meet Anna Get Social 

Peterborough based volunteer 

Anna works with Deafblind UK 

twice a week calling members 

to welcome them on board, 

wish them a happy birthday or 

just to check they’re OK. She 

said: “I love it. There are not 

many volunteering roles where 

you get such instant feedback 

and appreciation. Everyone 

I speak to is really grateful to 

receive my call and it’s lovely 

to be able 

to give 

advice or 

help people 

in ways 

that they 

weren’t 

expecting.” 

Volunteer 

Anna 

There are three Deafblind 

UK social groups in the 

East; the Peterborough 

group meet on the last 

Friday of every month, 

the Bury St Edmonds 

group meet on the second 

Thursday of every month 

and the Huntingdon Bingo 

group meet on the fourth 

Tuesday of every month. 

If you would 

like to find 

out more, or 

come along 

to either 

group, 

please 

contact 

us. 

The Peterborough 

social group 

Off to the Zoo 

The Peterborough social 

group enjoyed a visit 

to Twycross Zoo this 

Summer where they 

came face to face with 

elephants, chimpanzees 

and giraffes! The group 

were able to enjoy a picnic 

and listen to talks about 

the different animals. 

Flower arranging 

Creative juices were flowing at 

a recent social group in Bury St 

Edmunds where members tried 

their hand at flower arranging. 

Senior Engagement Officer, 

Jo, arranged the activity after 

group members said they 

would like to try it. Everyone 

got to take home their beautiful 

displays afterwards. 

Group members enjoying 

flower arranging 

Jim enjoying a social group 

Meet Jim 

Jim is a member of Deafblind 

UK and despite his sight 

impairments, he still manages 

to do the things he loves. “I 

don’t like to sit around moping” 

he said having just been 

walking in his local park in 

Peterborough. Jim has recently 

returned from a holiday in 

Norfolk where he stayed in 

the Deafblind UK caravan. 

“It’s great, I love it there!” He 

said. “It’s fantastic to have 

somewhere that you know is 

fitted out for someone with 

sight loss – it’s given me the 

chance to have a holiday, which 

I wouldn’t have otherwise been 

able to do.” 



Digital Update 

In order to improve and enrich our members’ lives, our Digital 

Support service helps to make the most of assistive technology. The 

service involves teaching sessions by the Deafblind UK team, to help 

members make their everyday lives easier with modern devices. 

Connecting up Colchester 

Members at a digital 

support group 

We have recently run a series 

of eight digital support sessions 

in Colchester to teach members 

how to adapt tablets and use 

them to interact with others. The 

group was run by Deafblind UK 

member and volunteer, Pam, 

and participants have benefitted 

hugely from this shared learning 

experience. One member said: 

“The group has been wonderful 

– I never thought for a blind 

person that a smartphone and 

tablet would become such a 

crucial part of my 

life. It’s marvellous. 

Thank you!” 

The digital support 

sessions formed part of our 

‘World at our Fingertips’ project 

which aims to support deafblind 

people to feel more connected 

with their community. Some of 

the tablets that were used in the 

sessions were funded through 

this program. 

Pam and Joyce at the 

Colchester Digital group 

Using an iPad 

Digital 

Interactions 

Here’s a snapshot of what 

we’ve been up to lately: 

• nWe showed a gentleman how 

to display his tablet screen on 

his TV screen, making it larger 

and easier to see. He can now 

edit his spreadsheets and keep 

on top of his weekly accounts. 

• nWe spent some time helping 

Peter to get accustomed with 

the voiceover screen reader 

on his iPad. By the end of 

the session he was able to 

use his reader scanner app 

to scan and read back his 

letters. Peter was delighted. 

• nWe showed Jennifer how to 

watch catch up TV on her iPad 

and magnify the picture so 

she could easily see it. She is 

now excited about being able 

to watch the recent series of 

‘Blind Date’ with her Grandson. 

Tim’s 

top tip 

Did you know you can 

easily turn your iPhone 

into a magnifier to help 

read printed text? To do 

this, go to Settings then 

select General. Then 

go to Accessibility and 

click Magnifier. Turn the 

magnifier on and then 

come out of the Settings 

menu by clicking the 

home button. To use the 

magnifier, click the home 

button three times quickly. 

Get in touch via our 

contact page for more 

information on our 

Digital Inclusion service. 



How to have a 

hassle-free Christmas 

We know that, for many different reasons, Christmas can 

be a difficult time for some people. So here are some 

suggestions to make the most of Christmas; whether you are 

spending it with family, or planning a quiet time at home. 

Christmas shopping 

Try visiting the shops at quieter 

times or make use of specific 

accessible shopping events. 

Have you thought about doing 

your shopping online? If you 

would like to learn more about 

how to do this, contact our digital 

support team using the details 

on the back of this magazine. 

A shopping centre 

A Christmas present 

Wrapping presents 

For an easy alternative to 

cutting paper, using sticky tape 

and scissors, why not use a 

hassle free gift bag instead?! 

Some shops also have a free 

gift-wrapping service, so don’t 

be afraid to ask! 

Preparing for a 

social gathering 

Before the event, ensure you 

have spare batteries for your 

hearing aids and that they are in 

good working order. On the day, 

make sure the lighting, whether 

natural or artificial, is beneficial 

rather than a hindrance. For 

example, sitting with your 

back to the window might 

help you lip read friends and 

family. Remember to give your 

glasses a good clean - it sounds 

obvious, but sometimes it can 

make a world of difference! 

And finally, use coloured wine 

glasses, they 

are easier 

to see and 

less likely to 

be knocked 

over. 

A purple 

bauble 

A Christmas wreath 

Gift list 

You might want to ask Father 

Christmas for a piece of 

equipment to support you 

independently. Whether it’s a 

big button phone, talking clock 

or the latest smart watch, these 

things make great presents 

to ask for to help boost 

independence. But remember, 

the holiday season is not just 

about material goods. If you 

find present buying difficult, 

perhaps you could give some 

of your time and skills as a 

gift. This could be invaluable 

and a touching way to offer 

something special. Sometimes 

little gestures are the things that 

make special memories. 

The Deafblind UK Information and Advice Line 

will be open on 27th and 28th December, 9am 

- 5pm and 29th December 9am - 4pm. Contact 

details are on the back of this magazine. 



Entertainment for all 

As you will have seen in our accessible tours features, accessible 

entertainment options are becoming more and more widespread. 

For example, every day more modern theatres are offering audio 

descriptions and BSL interpretations, while productions specifically 

designed for deafblind visitors are increasing in popularity. 

Taking to the stage 

Deafblind UK’s very own Sally 

McNeal travelled to Moscow 

recently to interpret for one 

of our members who was 

rehearsing for a play – a great 

achievement and a testament 

to the fact that hearing and 

visual impairments are no 

barrier to achieving our dreams. 

Multi-sensory theatre is fast 

spreading across Europe, as 

shown by Sign+Sound 

Actors in Kukunor and Unikku 

Theatre. 

As part 

of the 

Creative 

Europe 

scheme, 

the project 

An actor in 

Kukunor and Unikku 

focuses on enhancing the 

experience for both deaf and 

hearing audiences. Finnish actor 

and sign language interpreter 

Eero Engqvist has written a play, 

Kukunor and Unikku, in which 

each character is played by one 

speaker and one signer in order 

to give equal priority to both 

hearing and deaf audiences, 

rather than using an interpreter 

as an add-on. The play has 

now been translated into five 

more language combinations 

including English and BSL. 

Telling 

the story 

Staff at the University of 

Wolverhampton and The 

Arena Theatre, as part 

of Theatres for All, are 

also providing training 

in audio-description to 

encourage more blind and 

visually impaired people to 

experience theatre. What’s 

more, back in August, 

children’s play Kubla Khan 

was adapted for deafblind 

audiences, using water, 

sand and pebbles to 

interact with the visitors. 

Theatre seats 

Where to find 

accessible 

entertainment 

The Otra Vista Social Club in 

London is currently hosting 

restaurant and disco events 

for deafblind people, including 

BSL social evenings, every 

Thursday, Friday and 

Saturday from 8pm. The 

events will feature a special 

playlist and surprise cocktails 

in the Silent Bar. 

Information on subtitled 

cinema screenings can 

be found at 

www.accessible 

screeningsuk.com. 

Stagetext is a charity that 

provides captioning and 

subtitling for theatres and art 

venues, while Signed Culture 

provide BSL interpretations at 

theatre events and museum 

and gallery talks. 

You can find out more by 

calling Stagetext on 020 

7377 0540 or visiting www. 

signedculture.org.uk. 



St Paul’s Cathedral (c) Graham Lacdao, St Paul’s Cathedral 

Accessibility at St Paul’s 

Cathedral, London 

Accessible features 

for disabled visitors 

Wheelchair users can enter 

the Cathedral via the south 

churchyard entrance, which has 

lifts to the crypts and Cathedral 

floor. Mobility scooters are 

welcome within the Cathedral, 

although the lift may not be able 

to accommodate Class 3 or 

some large Class 2 scooters. 

Unfortunately, due to the nature 

of this Grade 1 building, access 

to the Whispering and Stone 

Galleries is only available via 

steps. Wheelchairs can be 

booked in advance by calling 

0207 2468320. 

The nave of St Paul’s without 

chairs (c) Graham Lacdao, St 

Paul’s Cathedral 

included with admission. Those 

who would like to experience 

a guided touch tour can book 

in advance and large print 

and Braille copies of the day’s 

services are readily available. 

Hearing impaired guests 

As one of the most iconic Today, guests can visit the 

features within London’s Cathedral either to explore 

A multimedia British Sign 

skyline, St Paul’s Cathedral or to worship privately, with 

Language tour is available as 

Visually impaired guests 

is steeped in British history, sightseeing tours available 

part of the admission price. 

dating back to the 17th between 8:30am and 4:00pm. 

Guide dogs are welcome and Induction loops are available 

century when it was designed Tours include a walk across 

dog bowls are provided, while for the entire Cathedral floor, 

by Sir Christopher Wren. The the famed Cathedral floor, a 

audio description guides are covering all services featuring 

Cathedral was a significant climb up the dome to try the 

spoken word elements. 

part of a rebuilding 

acoustics in the Whispering 

programme after the Great Gallery, rooftop views of 

Fire of London and has London and a look at the 

played host to many notable resting place of some of 

Admission prices 

events in history, including Britain’s best-known heroes. 

Standard admission 

peace services marking 

(£18 or £16 for concessions) 

the end of WW1 and WW2 

applies to visually and 

and the wedding of Prince 

A large congregation at a 

hearing-impaired visitors, 

Charles and Princess Diana. 

service (c) Graham Lacdao, 

although a free companion 

St Paul’s Cathedral 

admission is available on a 


Open Hand 21 

1:1 basis.

Are you fire aware? 

Fire services across the UK advise us to have at least one 

working smoke alarm on every level of our home and to make 

sure they are tested regularly. But what should you do if you 

are deaf or hard of hearing? We spoke to Group Manager for 

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Gary Oakford, who said: 

GM Gary Oakford 

Fire engine 

“A variety of alarms have been 

designed specifically for the 

hard of hearing, with features 

ranging from strobe lighting 

and vibrating alarms to small, 

wearable radio-linked pagers. 

These specialist alarms can 

alert you to a fire in your 

home even if you remove your 

hearing aid at night. 

“Here at Merseyside Fire & 

Rescue Service we have an 

Advocate who is Deaf and a 

British Sign Language user. 

She offers advice and valuable 

expertise to our deaf, hard 

of hearing and deafblind 

communities to make sure they 

stay safe in their own homes. 

Other fire and rescue services 

may be able to offer the same. 

Fire engine 

“For deafblind people who 

may have difficulty testing their 

smoke alarms, or finding their 

way out of their home quickly 

in the event of a fire, specific 

solutions are widely available. 

“Coloured stickers or covers 

can be fitted to smoke alarms 

to make them more visible 

and help you to see and test 

them regularly. 

“Adhesive plastic bumper stops 

can be fixed to appliances to 

help identify where buttons 

are and ensure appliances are 

switched off properly. Tactile 

indicators placed along your 

escape route can also make it 

easier for you to find your exit in 

an emergency. 

“Many people with hearing loss 

could be at serious risk if they 

don’t have the right alarms in 

place. Specialist alarm systems 

provide valuable time to escape 

from a house fire. Without them, 

lives could be lost. 

“Anyone unsure about which 

alarms they need should contact 

their local fire service for a home 

fire safety assessment. They 

help make sure your home is as 

fire safe as possible.” 

For further information 

and advice visit the 

website of your local 



fire service. 

Strobe alarm

Out and about and active! 

Chris has Alström Syndrome; 

a rare condition which often 

leads to progressive sight 

and hearing loss as well as 

affecting the main organs in 

the body. Due to the rarity 

of Alström Syndrome, few 

people have heard of the 

condition. Here, Chris shares 

his thoughts on climbing, 

proving it is what you can do 

that counts; 

Chris on the climbing wall 

next hole for my foot to fit in. 

I reached the top in about 15 

minutes. When I got to the top 

the instructor was there with 

me and we abseiled down to 

the ground together. It was 

very exciting and I am doing 

it all again next month.” 

Alstrom Syndrome UK 

Alstrom logo 

“I was a bit hesitant as I wasn’t 

sure what was going to happen. 

The instructor told us all about 

the climbing wall. You basically 

get into a harness that you 

wear around your thighs and 

waist and it’s attached to a big 

rope, like a tow-rope. 

“Before they let me near the 

harness, I had to do some 

exercises to warm up my 

muscles. The harness was 

quite comfortable and felt like 

I was sitting in a seat. Once 

the rope was attached I started 

to climb the wall. I had to feel 

for grooves and holes in the 

boulders on the climbing wall. 

The holes were all different 

sizes and different heights. 

I had to pull my body up by 

using my hands and feet. 

“At the first attempt, I couldn’t 

reach the top. My hands and 

legs turned to jelly and I came 

back down to floor level. At the 

second attempt, I got over my 

fears and just kept reaching 

for the next hole to place my 

hand in then reached for the 

Chris is a member of Alström Syndrome UK (ASUK) a 

small national charity with big ideas. ASUK supports families 

who are affected by an ultra-rare genetic condition to live 

their lives to the full, as well as coordinating AS multidisciplinary 

health clinics and developing research initiatives. 

Earlier this year, ASUK has developed an animation to raise 

awareness and inspire others to see a world without limits. 

Further information including a link to the 

animation can be found on the ASUK 

website www.alstrom.org.uk 



Did you know about… 

Our ‘About 

Me’ service 

Deep in conversation 

We’re always looking to go above and beyond for our 

members, which is why we’re proud to offer our ‘About Me’ 

home support service. 

As an extension to the free 

support provided by Deafblind 

UK, About Me is a paid service 

whereby qualified support 

workers can help you with your 

day to day routine, from doing 

the washing up to making trips 

for groceries. Additional support 

from About Me is a great way for 

members make everyday tasks 

a little easier. 

Senior support worker Sister 

Chris takes great pleasure in her 

work for the About Me service. 

Looking after two members, she 

spends her Mondays shopping 

and doing crosswords with 

Geoff, before heading down 

to South London to meet Tom, 

with whom she communicates 

through BSL. The extra support 

is hugely rewarding for Sister 

Chris and she has fantastic 

feedback from members. 

Sister Chris 

MOBILITY 

TEST TRACK 

25 & 26 APRIL 

200 

SEMINARS 

HOME, 

DESIGN & BUILD 

SUMMIT 

NEC BIRMINGHAM 

300 

EXHIBITORS 

MASTERCLASSES 

MOVING 

& HANDLING 

LAB 

LIVE SPORTS 

ARENA 

Our About Me service can be paid for by you 

personally or by your local authority. For more 

information, visit www.aboutme.org.uk. 

REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS 

WWW.NAIDEX.CO.UK 

@NaidexShow 

#WeAreAble 



for sponsorship & exhibiting enquiries contact the team at 0117 990 2092

Saving for 

a rainy day 

Why is it so important 

to keep on top of 

my finances? 

Being in the know about your 

finances not only affects you, 

but your loved ones and anyone 

who may be looking after your 

care. It can help you remain 

independent, particularly as you 

get older and it is also worth 

investing time in something 

which you may not consider to 

be worth it – for example, filling 

in forms which may help you 

to receive additional benefits. 

Carers may also be able to 

claim allowances, while routine 

expenses such as heating 

and dental costs can be taken 

care of. 

What kind of benefits 

can I claim? 

A piggy bank 

Many of us often find it hard to keep track of our finances, 

particularly if we are affected by hearing or sight loss. At 

Deafblind UK we’re passionate about our members’ welfare 

and encourage you to manage your money wisely, from 

understanding the importance of money management to 

checking benefit entitlements. 

There are a number of 

benefits available to help 

you, particularly if you are of 

retirement age. For example, 

A handful of bank notes 

benefits such as the Guarantee 

Pension Credit can help you 

with reduced or no Council 

Tax, Cold Weather Payments, 

service charges and other 

benefits such as the Severe 

Disability Addition, entitling you 

to an additional £62.45 per 

week. Other payments such 

as the Personal Independence 

Payment (for the under-65s) 

can provide extra support 

regardless of income. 

How can I boost 

my income? 

You may be able to save money 

by switching energy supplier or 

asking your current supplier if 

there is a better deal for you. 

The Deafblind UK Information 

and Advice Line can help you 

compare deals and it’s really 

easy to switch suppliers. 

It might also be worth checking 

that you are receiving all the 

benefits you are entitled to. 

‘Turn2us’ is a national charity 

that can help you to gain 

access to welfare benefits, 

charitable grants and support 

services – online, by phone and 

face to face through partners 

and volunteers. 

Where can I go 

for help? 

Turn2us can provide a 

benefits calculator as well 

as a range of information 

and resources to help 

people in financial hardship. 

Visit www.turn2us.org.uk 

or call 0808 802 2000 

between 9am-8pm, 

Monday to Friday. 

The Deafblind UK 

Information and Advice 

Line is here to help with 

any concerns you may 

have and assist with 

finding information on 

your behalf. 



Product Review 

A library in 

your pocket 

This month we’re trying RNIB 

in Your Pocket – a new service 

which allows visually impaired 

people to enjoy a multitude 

of different media through a 

Samsung Media player headset. 

The device works by giving 

users a 24 month contract 

on the O2 network with 3GB 

of data allowance that can 

be used to subscribe to the 

RNIB Newsagent and Talking 

Books service. This provides 

access to daily newspapers, 

monthly magazines, a 

wide range of national and 

international podcasts and 

over 25,000 talking books. 

Getting to grips 

We enlisted the help of Pat 

to try out the device and tell 

us her thoughts. Pat’s device 

connected easily to her local 

Wi-Fi connection and she 

made use of the device’s voice 

commands features. By simply 

talking to the device and 

giving it instructions such as 

“go to favourite podcasts” or 

“go to favourite newspapers”, 

she can keep up to date with 

the news and listen to her 

favourite stories. 

Pat Skivington 

With the help of the service, 

Pat is now able to access her 

favourite podcasts and even 

catch up on old episodes of her 

favourite radio programmes 

such as “The Archers”. She 

now regularly catches up on 

the news with audio streams of 

the Daily Mirror, and particularly 

enjoys listening to novels on 

the device. She says: “It’s 

great to have such accessible 

technology all in the palm of my 

hand. There are so many books 

to choose from!” 

Multiple uses 

The service is not just for 

entertainment – it can also 

provide access to vital 

information, such as the daily 

weather forecast. The 3GB per 

month data allowance gives 

users up to four hours per day 

average reading time, helping 

them to stay connected with 

what’s going on in the world 

and to enjoy reading at their 

leisure. There’s also a handy 14 

day return period if you want to 

try it out without committing to 

the contract. 

Pat using RNIB In Your Pocket 

A 24-month contract costs 

£20 per month + VAT. 

The device and service 

must be ordered through 

the RNIB Helpline, so call 

0303 123 9999 or visit 

www.rnib.org.uk. 



Bill’s Board 

Thoughts and comments from Deafblind UK member, Bill. 

Don’t get caught out! 

Please remember, if you buy anything that is specially adapted 

for visually impaired or deafblind people, it’s worth mentioning 

that you might not have to pay VAT. So please be aware of this 

before you hand over your money! 

A trip to Bletchley Park 

Heather (from Deafblind 

UK) and I joined members 

of the Royal British Legion 

(Rushden branch), for a 

trip to Bletchley Park, 

home of the World War 

Two Codebreakers. 

The site consists of many 

large huts which are filled 

with memorabilia of the sites 

previous usage. There were 

many rotors from the famous 

enigma coding machines and 

some of the huts had films 

showing various events during 

the Second World War. We had 

an audio description device to 

carry around with us but this 

only worked on the outside of 

the huts, and not inside. 

Heather and I visited 

a hut that contained a 

shortwave, VHF and 

UHF radio cabin, and 

there we saw a life size 

replica of a satellite. 

Heather was able to see 

the satellites progress 

as it travelled round the 

Earth. She even had a go on 

the shortwave radio, 

but was unable to raise a 

“C.Q.” response! 

The entry cost to Bletchley 

Park includes a ticket that 

lasts for one year, also a 

registered blind person can be 

accompanied by a helper who 

can enter free of charge. 

We had a great day; 

I could hear a fountain 

gently splashing and 

the occasional whistle 

and hiss are a Swan and 

three cygnets. Bletchley 

Park is a large site with 

many ramps that your 

white stick might not find 

the side of easily, but it’s 

well worth it!’ 

Banking changes 

UK banks are segregating 

themselves into two different 

parts; a commercial part 

dealing with business 

and one dealing with, let’s 

call it, ordinary banking. I 

encourage you to check with 

your bank to see if you are 

affected by this. Although 

this shouldn’t affect us too 

much, all banks should be 

providing information about 

this to their customers in an 

accessible format as needed 

or requested. 

Get in touch! 

If there is anything you 

would like me to write about 

in my next column, please 

let me know by contacting 

Deafblind UK. I would love 



to hear from you!

A word of thanks 

Did you know that we have to 

raise £26,000 every week? This 

allows us to keep providing 

the services that we do to all 

our members. We are always 

looking at new ways to raise 

these funds and here are some 

of the ways local organisations 

have supported us in the past 

few months…. 

We’d like to extend a special 

word of thanks this month 

to Persimmon Homes East 

Midlands. The team, who run 

a Community Champions 

scheme, have worked together 

to raise £950 for Deafblind UK, 

part of an incredible £135,000 

that has been distributed 

amongst different organisations. 

Deafblind UK is delighted to 

now have a great working 

relationship with Persimmon 

Homes and look forward to 

applying to the scheme once 

again. Thank you! 

Balloons around 

a flag pole 

Champions of East Midlands 

Jo and Shirley with 

Simon McDonald from 

Persimmon Homes 

Model 

citizens 

A big thanks this month goes 

to local young people working 

towards their National Citizen’s 

Service. The group spent 

a week raising money and 

awareness for Deafblind UK 

through a number of activities 

including a supermarket 

bag pack and a sponsored 

walk. They helped out by 

volunteering their gardening 

skills at Peterborough’s 

supported living complex 

Rainbow Court, and also made 

a deafblind awareness video. 

Well done to them! 

Members of the NCS group 

Ready to run 

Run for it! 

If you’re looking for a new 

challenge next year, we 

still have some charity 

places for the 2018 

London Marathon. If you or 

anybody you know would 

like to participate, please 

get in touch with Deafblind 

UK via our contact page. 

Perhaps you know of 

someone who might 

like to fundraise for 

us too? 

If so, please contact 

the fundraising team 

on 01733 358100. 



How can we help you? 

Information 

and advice 

Community outreach 

Casework 

Home, telephone and 

email befriending 

Social groups 

Digital support 

Heavily discounted 

holidays 

If you would like to access 

any of the services we offer 

please contact us: 

0800 132 320 

info@deafblind.org.uk 

07950 008870 www.deafblind.org.uk 

If you have any news, letters or contributions for Open Hand, 

please email Marcoms@deafblind.org.uk or post them to the 

address below. 

Contact us 

Deafblind UK 


Deafblindness 

John and Lucille van 

Geest Place 

Cygnet Road 

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 

36 Open Hand

Open Hand Winter 2017

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