Touching More Lives Project
The Touching More Lives project offers deafblind awareness sessions to community groups and organisations, led by volunteer trainers who are deafblind. These sessions provide insights into the daily life of a deafblind individual, shared through personal stories and experiences.Training sessions cover effective communication methods and best practices for safely and respectfully guiding a deafblind person. Participants will also experience demonstrations or simulations to illustrate visual and hearing loss,
gaining a deeper understanding of the sensory limitations faced by deafblind individuals.
After completing the Touching More Lives training sessions, participants can attend the Deafblind Champion Training, a more in-depth session that enables them to become internal trainers within their respective organisations where they will conduct training sessions to promote and raise awareness of deafblindness. Between 2023 and 2024, Touching More Lives training has been delivered across 15 organisations, reaching up to 250 participants.
Comments from participants
“I found the training very helpful in understanding deafblindness better. X sharing her story was very insightful in helping me to understand the challenges deafblind individuals face but also their strengths. I feel that after the training I would feel more confident in supporting deafblind individuals.”
“It was fantastic to have an insight of the challenges and struggles people have living with sensory loss. I was so taken aback with how much of an impact it has and that us with no loss of sensory take for granted.”
Quotes from our trainers
“The Touching More Lives Project is important for people to know about, especially for the upcoming generation. Communication is at the heart of everything and anything we can do to aid communication is vital.”
“Following a poor experience in hospital, I want to educate people on deafblindness to ensure they understand it all a bit more. Working alongside other trainers has made me aware that people need to know more about deafblindness.”
Who Can Benefit?
Our tailored sessions are designed for:
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Health and social care professionals
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Schools
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Businesses
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Community groups
What Will You Learn?
Each session covers essential topics to enhance your understanding and support of deafblind individuals:
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Lived Experiences: Hear firsthand accounts from deafblind individuals, offering a deep understanding of their daily lives.
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Communication Requirements: Learn about various communication methods and preferences to effectively interact with deafblind individuals.
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Illustrations of Visual and Hearing Loss: Gain insights into the different levels of sensory loss and how they impact daily activities.
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Guiding Techniques: Master the techniques for safely and respectfully guiding a deafblind person.
Get Involved
Are you ready to make a difference? Join us in the Touching More Lives project. For questions or to book a session, please contact us at projectcoordinator@dbscotland.org.uk. We offer both online and in-person sessions with flexible scheduling to accommodate your needs.