Deafblind Clause Samples

Deafblind. Depending on the degree of sight and hearing impairment, a deafblind person may use speech, lipreading, writing, fingerspelling or sign language or a combination of these and other methods. A deafblind person may therefore use a Deafblind Manual Interpreter, a BSL/English Interpreter or any of the other LSPs mentioned above • A deafblind manual interpreter communicates what is said to a deafblind person by a third person, along with other relevant information, by forming letters on the deafblind person’s hand. In most cases it will be evident that a person is D/deaf and they may make known their need for an Interpreter or other LSP. However some deaf people may not be aware of their right to an LSP, may not have used a LSP before or may not know what an LSP does. In some cases a police officer may need to find out for her/himself if a person is deaf or deafblind. Indications that a person may be deaf or deafblind include: • The person may use sign language, gesture or written notes to communicate • The person may ask the police officer to speak a little louder • The person may misunderstand and may give inappropriate responses • The person may fail to react to voices behind him/her • The person may strain to hear, or may cup a hand behind their ear • The person may lean forward and look intently in the speaker’s face • The person may ask for repetition of what was said • The person’s speech may be unclear or unusual – they may shout or whisper; or their speech may be slower, lacking intonation, louder or more high pitched than ‘normal’ • The person may wear a hearing aid • The person may bump into people or objects without realising (deafblind) • The person may find it difficult to ‘hear’ when the light is poor (deafblind). • As LSPs communicate with D/deaf people by visual methods, it is necessary to record their information by a visual medium if it is to be used later. This can be done by DVD or video. • People with a mild degree of hearing loss may require a loop system in court to use with their hearing aid. Or they may require a neck loop with the person speaking wearing a microphone linked to the neck loop. However it should be noted that these systems are only of benefit to people with a reasonable degree of residual hearing. The systems themselves must be regularly tested, preferably by an experienced hearing aid user, to ensure they are fully functional. • Where a deaf person gives evidence in court remotely, arrangements will need to be in place ...