Communcation
DeafBlind Association (NSW)
Modes of Communication
Wikipedia entry
Auslan
Tadoma
Macaton
Body Signing
Co-active Signing
Communications wallet
Objects of reference
Oral/aural
Lip-reading
Written word
Braille
Print on Palm
TTY (Telephone Typewriter)
Telebraille
National Relay Service
Hearing aids and assistive devices
Assistive listening devices
Tactaid
Fingerspelling
This is the preferred sign language for people who are Deaf and living in Australia.
Auslan is a very visual language and therefore must be adapted for users who are
blind or severely vision impaired. This is usually done by allowing the user who
is deafblind the opportunity to touch the "communication partner's" hands or wrists.
This is a form of lipreading. The person who is deafblind, places the
thumb on the speaker's lips and fingers on the throat. By this touch, the
receiver can read the lips and detect the vocal vibrations from the throat.
It is rarely used today because of the concern of "Joe Public" having the
lips touched.
This method is taken from signs of Auslan. It is a simplified version of
Auslan and has been developed for people whose language ability is limited.
However, it seeks to allow individuals to express their needs and emotions.
This is a form of signing whereby the signs are formed on the
receiver's body (rather than the receiver's hand)
Where the expressing partner forms the shape of the
sign with the receiver's hands to input the message.
This is a useful method of communicating with the general public,
shopkeepers, etc. Messages are printed and placed in a small folder
or wallet. If visiting a store, directing a taxi driver, inquiring about
a bus or train, asking someone to make a phone call, etc, a person who
is deafblind and cannot speak, can indicate to another person their needs
or requests. For the deafblind person who can read large print or Braille,
one word labels are placed near the message so that they can choose the
correct message to show.
This method of communication is elementary. By showing a known object,
the receiver can be alerted or informed about what is going to happen.
For example, if you give a person a cup, he or she can expect that it is
time for a hot drink. If you present a cup and a glass, he/she can choose
which type of drink they would like. If you hand you your towel, you are
being prompted that it's time for your shower. If you them your car keys,
we are going out.
Using this method, a deafblind individual may be taught to lipread and to speak.
It may occur through being able to see, however much the shape of the lips and
the use of the speech organs. In instances where the deafblind person is really
motivated, this may be taught through touch.
Usually done visually. Can sometimes be used by people with Usher's II -
need to use correct lighting and placement of a speaker.
Some individuals who are deafblind will carry a bold lined pad and a
thick black pen to enable them to communicate. The person may carry
a "communications wallet".
Braille is used by a considerable number of people who are deafblind.
Tactile method whereby the letters of the alphabet are printed on
the palm of the receiver.
Can be used for communicating with the general public.
This device is used by deaf people to communicate via the telephone.
It plugs into a telephone connection and sends written messages to another TTY.
Some people consider this technology outdated but Deaf People are reluctant to
give up their own style of communication. Many people who are deaf now use
computers etc but there was some resistence to this form of communication.
This device was developed to allow people who use braille to access a TTY.
It can also be used for face-to-face communication.
This service was introduced by the Commonwealth government in 1995.
It is a 24-hour service for people who are deaf or deafblind or for
callers wishing to contact a deaf or deafblind person using a TTY.
It is sometimes difficult for braille readers to keep up with the
relay interpreter's typing.
Some people are able to use hearing aids. Nowadays they are much better.
In the past, not only was the speaker's voice amplified, but so was the
background noise. In a quiet, small location, conversation can be heard
and understood. Accompanying lip-reading and observation of facial expression
and gesture can assist in the work of the hearing aid.
Many devices are available. The most well known is the Hearing Loop.
When installed properly, and with good quality microphones, hearing loops
can assist many people. Hearing aids have a T-switch, which when turned on,
will pick up the electro-magnetic field of the "Loop" installed in a venue.
Another example is a personalised FM systems using a receiver and microphone.
This is a vibrating tactile device which converts sound into a tactual vibration.
The user, carries a small box which is connected to a wrist band.
The speech is felt in the wrist and with training and/or practice the user
can learn to pick up speech patterns and interpret them. This device is also
useful for receiving both speech and environmental sound.
A tactile method of writing letter by letter using the communicator's
right hand and the recipient's left hand.
A,E,I,O,U
- A, Touch the tip of your friend's thumb.
- E, Touch the tip of the index finger.
- I, Is the middle finger.
- O, Is the ring finger.
- U, Is the little finger.
And now for the complete alphabet
- A, Touch the tip of your friend's thumb.
- B, Bunch the tips of your fingers and place them on your friends palm.
- C, Use your index finger to make a circular movement that starts on the inside of your friend's thumb and ends at the top of their index finger.
- D, Form a D shape using your thumb and index finger and placing it on your friend's index finger.
- E, Touch the tip of the index finger.
- F, Form an F shape using your first two fingers together, place across your friend's index finger.
- G, Clench your fist and place it on your friend's palm, little finger downside.
- H, Lay your open hand across your friend's palm and move it over the fingers and off the hand.
- I, Is the middle finger.
- J, Touch the tip of your friend's middle finger and draw your finger down to the palm and up the thumb. (Think of this as the letter I with a tail).
- K, Bend your index finger and lay the top half of it against your friend's index finger.
- L, Just lay your index finger across your friend's palm.
- M, Lay your first three fingers across your friend's palm.
- N, Lay your first two fingers across your friend's palm.
- O, Is the ring finger.
- P, Hold the tip of your friend's index finger between your finger and thumb.
- Q, Completely circle the base of your friend's thumb with your thumb and index finger.
- R, Bend your index finger and lay it across your friend's palm.
- S, Grasp your friend's little finger with your index finger.
- T, Touch the edge of your friend's palm, at the side away from the thumb.
- U, Is the little finger.
- V, Make a V shape with your first two fingers and lay it on your friend's palm.
- W, Grasp the upper edge of your friend's fingers, bending your fingers around them.
- X, Make a cross by laying your index finger over the top of your friend's index finger.
- Y, Place your index finger in the joint between your friend's thumb and index finger.
- Z, Either: place your finger tips against your friend's palm. Or place the outer edge of your hand across your friend's palm.
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Page last Updated:
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Sun, 10 Jun 2007
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Date page downloaded:
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