Participation in community activities allows people who are deafblind to make important connections and avoid isolation.
Isolation is one of the biggest challenges facing people who are deafblind. That’s not surprising, given how difficult it can be to communicate with others. Plus, transportation options are often limited.
Imagine that you have combined hearing and vision loss and want to attend an event at a local library. First, you may have to arrange special transportation. Once there, you may find it difficult to:
- Find out where to go.
- Know who’s there.
- Hear other people in the group, even if you have some residual hearing.
- Participate in conversations and follow what’s going on.
- Meet new people and establish new relationships.
Finding a compatible Support Service Provider (SSP) who is trained to provide visual and environmental information to a person who has a combination of hearing and vision loss is often essential. You will learn more about SSPs in Module 4.