I WONDER if there are any local people who would be interested in the challenge of working with a person who is both deaf and blind?
If you imagine for a moment having your sight and hearing taken away you will realise that you are facing a very different kind of life. Most of us take for granted the fact that we can see and hear in order to appreciate beauty, gain information, move around safely and get the things we want for ourselves. For a deafblind person all these things have to be done through another person who can act as their eyes and ears.
It takes a special kind of person but not special skills. Deafblind UK will train its volunteers in all they need in order to work with a deafblind person. Many deafblind people have a tremendous love of life, a great sense of humour and a desire to try all sorts of things and to meet new people.
Unfortunately a great many are confined to their own homes, living lives that are very poor simply because they are short of a person to take them out now and again, or even go and chat with them in their own home.
If any local people are interested in becoming a recognised Deafblind UK volunteer they can contact me at Deafblind UK and I will introduce them to this rewarding and worthwhile work. As one deafblind person said: "My volunteer helper has changed my life."
Lisa Bloodworth, Volunteers Co-ordinator, Deafblind UK, 100 Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1DY.
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