Numeracy & Literacy project

From the life of Mozart to the maths involved in calculating percentages, deafblind people throughout the country are renewing their interest in learning. Our Numeracy & Literacy Project, introduced two years ago, helps people develop their existing skills and gain new ones. Activities are centred around individuals’ interests and preferred communication methods.

The communication problems deafblind people experience can lead to a real deprivation of information. Our members may not have had the opportunity to access quality information for some time. We can give them the assistance to help them keep in touch with the world around them. For example, British Sign Language Users communicate using a grammar structure which is different from English. They therefore might want to be taught basic English to enable them to write a letter or to understand subtitles on television. Others, who have lost their sight and hearing, may also lose interest in the written word. They may have to be encouraged to return to text, through the use of screen reading technology or large print materials. Learners who are completely deafblind and use Deafblind Manual to communicate improve their knowledge using this tactile language.

One to one tuition and guide/communicator support is provided thanks to funding from local authorities. Aberdeen City, Edinburgh, Glasgow City, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Stirling Council have all given money to enable us to deliver this service. As our learners grow in confidence and ability, so too does their participation in family and community life.