I was 17 years old, my first year in 6th form, studying for A levels. I'd been pushed around, made to feel different when I just wanted to fit in, was coming to terms with going from deaf to deafblind, to being a guide dog owner and coping with all the usual things teenagers deal with. I had an untold number of professionals involved in my life and looking back now only one of those people actually tried to understand me and sadly I only saw her once a term. At my real time of need I was bullied, not…
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For me having Usher Syndrome means I have had to make full use of my residual hearing. As I write this blog there is no cure for Usher Syndrome and nothing to help or enhance my blindness, however, there is amazing technology that exists for deafness. Over the past years Cochlear Implant has been amazing for the profoundly deaf, particularly children who are bilaterally implanted from very young. Their ability to access sound is amazing and as a result we have a new generation of profoundly deaf who’s first language is speech. Speech definitely leads to independence and inclusion…
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Friday, 25 September 2015 06:41
Inspiring the Next Generation - Larchfield Primary School
Written by Molly
I was asked by Berkshire Vision (previously Berkshire County Blind Society) to do a small presentation to a local school on Wednesday 23 September. The children had been asked to design a remote control accessible to all. It was my pleasure to talk to this group of children about accessibility for those not just with deafblind, but those with other disabilities. Children are so receptive to this sort of challenge and I was impressed with the many ideas they came up with. It dawned on me that these children are our future and that they can and will make a…
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I recently read about somebody I know who has Usher Syndrome and had got into a very scary situation. Having Usher Syndrome this sort of thing is very easily done. An accident as simple as getting on the wrong bus in the dark, being put off the bus with directions to safety but you didn't understand the directions and finding yourself all alone in the dark bearing in mind you are completely blind in the dark, terrifying. Being deafblind is often very disorientating at the best of times and lots of us experience dizzy spells or vertigo, often seems part…
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I was determined to enjoy my 21st I arranged a few events with my friends for my special Birthday. The countdown would be good and the actual day special as I was jetting off to Miami with the family, spending two nights in Miami followed by two weeks relaxing on the beach in Daytona. This is the first holiday I gate crashed and paid for my own flight! I love the US so there was no way I wasn't going, the fact it was my Birthday was going to make the holiday very special, I just didn't realise how special!…
