By providing one-to-one support to congenitally deafblind children or adults an intervenor acts as an enabler, promoting the person's social and personal development, encouraging their independent skills and facilitating their communication with the world around them.

Intervenor support may be provided in the person's home, in their local community, in an educational or vocational setting or a combination of these.

People with acquired deafblindness or those who lose their sight and hearing in later life use communicator-guides. They provide guiding and communication support only.

Intervenor schemes are usually funded by direct payments, individual budgets, social services, local health or education authorities.

A person-centred approach to planning for leisure, learning, social, and vocational opportunities, enables deafblind people to develop new skills and increase their independence. Individual programmes focus on daily life experiences and will include encouraging the use of residual vision and hearing, communication, development of cognitive skills, mobility, orientation and social skills.

Activities which might be included in an individual plan are: college courses, sport and leisure, art and craft activities, shopping, cooking, IT, use of public transport. Choices are made by the deafblind person to suit their needs and interests.

See an intervenor in action by ordering our Sense intervenor DVD.

How to get the intervenor service

In some regions, Sense provides an intervenor service. They are also provided by local authorities and other organisations.

You could find a suitable intervenor on the Deafblind Directory online database.

Alternatively, please contact Sense’s Information and Advice service who will put you in touch with the right team:

Intervenor training courses

Training for intervenors is available. Provided by Sense and others, there are several courses running each year in different locations. Download our calendar of courses.