Deafblind Manual

This page explains what Deafblind Manual is, who uses it and how to learn it. 

A young man and an older woman are using the Deafblind manual together. In the background there are some coloured hanging flags.

What is Deafblind Manual?

Deafblind Manual is a way to communicate using touch only, not sight or speech. 

Words and sentences are spelt onto your hand using individual letter signs. 

These are based on the British Sign Language (BSL) fingerspelling alphabet. Some of the BSL signs have been changed to make them work better with touch only. 

Who uses Deafblind Manual?

Deafblind Manual is used by people who have little or no sight and hearing. 

People who are deafblind can experience more barriers accessing information, communicating with people and getting about each day. Deafblind Manual can help to break down some of these barriers.

“Don’t worry about taking breaks between words or pausing at the end of sentences. Let each word roll into the next one, just like you do when you’re talking.”

Jo Stokes, Quality and Practice Manager, Sense

Watch Dan communicating with Deafblind Manual

Listen to the audio description of this video.

Before you read on…

  • You can communicate using a mix of different ways. (We all do!)
  • At Sense, we use whatever combination of speech, touch, sign or visual language works best.
  • It’s never too late to start.
  • Have a go and don’t worry about getting it wrong.

How Sense can help

We offer free and impartial information about living with complex disabilities and deafblindness.

Get in touch by phone, email, post or through a BSL interpreter.

How can I start to learn Deafblind Manual? 

Below are pictures of some of the Deafblind Manual alphabet signs, with simple instructions. Practise these and the other signs every day for 10 minutes and you’ll pick it up in no time.

Watch how to use the Deafblind Manual alphabet

Complete Deafblind Manual

View this as a separate page for easy printing or you can order a leaflet

A
A – touch the end of their thumb with your right forefinger.
B
B – place all your right hand finger tips in the middle of their left palm.
C
C – draw your right forefinger down their thumb and along the top of the outstretched forefinger.
D
D – place the thumb and forefinger of your right hand (other fingers tucked away) on the forefinger of their left hand.
E
E – touch the end of their forefinger with your right forefinger.
F
F – place your forefinger and middle finger at right angles to their forefinger and middle finger.
G
G – put a fist onto their left hand, small finger down.
H
H – smooth your right hand, fingers together, across their left hand.
I
I – touch the middle finger of their left hand.
J
J – draw the letter “J” down the middle of their left hand.
K
K – bend your right forefinger at right angles against their forefinger.
L
L – place your right forefinger flat on the palm of their hand.
M
M – place your three middle fingers flat on their hand.
N
N – place two fingers flat on their hand.
O
O – touch the ring finger of their left hand.
P
P – pinches their left forefinger using your right forefinger and thumb.
Q
Q – put your forefinger around the base of their thumb.
R
R – place your bent forefinger flat on the palm of their hand.
S
S – place your right forefinger between their small finger and ring finger.
T
T – place forefinger on their hand at right angles.
U
U – your forefinger touches their small finger.
V
V – your forefinger and middle finger in a “V” shape on their palm.
W
W – place your right hand on their palm then fold fingers over.
X
X – place forefinger on top of their forefinger.
Y
Y – place your forefinger, at the bottom of their thumb.
Z
Z – place the side of your hand into their left palm.

Other types of communication

These are the main ways of communicating that we use:

Stay in touch

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This content was last reviewed in April 2023. We’ll review it again in 2025.