Deafblind people and access to healthcare

Deafblind people and their families face many barriers in accessing healthcare. For example:

• Communicating with healthcare professionals;
• Accessing health information;
• Other health issues not being taken seriously because of the pre-existence of deafblindness;

There are lots of effective and simple changes that healthcare organisations can make to improve access for deafblind people and their families. For example:

• Ensuring they have reliable systems for booking interpreters;
• Communicating in different ways such as writing, gestures or objects;
• Providing information in alternative reading formats;
• Allowing a little extra time for appointments to accommodate slow communication.

For more information, email liz.ball@sense.org.uk.