Deaf awareness
There are two types of deafness:
pre-lingual deafness, where a person is deaf from birth.
acquired deafness, where a person becomes deaf.
Learn the finger-spelling alphabet. Use it to:
- tell the tester your name.
- find out the tester’s name.
Explain what hearing dogs for deaf people do and why they are helpful.
Take part in a game or activity with your Pack wearing earplugs or headphones so you can’t hear clearly. Describe how you felt.
Show how to:
– approach a deaf person.
– speak to a deaf person so they can lip-read.
Sight awareness
Find out about the different ways a blind or visually impaired person can read, for example using the computer, Braille or Moon.
Explain what guide dogs for blind people do and how they are trained.
With your eyes closed, identify:
– four objects by touch.
– four objects by sound.
– four objects by smell.
Show how to approach and identify yourself to a blind or visually impaired person.
Mobility awareness
Talk with the tester about mobility aids such as powered and manual wheelchairs, walking frames and canes. Know when they may be useful.
Know three ways to make it easier for a wheelchair-user to use public places, like shops, parks, hospitals or libraries. Describe how your meeting place could be improved for a wheelchair-user.
Make a poster or leaflet showing some of the events that form the Paralympics.
Make up, or change, a game or activity so that everyone can take part in it, however mobile they are.
2. Find out about two other disabilities. Know how they can affect someone’s life.