TOUCH and Deaf-Blind People

Chapter 4.1.5

Overview• As Deaf people have been called visual

people, DB people may be called tactile people.

• Touch is used for orientation, for

language, for connection to the environment and to other people, and for pleasure.

• Touch is used to add to what one receives through hearing and vision.

MANY USES OF TOUCH

Feeling ThingsSighted-Hearing people use touch too, of course.• They use it to get more information, to

verify what we see/hear• For connection to others• For pleasure

DB people use it for these and additional purposes.

Chatting

Reading

‘Looking at..’

Interesting to TouchThis DB woman has added a piece of art to the handle of her cane.

Touch for connection (to people)

Touch is not Always Obvious• Look at the picture on the next page.

The man has tunnel vision; the woman is his SSP.

• While he takes in information through his vision he is also aware of her stance, her orientation and her movement through the touch of her forearm.

Touch is not Always Obvious, cont.

Elbows & Knees• The same is true of the two women in

the next photo. The woman on the left has tunnel vision; the woman seated next to her is her SSP. Notice how their knees touch.

• Another DB person reaches out a hand for her attention.

Elbows & Knees, cont.

Feeling Breath

A Kiss

Beautiful to Touch Touching is experiencing just as seeing is experiencing. Some people like dogs or cats and find petting them to be pleasurable. Lying in fresh warm grass can feel wonderful.

THE SENSE OF TOUCH

The Sense of Touch• Location• Texture • Temperature• Size and shape• Movement

Scanning & FocusingIn the next slide the DB woman first scans the sign to see its size and any tactile markings and then reads the Braille.

Scan then Focus

Touch for Orientation & Balance• When you leave the deaf-blind person for

a few minutes, think about where you leave them and what they have to touch for information (orientation) and balance.

• The edge of a table, back of a chair, wall, or a post are all examples.

• If the deaf-blind person would like to sit down, make sure it is in a comfortable place (not in the hot sun, in a draft etc.)

Touch for Orientation

Touch for Orientation 2

PARA-LINGUISTIC SIGNALS

Tactile Signals• The two DB women in the next slide are

talking when someone enters the room.• The woman on the left felt this & touches

her companion on the knee to signal “hold” as she looks toward the newcomer.

• At the same time, the (sighted) man on the right is beginning to reach – to provide the same information.

Tactile Signals

Back-Channeling• Back-channeling is a universal feature

of communication. In spoken English we say “un-huh, mmm, really!” and so on to show we are listening and understanding what is being said. This is a common feature of languages.

• Even large audiences are monitored for signs of interest, understanding or the lack of either.

Back-Channeling 2 The woman on the left makes a comment to the (hearing) man while the interpreter on the right touches her elbow to signal his acknowledgement.

TOUCH AND CULTURE

The DB Community has RulesPublic touch includes:• Hands & wrists• Forearms• Hand to Shoulder • Hand to the back • When seated – knees• Hand to elbow when guiding

Public / Private• Private touch requires either intimacy

(you already have a close relationship), or

• Permission – a direct request to touch your hair, to see your haircut for example

Communicating - Talking

Back-Channeling

Guiding Friends hugging “Goodbye”

“Appropriate”What is appropriate touch depends on the situation. Some Variables:• What you are doing.• Whether you are in a group of DB people

or in a more “Hearing” environment.• The gender and relationship of you and

the person you are with.

Think about these Cultures or ‘cultures’ and Touch• Italians• British• Arabs• Americans• Germans• Japanese

Think About Touch and These Regions and Members of these Professions.Region Profession • Southern

California• Kansas-Missouri• New York City

• Actors, Dancers• Doctors• Librarians• Attorneys

Touch and MeaningThe meaning of touch is cultural, individual and situational.• Families vary in terms of their cultural

heritage.• Each of us as individuals also have our

own history regarding touch and its meaning.

• Parents and children, spouses, sisters, football teammates have special relationships.

Entering the DB Community • Joining the DB Community means

leaving your old comfort zone, entering a new ‘world,’ and learning to experience things in a different way.

• Depending on your background and personality this will be more or less challenging.

ADDITIONNOT SUBTRACTION

Adding Touch• Adding touch does not mean giving up

vision or hearing although some deaf-blind people fear this.

• This is parallel to the resistance to Sign Language in the fear that it will result in reduced use of hearing and speech.

Pressure to be ‘Normal’• There is always pressure (on all of us)

to ‘fit-in’ – to appear part of the ‘middle’ and not stand out as different.

• DB people feel this pressure to stay “sighted” as long as possible and not appear too different.

• To embrace touch is to embrace being deaf and blind – not easy.

BeginningsBeginning to get comfortable:• Side by side touch of arms and knees.• Touch on the shoulder or elbow for a

guide.• Using tactile Sign in dark or dimly lit

areas.• Using tactile Sign in close spaces such

as the car.Communicating through touch in these situations eases the transition.

New Perception• As an SSP you will learn to “see” through

the eyes of the DB person – what would be useful, interesting or beautiful to them.

• You will begin to be more aware of touch and its meaning.

• You will learn to use touch to communicate more than just through sign language.

• You will learn to “think tactually”.

Conclusion• In conclusion: Touch is a big part of

Deaf-Blind culture just as vision is a big part of the Deaf culture.

• To understand and use touch appropriately you must become familiar with the DB Community and DB Communication.