This section describes how to accommodate the needs of people who are deaf and have a vision impairment.

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Check in advance which form of communication the deafblind person uses, for example:

• New Zealand Sign Language with visual modifications
• tactile New Zealand Sign Language
• deafblind finger spelling.
• Book a sign language interpreter with experience in that form of communication, or ask if the deafblind person has a preferred communicator/guide.
• Check seating and lighting arrangements.
• Ask Deaf Aotearoa, Deafblind New Zealand, or the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind for advice.

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Deafblind people have both a vision impairment and a hearing impairment. They use a variety of communication strategies depending on the nature and extent of their vision impairment, exposure to New Zealand Sign Language and experience of deaf culture.

For some deafblind people, it is possible to ask the sign language interpreter to modify their signing so that it falls within the visual field of the deafblind person.

Other deafblind people communicate by placing their hands on the interpreter's hands and feeling the movements of the signs in this way.

Another communication mode is for the sign language interpreter to spell out words on the deafblind person's hand using a special finger spelling alphabet.

Check in advance which communication strategy is used by the deafblind person, and then inform the booking agency or freelance interpreter. Ideally, book a sign language interpreter who has experience in working with deafblind people.

Appropriate lighting is especially important for deafblind people. Check seating arrangements and lighting in advance with the deafblind person and the interpreter.

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind employs five deafblind co-ordinators around the country, including specialist support trainers and one national deafblind trainer. This service aims to improve quality of life by reducing isolation, enabling deafblind people to live as independently as possible in their local community, and raising awareness of the challenges of being deafblind.