Mrs Bucket: I read your list of how to interact with DB people and am just going "what on earth!" to the part where it says "6. Encourage the deafblind person to use any speech that is possible, even if it is limited to only a few words."
.. if you do that to a culturally Deaf sighted person you will likely offend them. Why is it acceptable to do with a Deafblind person?
Aleser, thank you so much for bringing this up.
It is encouraged only in situations when the Intervenor/SSP/ guide works with 2 or 3 DBs in a small group.
I'll give you an example - I had a small craft group with 2 other DBs and 1 other blind lady. We would get together and make intricate night light covers with beads and wires. One DB would need to use the bathroom, the IV would get our attention & speak at the same time for the other blind lady to explain what she was doing. Leaving the room to guide M to the bathroom and she would be back.
M would be encouraged to speak out for the IV "D" using her name only. This is where we all share one same IV, "D". M would try to say "D"'s name to get her attention so she can be guided back into the room.
This is reserved for situations like entering and leaving a room, an emergency, not feeling well/about to have an accident/throwing up, etc.
This will offend a Culturally Deaf person to use their voice because they grew up not using it. However with explanation of this reason, some may accept but not all.
This is why I use Deaf Interventors because of the ASL and the Deaf Culture as well.
You asked about the acceptance of using this with DeafBlind, it is different between deafblind, hence the lower key word.
I will admit to chastising intervenors that talk to each other using voice only in the presence of the DeafBlind community. I will take the nearest DB person's hand & tactile what I say to the IV so he/she is not left out. I also interpret what I lipread to the DB as well.
I have been asked why I do this and I tell them they have no right to do this. It is like talking in a room full of Deaf people, an act of brazen exclusion when the interventors are supposed to follow the "With, not for" adage.