Ane Marte Halkjelsvik - Statped
Femke Krijger - Levensvonk
Jude Nicholas - Haukeland University Hospital
Stine Winciansen - Statped
Monika Estenberger - The Swedish National Resource Center for Deafblindness
This international project and a multidisciplinary project aim of exploring the holistic tactile experiences of people living with Deafblindness. Using carefully structured, interactive workshops and focus group interviews in each of the participating countries, the research team has been exploring how people living with Deafblindness understand and use all their tactile skills and experiences in their day-to-day life. The workshops explore the tactile aspects of processing of tactile impressions, exploring the environment through the sense of touch, balance, mobility, dealing with fatigue, communication, and relationships. They explore the individual's awareness of the tactile process, their understanding of how they use it and the impact of this on their daily life. By sharing how the workshops and focus group interviews were developed and their findings so far, the research team will explain how their work is developing a new understanding of the holistic sensory experience, which goes beyond the usual emphasis on communication.