4E-A (USA)
Megan Conway
Research on Description of People and Portraits: Implications for the Deafblind Community
In the Spring of 2022, the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) conducted six focus groups with a total of 18 participants to explore the preferences of blind, low vision and Deafblind people about how to describe (i.e., Audio Description) portraits and people. Participants were asked to discuss description across a variety of contexts such as artwork, social media posts, live performances, film and social events. Some interesting trends emerged about the preferences of Deafblind participants that we would like to share. It is important to recognize that while deafblind people share many similarities in their preferences for the descriptions of portraits and people with their blind/low vision peers, Deafblind people also have unique needs related to audio description. Specifically, because deafblind people miss auditory as well as visual information, there is a need for more comprehensive sensory feedback, especially in live or performance situations. Additionally, cultural and language differences will impact the translation and composition of descriptions. It is important for describers to consider the unique preferences and needs of deafblind audiences.

4E-B (UK)
Peter Simcock & Liz Duncan
When Level 3 is Not Enough: English Local Authority Decision Making in Relation to Required Qualification Levels for Specialist Deafblind Assessment
In England, a social care assessment relating to a deafblind individual must be carried out by a person who has specific training and expertise (Care Act Regulations 2014). Although Statutory Guidance states that this should be a minimum of OCN or QCF Level 3, or above, where the person has higher or more complex needs, it does not define what is meant by these terms. This presentation reports on a pilot study that explored both how higher or more complex needs are conceptualised by local authorities, and who are considered qualified to assess these. While legal guidance concerning assessment is fundamental to improvements in social care for deafblind people, its operationalisation is not yet fully understood. Exploring ways in which decision-making about specialist assessment is made is an important first step in ensuring deafblind people have access to appropriate specialist support.