In the UK, around 18 million people are Deaf or suffer from hearing loss. As well as this, there are over 450,000 people with deafblindness — and this number is expected to rise to more than 610,000 people by 2035.
It is likely that you come into contact with someone who is deaf or deafblind every day — even if you’re not aware at the time. For us at Signature, deafblind awareness is an essential tool for creating a more accessible and welcoming society.
With this in mind, our Level 1 Award in Deaf and Deafblind Awareness and Communication aims to give people a basic knowledge of the issues these people face every day. As well as this, learners will learn useful skills for enhancing communication with Deaf and deafblind people.
This qualification is suitable for anyone who wishes to gain basic knowledge on how deafness and deafblindness can affect communication.
Students will also learn how to facilitate basic communication with Deaf and deafblind people through a variety of communication methods, including:
To enrol on this course, learners will need a minimum Level 2 in English. No previous experience or knowledge of British or Irish Sign Language is required — this is an introductory beginner course.
The Level 1 Award in Deaf and Deafblind Awareness and Communication consists of two units. Students will need to complete both units to achieve the award.
Unit K101 is the theory unit, and unit T101 is the practical unit. These can be taken in any order.
| Unit | QAN unit number | Unit title | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| K101 | L/600/0516 | Deaf and Deafblind Awareness | Multiple choice examination |
| T101 | F/503/9805 | Communication Tactics with Deaf and Deafblind People | Practical assessment of skills |
See the table below for the recommended learning hours required to achieve this qualification. Please note that Guided Learning Hours (GLH) include assessment time, and additional study hours include private study, homework, and practice.
| Unit | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Additional study hours | Total learning hours | Credit value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K101 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 2 |
| T101 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 1 |
| Total | 20 | 20 | 40 | 3 |
Once you’ve completed your Level 1 Award in Deaf and Deafblind Awareness and Communication, you may wish to further your learning with other qualifications that we offer at Signature:
You could look at our Deafblind communication courses, including:
Alternatively, you could look at one of our British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) courses. We’d recommend:
If you’re interested in starting your BSL journey — maybe for your own development, or to pave the way for a future career in Deaf and deafblind communications — we hope you can find a course to suit you at Signature.
Use the centre finder to locate your nearest Signature Approved Centre and start studying with Signature. Not sure where to start? Take a look at all of the BSL qualifications we have on offer.
If you have any questions or queries about our British Sign Language courses and qualifications, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team today.
Deaf people have significant hearing loss, and they may use sign language, lip reading, and the assistance of hearing aids to help them communicate.
Someone who is deafblind, on the other hand, experiences both hearing and vision loss, meaning they need to use tactile sign language, Braille, print on palm (POM) and other touch-based methods to communicate with others.
Due to reduced hearing and vision, deafblind people rely heavily on touch to communicate. However, to experience the wider world around them, they can also use vibrations, smells, and tastes, as well as touch.
Deafblind communication methods vary from person to person, and it ultimately depends on the individual’s level of vision and hearing loss.
Many use the Deafblind Manual Alphabet, which involves spelling out words into the palm, and Hands-on British Sign Language, where the person places their hands over the signer’s hands to feel the signs.
While this qualification will offer you more detailed advice and tips for communicating with Deaf and deafblind people, here are a few basics to remember:
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