Thank you for word on TV called “The Project” Sound fantastic!!! Thanks to
Trudy.
Carol
On 6 Apr 2017, at 10:49 pm, Trudy Ryall <trudy.ryall@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello all,
Heather Lawson and Michelle Stephens were on TV last night on the show "The
Project" at 6.30 pm on Channel 10 dated Wednesday 5th April 2017.
Below is the link to the video and the transcript of what was said in the
video.
Trudy Ryall
https://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/the-project/extra/season-8/living-deafblind
<applewebdata://A8504B62-45DA-45A9-9EB8-0054BA1E0026>
Transcript:
The Project Channel 10
April 5th 2017
LIVING WITH DEAFBLINDNESS
Presenter: Imagine for a moment that youre unable to see the world around
you. Now imagine that on top of not being able to see that world around you,
youre unable to hear it too. Well, thats the reality for hundreds of
thousands of Australians currently living Deafblind.
Heather Lawson: When I arrive at Flinders st, I get off the train and I can
feel people passing by. I follow the tactile strips on the ground and I walk
down the stairs. I find the barriers and then once Im out I can feel that
wind. I can feel people passing by me.
Voice over: Heather cant see the people bumping into her and she cant hear
the cars speeding past because Heather is Deaf and Blind.
Heather: I am Deafblind but I was born Deaf and I grew up Deaf. I coped with
that pretty well. I had vision. Then, later on when I was a teenager around
13 or 14 I slowly lost my sight and I had tunnel vision.
Voice Over: Heather was born with Usher syndrome, which effects both hearing
and vision.
Heather: When I was Deaf I had vision so I could socialize and I was a really
happy girl. I was involved in activities and I could see other peoples
signing. But, as I lost my sight it really impacted on my life. I was
frightened and I felt alone because at that time I didnt have any skills. I
had to learn everything again.
Voice over: Heather is talking to us through her interpreters using tactile
Auslan. Theyll sign the word and Heather feels it. To Heather, touch is very
important. Its how she communicates with the world and to her friend of
nearly 30 years, Michelle Stevens, who is also Deafblind.
Michelle Stevens: I was born premature and thats how I lost my sight.
Voice over: Unlike Heather, Michelle grew up with minimal vision and, in her
30s, lost her hearing.
Michelle: Due to a lot of childhood ear infections I lost my hearing and I
was one of the early recipients of a cochlear implant.
Voice over: 5months ago Michelle lost her remaining sight and has had to
learn all new skills to cope. She says the reality of losing another sense
was terrifying.
Michelle: At first it was really devastating because I naturally thought that
I would never be able to play the piano again. To a certain extent, I use
music not only as an escape; I use music for a sense of empowerment.
Voice Over: Despite the obstacles Michelle is a professional musician and,
with the help of her cochlear implant, touch and vibration, she continues to
play.
Michelle: The piano has been an absolutely marvelous outlet for emotion. As
independent as I like to think that I am, it can be really REALLY isolating.
Voice Over: There are nearly 300,000 Deafblind Australians with a majority
aged over 65. By 2050 that number is expected to grow to one million. Heather
and Michelles friendship has been a pillar of support for both women as
theyve helped each other learn the skills to stay active in the community.
Heather: We became friends and we used to catch up and do training together.
Id go to her house a few times. We do have good and bad days but we support
each other.
Michelle: Heather and I work very closely together. Were always texting each
other about SOMETHING.
Voice Over: For Deafblind Australians, the advent of new technologies like
Braille display text and email has been a breakthrough in communication.
Heather: I use SMS every day and every night. I contact friends, service
providers, and taxis. Before I had that technology I couldnt contact anyone
and I couldnt communicate. Now, it is so much better.
Voice Over: Last year Heather and Michelle combined their experiences for an
immersive performance called Imagined Touch to give audiences an insight into
what being Deafblind is like.
Michelle: Imagined Touch, for Heather and I, was a very empowering sensation.
Heather and I have been able to make sure that people can have a true
understanding of what our life actually is like.
Heather: I dont like people saying Oh! Poor Deafblind person or giving
pity because Deafblind people CAN do things. As long as they have support and
are given that support, it builds their confidence.
Voice over: And Heather has gone on to accomplish some remarkable things.
Heather: Ive done rock-climbing, abseiling, Ive climbed the Sydney Harbor
Bridge, Ive done jet skiing, Ive sky dived.
Michelle: I really am so fortunate that Ive had the time Ive had and Ive
got through the challenges Ive had and Ive still got a lot more challenges
to get through.
Presenter 1: Isnt it amazing what full lives theyre living? Its another
reminder about break throughs in technology. Most of us think of the
convenience, the day-to-day stuff, but for some people its transformative.
Presenter 2: But, the human spirit even without technology. The Helen Keller
story is obviously the most famous example, 19months she was when she lost
both her hearing and vision and then went on to finish a Bachelor of Arts
degree. Can you imagine that level of achievement? Its the people at the
heart of that. They dont go missing.
Presenter 3: Its amazing I think for people to see that kind of resilience
and that commitment to not giving up and not saying You know what? I cant
have a life. Theyre saying No. I absolutely CAN have a life thats as rich
and as involved as anybody elses. You see some people who stub their toe
and its like Oh!!!!. These people are living without two of our most
important senses. You couldnt imagine living with one and yet theyre having
an engaged life and trying the very best that they can. Its inspirational.
Presenter 4: Also, the power of touch!!
Presenter 2: All that said, stubbing your toe bloody hurts alright??
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