{"id":51272,"date":"2024-06-24T07:41:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T06:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?p=51272"},"modified":"2025-12-12T15:32:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T15:32:23","slug":"how-touch-unlocks-football-for-richard-a-deafblind-fan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/how-touch-unlocks-football-for-richard-a-deafblind-fan\/","title":{"rendered":"How touch unlocks football for Richard, a deafblind fan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-intro\">Richard loves football. When any one of his favourite teams score, his face lights up. Richard is deafblind and has a progressive learning disability. To follow the match, his Sense support worker, <strong>Alex<\/strong>, uses tactile sign language to narrate the game for him. Richard never misses a chance to celebrate a goal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Richard, who is deafblind, enjoys football | Deafblind Awareness Week\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O5ELPujmgfc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve been working with Richard for nearly 10 years now, and he\u2019s been supported by Sense for nearly 20. We\u2019ve been through lots of ups and downs together, but football has been a constant in his life. Richard loves it \u2013 his collection of football t-shirts is massive; he supports pretty much all the teams!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-1024x660.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-1024x660.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-600x386.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-1536x989.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-2048x1319.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-500x322.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4655.MP4.03_25_51_75.Still001-1-1600x1031.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richard at his Sense Centre with Tracey and Alex<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>People might be surprised that someone who\u2019s so <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/conditions\/deafblindness\/\">profoundly deafblind<\/a> can get so much out of football. But at Sense, we have a lot of ways to support people to enjoy their hobbies. Richard follows the football, plays sport and even referees our in-centre football matches!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Football offers connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Richard\u2019s eyesight is extremely limited and always deteriorating, and he has significant hearing loss in both ears. He likes us to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/ways-of-communicating\/hand-under-hand-signing\/\">hand-under-hand signing to communicate<\/a>, though he does pick up some sound in his right ear too and likes it when people speak loudly whilst signing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-2048x1356.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-500x331.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4662.MP4.03_28_16_38.Still001-1-1600x1059.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alex using hand-under-hand signing to enable Richard to follow the detail of the football match.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When Richard and I put the football on the TV, we find that sports commentators don\u2019t describe what\u2019s happening in much detail. I use tactile signing to describe to Richard where people are on the pitch, how fast the ball is moving and where certain players are. It\u2019s a lot to cover! Richard can get overwhelmed with too much information so I pick out what\u2019s important to the match, or what I know Richard will be interested in following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few guys at our Sense Centre who also enjoy having the game on. So, football can be a social occasion for Richard too. It\u2019s so important for Richard to have these opportunities to connect with something he\u2019s passionate about, and with other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve even done a few football matches here, with Richard refereeing! I sit with him and describe the match \u2013 if there\u2019s a foul then Richard knows about it! He\u2019s very much in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"715\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-1024x715.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-1024x715.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-600x419.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-768x536.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-1536x1072.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-2048x1430.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-500x349.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4635.MP4.03_20_00_51.Still002-1-1600x1117.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richard gathered in front of the TV with his Sense peers to enjoy the football. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Putting a smile on his face<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Richard\u2019s condition has deteriorated, his opportunities to be active and to be social have reduced. That\u2019s definitely affected his mood over the years too, and he can sometimes feel low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few years ago, Richard went through a difficult time personally. He wasn\u2019t in a good place, just encouraging him to go out into the garden or over to the gym was a massive achievement. Now, he\u2019s got his spark back and is up for trying new things, exploring new places and getting out for walks. Going out for lunch makes him very happy \u2013 it always puts a smile on his face. That\u2019s a massive improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping fit is important to Richard. He likes weight training and trying out new activities. Like Hazel, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/leading-hazel-off-the-side-lines-and-onto-the-ski-slopes\/\">whose story Sense shared earlier this year<\/a>, Richard\u2019s been doing adaptive skiing in The Snow Centre, and does boxing and trampolining here with Sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019ll still have low moods some days, but we know him so well and can talk to him and help him focus on things that bring him back into that good mental place. As well as putting the game on, Richard loves space, NASA, martial arts and talking about his football shirts. And now that the Euros has kicked off, there\u2019s lots for Richard to look forward to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box    is-style-textured-primary-tint-10  align-wide\">    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-small\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"467\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-467x800.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-467x800.jpg 467w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-597x1024.jpg 597w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-768x1317.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-896x1536.jpg 896w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-1194x2048.jpg 1194w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-933x1600.jpg 933w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-600x1029.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/C4653.MP4.03_25_24_65.Still001-1-scaled.jpg 1493w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Richard and Alex celebrate a goal!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deafblind Awareness Week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>24 June \u2013 30 June<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year, organisations across the world mark Deafblind Awareness Week on what would have been the birthday of deafblind author and activist, Helen Keller. It\u2019s all about learning about what life is like for those who are deafblind, and highlighting the achievements of people who have multi-sensory impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out more about Sense&#8217;s long history of supporting people who are deafblind, and what we\u2019re doing to celebrate this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/deafblind-awareness-week\/\">How we&#8217;re marking Deafblind Awareness Week<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box    is-style-textured-secondary-tint-10\">    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find out more about our impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"skip-here\">Read more stories from disabled people with complex needs and their families who access our services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/about-us\/our-impact\/\">Find out more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Richard uses tactile sign language to follow the football so he never misses a chance to celebrate a goal!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":51275,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"display_author":[1311],"class_list":["post-51272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","display_author-alex-c"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51272\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51272"},{"taxonomy":"display_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/display_author?post=51272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}