Kent Association for the Blind: Guide Communicator Service for Deafblind people

The Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) Guide Communicator Service provides one-to-one support for people with dual sensory impairment.

They provide guiding and communication support that enables people to do everyday tasks for themselves, such as dealing with correspondence, shopping, attending appointments and accessing their local community.

The purpose of the Guide Communicator Service is to improve quality of life by reducing isolation and minimising risk for people who are deafblind, empowering them to lead independent and autonomous lives.

Guide Communicators provide guiding and communication support, and all have DBS clearance, are trained and supervised by KAB, and are skilled in different forms of communication such as Clear Speech, Deafblind Manual Alphabet, Block and British Sign Language.

Guide Communicators can help people to:

• make telephone calls and manage correspondence
• budget and manage home life
• participate in social and leisure pursuits
• access news, information and technology
• take exercise
• use environmental aids
• use public transport
• shop and check food sell by dates
• attend medical appointments
• maintain and improve daily living skills

Getting in touch

The Guide Communicator Service operates 7 days a week between 7am and 7pm, and outside these hours by arrangement.

Any adult could benefit from this service who, due to their dual sensory impairment, is experiencing difficulty with communication, accessing information and mobility.

It is available to people living in their own homes, supported living or residential settings. 

The hourly rate for this service is between £17.36 and £21.50 and may be supported by the local authority following a specialist deafblind assessment.

Gun Wharf
Dock Road
Chatham
Kent
ME4 4TR