Deafblind Services Society
of British Columbia

Lives of Meaning

Catherine

Catherine was born deaf, with very compromised vision, and some developmental delays. Despite these obstacles Catherine was a very bright and curious child. As she became an adolescent her parents sent her to live Woodlands school, hoping that the educational and learning opportunities they were no longer able to provide in the home, would be available to her.

From Woodlands, Catherine was transferred, with several other young women, to another institution. With each visit to see her there, the family became extremely dismayed at what was happening to Catherine. She wasn’t eating, she was heavily drugged and the facility was woefully understaffed. Catherine’s life there became a hellish cycle of wild tantrums, complete sedation and restraints, with no ability or means to communicate. Without knowing how they could find help and support for her, they took her out and started the Deafblind Services Society with another family, to provide Catherine with the care and services she needed that were not available at the time.

With special adaptations, staff who were able to learn to communicate and care for Catherine in ways she could understand and respond to, Catherine made a remarkable and rapid transformation. Today she is an enthusiastic cook and housekeeper. She loves to make crafts. She arranges flowers and folds bulleteins for her local church. She loves riding and adaptive bicycle and being near the water.

Catherine is a survivor – one who exemplifies that with the ability to communicate, with help to bring out our capabilities and strengths, everyone is capable of learning, of doing more for themselves independently, and of achieving a life of meaning.