Deafblind Manual

Deafblind Manual Alphabet is a tactile language, used to communicate with people who have little or no residual sight and hearing. Also known as finger-spelling, this involves forming letter symbols on the palm of a person’s hand.

The recipient holds out their left hand, fingers extended and the giver makes shapes normally with their right hand on to the left hand of the deafblind person.

The five vowels A E I O U are the 5 finger ends of the left hand with the other fingers tucked neatly away. Touch these with the right forefinger and the recipient will know the thumb is A, forefinger E, middle finger I, ring finger O and small finger U.

A is made by touching the end of the recipient's thumb with the giver’s right forefinger.

B is made by holding all finger tips of the right hand together and placing them in the middle of the recipient's left palm.

To denote C take the right forefinger and draw it down the thumb and along the top of the outstretched forefinger.

D is made by taking the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, other fingers tucked away and placing them on the forefinger of the recipient's left hand at right angles.

E is made by touching the end of the recipient's forefinger with the giver’s right forefinger.

F is made by placing the giver's forefinger and middle finger at right angles to the recipient’s forefinger and middle finger.

To denote G the giver takes a clenched fist and places it on the recipient’s left hand, small finger down.

H is made by taking the giver’s right hand outstretched, fingers together across the recipient’s left hand.

I is made by giver using right forefinger to touch middle finger of recipient’s left hand.

To denote J the giver draws the letter “J” down the middle of recipient's left hand using the right forefinger.

K is made when the giver's bent right forefinger is placed at right angles against the recipient's forefinger.

L is denoted by placing the right forefinger flat on the palm of the recipient’s hand.

M is made by placing the giver's 3 middle fingers flat on the palm of the recipient's hand.

N is made by placing two fingers flat on the palm of the recipient's hand.

O is made by the giver using the right forefinger to touch ring finger on the recipient’s left hand.

P is made by the giver pinching the recipient’s left fore finger using the right fore finger and thumb.

Q is made by threading right forefinger round the base of recipient’s thumb.

R is denoted by placing bent right forefinger flat on the palm of recipient’s hand, small finger down.

S is made by threading right forefinger between base of small finger and ring finger.

T is made by placing tip of outstretched forefinger on the giver's hand at right angles against the bottom of the palm.

U is made by the giver’s right forefinger touching the recipient's small finger, other fingers tucked neatly away.

V is made by placing the right forefinger and middle finger, opened, flat on the receiver’s palm.

W is made by placing whole right hand on recipient’s palm then folding fingers over.

X is made by placing right forefinger on top of the recipient's left forefinger, other fingers tucked neatly away.

Y is made by placing the right forefinger, other fingers tucked neatly away, at base of the recipient’s thumb.

Z is made by placing the finger tips of the giver's outstretched right hand at right angles into recipient's left palm.