"How we can use haptices (touch messages) when                    interpreting for deafblind people"

 

Riitta is a communication researcher at the Finnish Deafblind Association. Her PhD theses “Haptices and haptemes” was accepted at the Behavioural Science Faculty at the Helsinki University in 2008. She was given the innovative award prize for her work in the same year. She has 30 years experience working as a qualified Teacher, Sign Language Interpreter and Mobility & Low Vision Teacher, Audio Describer and writer. She is involved in running international courses on communication methods for blind, deafblind and other disable groups, couples, sign language interpreters and professionals in Europe and  planning University academic courses and writing books. Currently she is doing her postdoctoral research on haptices and haptemes. She has published academic articles on this subject. She is a senior researcher at the ISE, intensive special education research group at the University of Helsinki.
 

Russ is an International Music Therapist, songwriter, musician and writer. In 1993 he was involved in the development of a portable music floor known as the Tac-Tile Sounds SystemTM with Sheffield University. His first academic publication with Manchester University was published in 2000. He has published also academic articles on musical perception using CI and musical haptices. He is a member of the intensive special education (ISE) research group at the University of Helsinki. He released his first CD title Warm Summer Days in 2009, a DVD titled Pulse, a joint collaboration project with the Finnish Deaf Association and a DVD titled Musical Perception of a deafblind cochlear implant user in 2012. Through musical expression and therapy he applies a concept and understanding of how people who are losing their hearing and sight can develop other senses in their bodies and how to interpret rhythm and vibrations. He gives international presentations as a hearing and visually impaired music therapist with two cochlear implants with his wife Dr. Riitta Lahtinen.