Deafblind Person of the Year receives Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
01 March 2012
Roger Mulholland, 25, who is deafblind and from Devon was presented with a prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in London on 28 February.
Roger, from Tiverton, was among 84 young people from the South West who received the award in the presence of its patron and founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
TV personality, Ken Hames, presented Roger with his certificate at a grand ceremony in St. James’s Palace.
Roger, who was recently named ‘Deafblind Person of the Year’ by Sense, was born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) and is profoundly deaf with limited vision. He also has a severe learning difficulty and a complex heart condition. He communicates using a combination of sign language and visual symbols.
The Gold award is the top level of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and recognises hard-work, determination and perseverance through a number of different assessment sections.
For the award, Roger took part in an expedition in the Forest of Dean, participating in the pre-trek planning which involved basic sign-language training and awareness so that Roger’s companions could communicate with him on the expedition.
As part of his skills section, Roger designed specialised walking leaflets for Exeter County Council. Combining his passion for walking and computers, Roger used large print, computer-generated symbol writing and images of well-known landmarks to highlight favourite walking routes around Exeter. The leaflets are designed to be accessible for all and were trialed by deafblind people using Sense’s day centre on Northernhay Road, Exeter.
Roger said (via. an interpreter):
"I’m really pleased to have completed my Gold Award. It was hard work but lots of fun. It’s inspired me to take on new challenges – I’m planning to try as many Olympic sports as possible in 2012."
Roger’s mum, Jane Mulholland, said:
"We’re extremely proud of Roger and what he’s achieved. The award has allowed him to focus on his strengths and use his own experiences of sensory loss to assist others to get out and about and enjoy the surrounding countryside in an accessible way. Roger’s efforts prove that there’s no such thing as 'can't'."
Roger was named Sense’s Deafblind Person of the Year in October 2011 for his inspirational ability to overcome daily challenges brought about by sensory loss. Last summer, Roger completed a 24 mile Pembrokeshire coastal footpath walk over two days and he is a regular volunteer at Café 55, a unique café in central Exeter staffed by deafblind people. The award ceremony won’t be Roger’s first brush with royalty – he met HRH the Princess Royal who is Patron of Sense at Café 55’s official opening two years ago.