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Partnerships between housing associations and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People are giving deaf people with additional needs the chance to lead independent lives, reports Anabel Unity Sale.

The past four years of 38-year-old Zara May's life have been her happiest. This is because May, who is deaf, has learning difficulties and Williams syndrome - a rare chromosome disorder similar to Down's syndrome - has been living in a Royal National Institute for Deaf People supported housing scheme.

Having spent seven years living in residential care in Bristol with staff who did not use sign language, May wanted to live in a signed environment. Her social worker agreed that, given help from staff with communication, she had the necessary skills to live independently and recommended her for RNID supported housing in Bath.

May explains: "Before, staff didn't sign, and the people didn't like the subtitles on the TV. I didn't like to share everything and I didn't get on with everyone."

The move into deaf-specific accommodation has transformed her life. May now has all the advantages of living in her own flat, but with the option of calling on staff to help with her shopping, writing cheques, interpreting telephone calls and dealing with bills. She says: "I like it. If I have a problem, I can ask staff for help, like the warden. It makes me feel safe."

May is one of a growing number of deaf people with additional needs who the RNID helps to live independently. Of the 280 deaf people with other disabilities - ranging from blindness to mental health problems - using the charity' s care service, 60 live in specialist supported housing. These housing schemes are operated through a partnership between RNID and 10 housing associations across England and Northern Ireland. Residential care is also provided for 200 users, with the remaining 20 using the charity's day care services.

Paul Purnell, the RNID's director of care services, says the organisation is so pleased with the supported housing arrangements that it plans to enable up to 50 people to move out of its residential care services into their own homes.

"There is considerable evidence that the quality of life of people in supported housing is high," he says, adding that residents tend to enjoy more independence and participate in more social activities than those in other forms of care.

But Purnell admits people are "cautious" about giving up residential care because it is seen as "protective". He says: "Carers, social workers and disabled people need reassurance that by moving to supported housing, they will be safe and sound."

So is supported housing, rather than residential care, the way forward for all deaf people with additional needs? Not necessarily, Purnell says.

Although he believes supported housing can be a "liberating experience" for some, he stresses it is not appropriate for everyone.

Surrey Council deaf services team social worker Miriam Hodkinson, who is herself deaf, believes supported housing is a positive way forward for some deaf people with additional needs.

She says: "It provides them with opportunities for a greater level of independence and autonomy, and opportunities to develop and learn new skills. It also gives people an opportunity, as far as is possible, to have a similar lifestyle to the rest of the community."

But Hodkinson warns that care needs to be taken so that the right level of support is given to deaf users of supported housing. She says: "Too much will promote a culture of dependency; too little could result in placements breaking down."

There is no reason why deaf people should not live in supported housing if it meets their needs, argues Mary Robertson, Association of Directors of Social Services lead director on sensory issues.

She says: "Residential care is not a preferred option because it does not allow individual choice, as a rule. However well it is run, it is still an institution." In contrast, she believes supported housing provides "the ideal balance between safe services and individual freedom." ADSS president Moira Gibb agrees that although residential care is necessary for some deaf people with high support needs, it should not be the only option.

She says: "Our approach is that you start with the least restrictive option. First you have ordinary housing, then housing with support and then residential care. We want to maximise people's independence."