In his local community Donald is a familiar sight as he walks almost daily (with guide dog Lobo) through the Port Hills or along South Brighton beach where his large limestone sculptures can be seen.

What challenges Donald more than his sculptures, though, is communicating with other people, because Donald is deafblind.

His sister Kathy explains, "Donald was diagnosed with Usher's Syndrome, which effects the hearing and sight of individuals to different degrees.

"In Donald's case, he was born profoundly deaf and he has multiple eye conditions - retinitis pigmentosa as well as glaucoma and cataracts. His eyesight has deteriorated progressively since birth to the point where he is now legally blind."

Donald communicates with others using New Zealand Sign Language, but as Donald's eyesight has worsened his capacity to read sign language has also diminished.

"Donald has never been one to let a challenge get him down," says Kathy.

"When his ability to communicate was threatened, Donald simply developed his own individualised method of hand-on-hand signing with Maree - a specialist in deafblind communications."

However, this individualised form of communication has its own complications. Donald's decreasing vision has isolated him from his networks in the Deaf Community because his knowledge and use of New Zealand Sign Language has declined - particularly as this language is constantly evolving. Added to that is the lack of knowledge in the deaf community for using hand-on-hand sign language.

Essentially this means that Donald needs a communicator not only for conversations with the people in his life that are not hearing or sight-impaired - but also for conversations with his deaf friends.

"This is a development that Donald has had difficulty coming to terms with as it makes him feel even more alone," says Kathy.

"There are very few deafblind communicators skilled in the use of hand-on-hand signing and little on-going funding available to train more communicators.

"Donald is often unable to access a communicator and relies heavily on my and Maree's support."

Knowing how hard it is on her brother, Kathy firmly supports the call from Deafblind New Zealand Inc and the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind for more volunteer communicators.

"You have no idea just what a difference it can make in a deafblind person's life - and the benefits are not all one-way.

"I get a huge sense of satisfaction from working with Donald. He has such a unique view of the world and he inspires others through his determination and courage."

This is clearly obvious in Donald's choice of interests. Apart from the long walks he takes with Lobo, Donald enjoys tramping, camping and swimming.

His keen interest in art led him from painting (when his eyesight was less impaired) to clay sculpture and later to stone sculpture.

Without a doubt, Donald achieves, and has left his mark on the hills around South Brighton beach so that others may admire the work of this deafblind, 'stone whisperer' from Canterbury.

But he can't do it alone.