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Deaf Awareness Week - The Community Channel
The Community Channel will be supporting Deaf Awareness Week with a variety of signed and subtitled programming prominently scheduled throughout the week.
Programmes includes
'Chronic Embarrassment'
'Father Cyril - See Hear'
'Reservoir Wolves'
'Vee-TV'
- Vee TV, a show produced specially for deaf people and presented by deaf presenters
- A selection of the best of the BBC's "See Hear" series, including a show case of deaf arts and culture and "Father Cyril" a moving film about a deaf-blind priest
- Film shorts produced and directed by up-and-coming deaf film-makers, covering subjects from dating, love and loss, the dance music and drug scene and a deaf "take" on the Quentin Tarantino classic, "Reservoir Dogs"
- Signed and subtitled versions of the best of "Action!", the Channel's own magazine show.
For full programme details, including transmission times, visit their website www.communitychannel.org
The Community Channel is available on Sky 684 and Telewest 233 24 hours a day and ntl 14 from 10am to 4pm daily. It also has a daily three-hour slot on Freeview.
About The Community Channel
The Community Channel is the UK's only not-for-profit TV channel dedicated to inspiring people to do more with their lives. Through a range of lively, innovative and thought- provoking programming we help charities and community groups increase their profile, recruit volunteers and raise funds. We also provide a platform where viewers can have their voice heard and find out how to get involved in community and charity activities.
The Community Channel's 2004 programming includes:
- Virgin Volunteers, Action! and Good Sports - programmes that promote volunteering are a mainstay of the Channel. A showcase of the most inspiring stories will be shown across the schedule in Volunteers Week from June 1st - 7th.
- Cause Celeb - gives famous faces the chance to raise the profile of their favourite charity. The latest series includes Ruby Wax talking about her work with Homeless Direct and Jamie Theakston visiting Uganda with Oxfam to report on the effect the global arms trade.
- Kismet Road - a pioneering new 13 part drama series using drama to deliver health promotion messages to the UK's South Asian Communities.
The channel regularly works alongside of all the major broadcasters on specific projects where we feature original programming produced to complement their output. Recent and forthcoming collaborations include ITV's series With A Little Help From My Friends, the BBC's major 'Taking Care' season about young people leaving care and Sport Relief in the summer.
For further information contact Helena d'Oliveira, Head of Communications
Email: susiel@communitychannel.org
Web: www.communitychannel.org
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Deaf Awareness Week Sees Launch of e-learning Programmes
In Deaf Awareness Week 2004 (3-9 May 2004), CACDP launched its first e-learning programmes - Deaf Awareness Online and Deafblind Awareness Online. CACDP is a UK examinations board offering nationally accredited qualifications in sign language and other communication methods used by the UK's 9 million deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind people.
Online programmes provide easy access to learning at the time and pace, which suit the user. They can be used at work, in colleges and in a range of community centres where computer facilities are available.
Deaf Awareness Online and Deafblind Awareness Online are both 10 hour programmes offering information, guidance and practical help with how to communicate with deaf and deafblind people. Questions are provided and answers supplied for learners to check their own progress, and a mock exam at the end of the programme helps prepare for the real thing.
CACDP Director of Development, Bob Peckford, said:
"Seven thousand candidates annually take the Deaf Awareness and Deafblind Awareness exams at colleges and other centres but learning opportunities need to be more widely available. These online programmes are designed to meet the needs of frontline staff in regular contact with the public. The knowledge and understanding acquired will enable staff in health services, town halls, banks and shops to make services more accessible to deaf customers and service users".
For further information contact:
Bob Peckford, Director of Development. Tel: 0191 383 7925 - or -
Email: bobp@cacdp.org.uk - or - see CACDP's website www.cacdp.org.uk
Notes for Editors
1. A photograph of a page from the Deaf Awareness Online e-learning programme is attached.
2. Deaf Awareness Week (3rd - 9th May 2004) is supported by over fifty deaf charities and organisations and co-ordinated by the UK Council on Deafness. Deaf Awareness Week aims to highlight the many different methods of communication used by deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing people, such as sign language and lipreading.
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RNID pushes to reduce traumatic pregnancies and births for Deaf Women
(Launched during Deaf Awareness Week May 3rd - May 9th 2004)
The first guide for pregnant deaf women who use British Sign Language (BSL), rather than English, will be published by RNID in association with the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), during deaf awareness week. Pregnancy and birth - a guide for deaf women will also be of interest to maternity professionals, and aims to ensure that pregnancy and birth are easier for thousands of deaf women throughout the UK. The guide will provide much vital information that deaf women currently miss out on.
For more than 50,000 people in the UK, BSL, not English, is their first language. And since March 2003 it has been an officially recognized language. However, resources for pregnant women are often only available in jargon-filled English, which can be difficult for BSL users to understand. This obstacle, combined with the widespread lack of deaf awareness in the NHS, as outlined by RNID's A Simple Cure report (Reference 1) published May 2004, can render the already-stressful experiences of pregnancy and childbirth doubly traumatic for deaf mothers.
Pregnancy and birth - a guide for deaf women, by Sabina Iqbal, (herself a deaf author), contains vital advice and information that all pregnant women need - from planning a family and receiving the appropriate antenatal care, right through to the birth itself and coping with a new-born baby. For health professionals Pregnancy and birth highlights some of the traumatic experiences deaf women have faced and provides guidance on good practice.
Dr John Low, Chief Executive for RNID said: "RNID has published this book to give deaf women useful, accessible information, and help maternity professionals provide appropriate support. We want to ensure that pregnancy and childbirth are the positive experiences they should be for all deaf mothers."
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the National Childbirth Trust added:
"Becoming a parent is a new and exciting experience, but can be challenging at the best of times. The National Childbirth Trust wants to help all women to have a positive experience of pregnancy, childbirth and the early days, so we are delighted to be working with RNID to extend our information and support networks to even more parents to be."
Notes for editors:
Case studies are available and include the following issues:
- Feeling scared during the birth due to doctors not being able to communicate in BSL in emergency situations.
- Being chastised by staff who are not deaf aware, for not attending to a crying baby that they are unable to hear.
- Not being able to understand the midwife or having problems booking interpreters.
For review copies or spokespeople from RNID contact Penaran Higgs, Media Relations Officer at RNID, tel/text: 020 7296 8388, email: penaran.higgs@rnid.org.uk.
Sabina Iqbal, was approached to write Pregnancy and birth - a guide for deaf women following her involvement with the Deaf Parenting Project that she founded in 2001.
For spokespeople from the National Childbirth Trust, please contact Lauren Goddard or Victoria Smith at the NCT press office on tel: 0870 770 3238 or email lauren_goddard@munroforster.com.
Pregnancy and Birth - a guide for deaf mothers by Sabina Iqbal is priced £14.99, ISBN: 1-904296-03-3 available through all good bookshops or from Forest Books, tel: 01594 833 858 voice/minicom, email: forest@forestbooks.com or visit www.rnidshop.com, or from NCT maternity sales on tel: 0870 112 1120 or www.nctms.co.uk.
(Reference 1) For further information, including a copy of A Simple Cure and case studies, please contact Penaran Higgs, Media Relations Officer, RNID tel/text 020 7296 8388, penaran.higgs@rnid.org.uk. To improve access to healthcare for deaf people, RNID is calling for:
- Widening the use of existing technology, including visual alert displays and loops systems.
- Deaf awareness training for all medical and nursing undergraduates.
- The NHS to instigate training seminars to ensure all GP surgeries and hospitals have at least one front line member of staff who has been formally trained in deaf awareness and practical communication skills.
- All written communication, such as letters confirming appointments, to be written in clear English for British Sign Language users.
- An updated NHS Disability Access Audit which includes the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Access to video interpreting technology in areas where there is a high concentration of BSL users.
National Childbirth Trust
- Run by parents for parents, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) is the largest and best-known childbirth and parenting charity in Europe. It is the voice of parents on antenatal, birth and postnatal issues, and provides a range of quality educational and support services for parents at local level. Established 47 years ago, the NCT has successfully campaigned for improved care during pregnancy and childbirth and promotes the principle of informed choice for women and their partners. The National Childbirth Trust offers a Textphone service for deaf and hard of hearing parents and parents-to-be. It is available on 020 8993 6714.
- The NCT special experience register is a service which allows people to get in touch with those in similar situations. Profound and moderate deafness both feature as subjects on the register. Those wanting to get in touch with the register should contact the NCT enquiry line on tel: 0870 444 8707 Parents can also visit the NCT website at www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com.
RNID
RNID is the largest charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. As a membership charity, we aim to achieve a radically better quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing people. We do this in the following ways:
- Campaigning and lobbying to change laws and government policies change laws and government policies.
- Challenging negative perceptions around deafness and hearing loss.
- Providing information and raising awareness of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Training courses and consultancy on deafness and disability.
- Communication services including sign language interpreters.
- Training of interpreters, lipspeakers and speech-to-text operators.
- Seeking lasting change in education for deaf children and young people.
- Employment programmes to help deaf people into work.
- Care services for deaf and hard of hearing people with additional needs.
- Typetalk, the national telephone relay service for deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Equipment and products for deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Social, medical and technical research.
RNID Information Line:
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Email: informationline@rnid.org.uk
For further information please contact: Penaran Higgs, Media Relations Officer (Services and technology), Tel/text: 020 7296 8388/8137 Mobile (24 hours): 07950 815 047 Email: penaran.higgs@rnid.org.uk
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Deaf Awareness Week the deafPLUS way!
How deaf aware are you? Did you know that one in seven people in this country has some kind of hearing problem? Do you know the best ways to communicate with someone who has a hearing loss?
May 3rd to the 9th is Deaf Awareness Week 2004 and deafPLUS, (a national charity specialising in deaf-hearing integration) is holding events all over the country to celebrate and publicise this special week, from open days and deaf awareness workshops to Total Communication Courses helping deaf and hearing people to break down the communication barriers between them.
For information on what is going on in your area look at www.deafPLUS.org/pages/aware.htm or contact deafPLUS on 0121 415 2080 and we will put you in touch with your nearest office.
Also keep a look out for our Mobile Advisory Service vans with our distinctive purple and orange logo on them, which will be popping up in venues all over the country bringing information, advice, support and an opportunity to try out equipment for people with a whole range of hearing problems.
We will also be launching our new improved website on Tuesday 4th May, www.deafPLUS.org which is worth a good look for news on local events, information and resources on deafness.
For more information contact
Sarah Middleton-Hockin, Marketing Manager
deafPLUS, Prospect Hall, 12 College Walk, Selly Oak Birmingham B29 6LE
Telephone: 0121 415 2080
Email: fundraising@deafPLUS.org
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Notes for Editors
- deafPLUS is a registered charity based in Birmingham and with regional branches all over England (established in 1970 as Breakthrough deaf-hearing integration) whose aim is to support the equality and integration of deaf and hearing people through advice, information, training and individual support.
- This includes people who are born deaf, those deafened through trauma, to people who lose their hearing in later life.
- At least 50% of our own staff, trustees and volunteers are themselves deaf.
- We provide a range of services: the Mobile Advisory Service, taking information and equipment out on the road to easily accessible places, a variety of contact groups enabling deaf and hearing people to meet together, individual advice, advocacy and support and our training programme, providing a wide range of training in deaf awareness and skills for both deaf and hearing people.
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A Right To Silence
Tinnitus Charity Launches National Awareness Day In Battle To Overcome Decades Of Neglect Afforded To 'Condition' & Calls On The 10% Of Adult Sufferers To Action!
5th May 2004: Today, Action For Tinnitus Research (ATR) has launched the first National Tinnitus Awareness Day, as part of Deaf Awareness Week, to raise the profile of the head noise complaint that's endured by 10% of the adult population, with 2.3 million chronic sufferers (1) across the UK. The charity is calling upon sufferers to help in the charity's quest to gain greater consideration for the condition, from local and national government, the medical and scientific worlds and the wider community.
The Medical Research Council reports that 3.3 million across the UK have consulted their GP about their tinnitus. However, many sufferers report indifference or a lack of knowledge amongst GP's, a shortage of hearing therapists and clinical psychologists meaning that they are invariably left to 'just put up with it', despite the array of coping strategies available.
The following excerpt from a letter to the charity from Thomas, a 61 year old from Nottinghamshire, is typical of the correspondence ATR receives, "My GP could do very little to help my tinnitus due to lack of knowledge of the problem. After 40 years of suffering it is definitely apparent to me that people with our condition have been very badly neglected. Most of the help I've had has been self-help. The effect of my suffering on my family has been devastating to the point that I don't know if we can call ourselves a family anymore. I am married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren who have stuck by me through it all but with my tinnitus, on a scale of 1-10, at it's worse being at 20 this should give you some idea as to what I have had to deal with 24/7 for more than 40 years".
Tinnitus is the sensation of a sound in the ear or head not produced by an external source. It can consist of one or more noises, which can reach and remain at extremely high volume. At present neither drugs nor surgery can cure tinnitus. Unending loud noise in the head is often listed as the third worst of non-lethal medical conditions, after severe pain and total paralysis. Its common effects include insomnia, anxiety, stress, and depression. Suicides are not unknown. It diminishes much social intercourse and wrecks careers or ambitions and for children it can badly interfere with normal education.
Celebrity sufferers include Bill Clinton, Cher, Phil Collins, BBC Radio 2's Johnnie Walker, Lord Rix and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
Speaking ahead of Tinnitus Awareness Day on May the 5th 2004, ATR's Chief Operating Officer Peter Dyer commented, "We know from the letters we receive that tinnitus is a growing problem. Although for many years Tinnitus has been regarded as part of the aging process, we understand up to three quarters of young people (2) who go clubbing suffer temporary bouts of what we regard as being a medical condition in it's own right." He added, "Ignorance and neglect of tinnitus amongst the public at large, in science and medicine and amongst decision makers of public life needs to be overcome. The services and support offered to sufferers, like the funding afforded to finding the cause and cure for Tinnitus, has been woefully inadequate."
Over the coming year, Action For Tinnitus Research is conducting a rolling consultation initiative throughout the UK, to gain a true indication of the scale and impact of the problems that tinnitus sufferers face.
Mr Dyer said, "The last full scale research study was made over fifteen years ago. We are appealing to all tinnitus sufferers, representatives of local support groups, GP's and health professionals to get in touch with us either by calling 0870 519 9526 or by email to info@tinnitus-research.org or via post with a stamped addressed envelope and in return we will send them information on us and a questionnaire to complete so we may discover the real extent of the problem. From quantifying and mapping out the quality of treatment on offer across the UK, it should then be possible for us to establish minimum acceptable standards of treatment and a realistic costing of the enhanced facilities needed, which we can then bring to the attention of those in a position to instigate a transformation in the consideration afforded to this debilitating condition".
Peter Dyer, Chief Operating Officer of ATR is available for interview. We can also make available case studies for comment.
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Notes To Editors:
References: 1. Figures supplied by the Medical Research Council. 2. RNID Don't Lose The Music Campaign
Action For Tinnitus Research (Charity Number 1078378) was formed in November 1999 with the support of many members of the tinnitus community and in response to a lack of well defined, co-ordinated and new scientific projects on tinnitus and related hearing disorders. The charity commits itself to the funding of scientific and medical research with the support of investigative communities worldwide; the dissemination of results to the general public, the provision of awareness and educative information for the long-term benefit of all stakeholders and particularly for people with tinnitus and their families.
What Is Tinnitus: Tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. It is the sensation of a sound in the ear or head not produced by an external source. The sound can be of any pitch or type, continuous or intermittent. Tinnitus sounds can take a variety of forms such as buzzing, ringing, whistling, hissing or a range of other sounds. For some it can even sound like music or singing. Sometimes sufferers only notice these sounds when it is very quiet, such as at night. Others find that the sound can be loud enough to intrude on everyday life.
What Causes Tinnitus? There are many different causes of tinnitus. Tinnitus can be linked to exposure to loud noise, hearing loss, ear or head injuries, some diseases of the ear, ear infections or emotional stress. It can also be a side effect of medication or a combination of any of these things.
Can Tinnitus Be Treated? Although there is currently no definitive cure for tinnitus, it is occasionally possible to treat the underlying condition that may be causing it. For example, if a sufferer has an ear infection, antibiotics may help clear this up, which may in turn also improve the tinnitus. However, if the tinnitus carries on there is no drug or operation that will get rid of it but there is help available and there are ways to manage it. White noise generators can help mask tinnitus and a hearing specialist may also suggest a hearing aid or behaviour therapy. Mental or environmental quietness makes tinnitus more obvious so it's important to keep the mind occupied. It's important to take time out to relax - as stress can impact on tinnitus, relaxation tapes and CD's can help. Complementary therapies such as Hypnotherapy and Acupuncture may also provide relief.
Help & Support: Action for Tinnitus Research. Old Court House, Church Street, Bingham, Nottinghamshire. NG13 8AL. Telephone: 0870 519 9526. Fax: 0194 983 6444. Web: www.tinnitus-research.org Email: help@tinnitus-research.org
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PRESS RELEASE - RESEARCH
Sign - Reaching Deaf Minds - In The Workplace is funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
National Charity Sign launches its new research project this week, looking into the everyday working lives of a number of Deaf people.
With Deaf 'wellness' in mind, Reaching Deaf Minds will embark upon a study evaluating how inclusive, and Deaf friendly, is the working experience of a group of Deaf people, working within mainstream and statutory organisations. The urgent need for such an initiative has already been stressed by Kyle, Thomas & Pullen (1989) and Foster (1986).
The research findings will be presented by a Deaf Advocate in the House of Commons in February 2005. Creating packages for information, training, guidance and support for employers and employees alike is at the heart of RDM's Campaign to reduce the development of preventable mental health problems within the deaf community.
A report will be compiled including recommendations for major employers to make their Deaf employees more included in the workplace. The outcome will be that employers will go beyond the Disability Discrimination Act and prevent their workforce from placing undue stress on Deaf employees.
For more information contact :
info@signcharity.org.uk
or Project Core Research, Susan Grant, on sgrant@signcharity.org.uk
References:
Foster S (1986) Employment Experiences of Deaf RIT Graduates, Internal Paper, National Technical Inst. For the Deaf, Rochester, NY
Kyle J G, Thomas C and Pullen G (July 1989) Assessing Deaf People for Employment and Rehabilitation, Centre for Deaf Studies, Bristol
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Deaf
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