2005 highlights

On this page

• ARE YOU HEARING WHAT WE’RE HEARING ?
• Friary School Litchfield
• Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority
• HEAR'S HOW: WESTMINSTER LAUNCHES NEW DEAF INITIATIVE
• Dixons support Deaf Awareness Week
• Essex Listens to the Deaf
• Subtitled Films at UCI Cinemas

ARE YOU HEARING WHAT WE’RE HEARING ?

Sevenoaks Conservative Michael Fallon picked up a new political vocabulary when he learnt some signing for the deaf to mark Deaf Awareness Week.

He took time out from the election campaign to meet Kent’s Deaf Development Worker Asif Iqbal who explained his work for the deaf and hard of hearing in Kent.

Michael said: “I know from my own constituency casework that waiting times for audiology appointments are far too long. And there’s still a queue for the new digital hearing aids, even though they’re no more expensive than ordinary aids.”

Asif Iqbal estimates that there are around 1,500 people in the Sevenoaks district with restricted or no hearing.

During his meeting Michael learnt how to sign the words “Deaf Awareness Week”, and the signs for ‘Fantastic’ and ‘Conservative’.

Friary School, Litchfield

"Just wanted to let you know what we at The Friary School, Lichfield have been up to during Deaf Awareness Week.

We have had an excellent week so far. The Friary has not had a student with full signed support before, so my colleague and I thought it would be good if the school would support Deaf Awareness Week and enlisted the backing of the head John Brough. He was full of enthusiasm and gave us carte blanche to do what we wanted, ensuring that the School would support us all the way.

We were given permission to hold a Deaf Awareness assembly for each year, wherewe discussed what it is like to be deaf, we personalised statistics to the school, we included some communication tactics and discussed the importance of BSL recognition. The assemblies were fantatstic, students were so quiet and captivated. Many said afterward how much they enjoyed it.

We put up a large display in the main student area, featuring fingerspelling charts, early years signs and other deaf related information.

We put information posters up around the school with all sorts of deaf related information and information on famous deaf people. We then gave the students a quiz based on these posters which they would have top look for around the school.

The school uses large plasma screens to give information to students and visitors and we availed ourselves of these two, having a full screen Deaf Awareness logo and several screens of information. It was very impressive...especially in reception.

We challenged the students to learn to fingerspell their own name and form group. Rather than hold classes to teach fingerspelling, we decorated the school with fingerspelling charts and encouraged the students to teach themselves. We would then be available during lunchtimes in a classroom for them to come along and complete the challenge. Students have been practising like mad in the corridors and wherever they find a poster. After two days we have had 42 students and 2 staff complete the challenge.

The staff too have been very enthusiastic and at the same time understanding as sometimes the practising has spilled over into lessons. Staff have been very positive about the assemblies too and have commended us on both the information presented and how well we did (especially as many of them hate doing assemblies but have to take a turn).

Since the deaf student came to The Friary in September 2004, staff and students have been excellent. It was a little daunting moving from a Hearing Impaired Unit into mainstream but the student has adjusted well and the positive response from the staff and students has gone a long way to achieving that.

We plan to continue the fingerspelling challenge until next Friday as so many are keen to learn. Each student (and staff member) who completes the challenge will receive a certificate of achievement for their efforts. The RNID are giving us a fingerspelling bookmark for each successful person as an extra reward."

Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority

Our picture shows Asif Iqbal, Kent’s Development Worker with deaf people teaching Candy Morris, Chief Executive of Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority how to use sign language. Asif’s role, which is funded by the NHS, Kent County Council and Medway Council, is to research the gaps in the healthcare health needs of deaf and deafblind people and ensure that they are being realised.

The sign they are practicing is deaf awareness, and Candy and Asif met as part of national Deaf Awareness Week. Candy said: “It was very interesting to meet Asif and learn more about the issues facing deaf people in accessing local health services. And I’ve learnt the signs for ‘Kent and Medway NHS’ and ‘health’ which are certain to be useful in the future.”

Asif said: “I have been very impressed by Candy. She’s keen to learn how to communicate with deaf people, and she provides a positive role model for others. As Chief Executive she is helping to promote deaf awareness among health professional and local people.”

HEAR'S HOW: WESTMINSTER LAUNCHES NEW DEAF INITIATIVE

A pioneering initiative making Westminster Social & Community Services, PCT services and St. Marys' NHS Trust services more accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people was launched today in partnership with Westminster PCT and St. Mary's NHS Trust as part of Deaf Awareness Week.

The Communication Support Guidance Document was the brainchild of Sabina Iqbal, an Asian Deaf BSL user, who works for the Westminster Social & Community Services as a Deaf/HoH Services Development Officer. Included in the document is useful information on:

Service providers' duties under the DDA

How to book BSL interpreters (Junior Interpreter to MRSLI qualified interpreters)

Different types of communication support from BSL interpreters to lipspeakers, palantypists and deafblind interpreters

Deaf Awareness tips illustrating how to communicate with deaf/ hard of hearing people including a free fingerspelling card and real-life scenarios of deaf people facing communication barriers due to lack of Deaf Awareness.

Sabina has been delighted with the positive responses it has already received, she said: "Today's launch of the guidelines is just the start of improving the lives of Deaf people in our Borough. Through this work, it will be easier for deaf/ hard of hearing people to access Health & Social Services and get the service they deserve".

"I am really proud of all the hard work that has gone into this and hope that it will be well used."

If you need more information about the services to Deaf/ Hard of Hearing people, please feel free to contact Sabina Iqbal, Deaf/HoH Services Development Officer on Minicom: 0207 641 8990, Voice: 0207 641 2673, Fax: 0207 641 3902, Email: siqbal@westminster.gov.uk

Anne Aubrey, Senior Patient Advice and Liaison Service Co-ordinator, at St Mary's NHS Trust said: "The Guidance document is a fountain of knowledge. It has given me more of an in-depth understanding of the need of Deaf & Hard of Hearing people."

The Team Manager of the Westminster SCS Physical Disabilities & Sensory Needs Service praised the Guidance and said:
"These Guidelines are a good practical step-by-step guide on how to book and use the appropriate communication needed to deliver services to deaf/hard of hearing customers".

Dixons support Deaf Awareness Week

Dixons are working with RNID to support Deaf Awareness Week by showing subtitles on the televisions in all their stores and also providing information about how to use them.

There are one million people in the UK who rely on subtitles to watch television and in total five million use them regularly. We are very pleased that Dixons are working with us to make sure that more people know about subtitles and how easy they are to use.

Dixons are generously giving away £500 worth of vouchers to one lucky winner to spend on a new television and DVD of your choice. Why not enter now for a chance of winning this fantastic prize.

Essex Listens to the Deaf

The Essex "Listening to the Deaf" Conference hosted by the Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD) was a sell-out success. Delegates came from a wide variety of organisations including the NHS, Social Services, Fire Brigade, Police, Councils, charities and private companies.

The event was aimed at frontline staff such as receptionists, advisers and sales staff, who regularly deal with the general public. The conference provided a greater understanding of the different types of deafness and hearing loss, and offered practical strategies for effective communication. Presentations also examined how to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act and explained more about the assistive technology that deaf and hard of hearing people use.

Information was presented in a variety of styles including role plays and story telling, and the conference atmosphere was fun and informal.

"Very enjoyable day, very informative, explained in a simple and easy way for companies to understand - well done! Interpreters very professional."

"It was an eye opener to me. I did not realise how difficult it can be for deaf people. Very enjoyable day. Will definitely take back lots of ideas to the surgery."

"Very informative, brilliant presentation. Certainly opened my eyes to how much I was NOT aware of the needs of deaf people even though I thought I was very aware."

If you are interested in attending similar event in your area, please contact John Cassidy, Deaf Advocate, Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD), Cottage Place, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1NL john.cassidy@royaldeaf.org.uk, Telephone: 01245 283777, Minicom 01245 257704, Fax: 01245 346609

Subtitled films at UCI cinemas

As part of Deaf Awareness Week UCI cinemas have made a special commitment to screen more subtitled films, with a subtitled film being screened each day at fifteen of their cinemas. The location of the cinemas and the times of the screenings are listed below.

UCI Bracknell
"Sahara" on Sunday 29 April at 12.30pm, Monday/Thursday at 6.40pm and Tuesday/Wednesday at 3.40pm.

UCI Cardiff
"Guess Who" on Sunday 1.30pm, Monday/Tuesday 6.30pm, Wednesday/Thursday 4.05pm.

UCI Dudley
"Guess Who" on Sunday/Tuesday/Wednesday at 1.20pm, Monday at 6.30pm and Thursday at 9.10pm.

UCI Derby
"Guess Who" on Sunday at 1.20pm, Monday at 6.30pm, Tuesday/Wednesday at 3.50pm and Thursday at 9.10pm.

UCI Gateshead
"Guess Who" on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday at 7.00pm and Tuesday 1.30pm.

UCI Greenwich
"Sahara" on Sunday at 11.15am, Monday/Thursday at 5.30pm, Tuesday/Wednesday 2.30pm.

UCI Hatfield
"Guess Who" on Sunday at 1.20pm, Monday/Thursday at 6.30pm and Tuesday/Wednesday 3.50pm.

UCI High Wycombe
"Guess Who" on Monday and Wednesday at 6.30pm.
"Robots" on Tuesday and Thursday at 3.45pm.

UCI Huddersfield
"Robots" on Monday and Tuesday at 4.30pm.
"Hitch" on Monday/Thursday at 9.30pm and Wednesday at 6.50pm.

UCI Maidenhead
"Sahara" monday/wednesday 6.15pm, tuesday/thursday 3.05pm

UCI Manchester Filmworks
"Hitch" at monday/tuesday 6.20pm wednesday/thursday 1.00pm.

UCI Norwich
"The Interpreter" on Sunday at 12.30pm, Monday/Thursday at 6.00pm and Tuesday/Wednesday at 3.15pm.

UCI Telford
"Guess Who" on Sunday at 12.30pm, Monday at 6.30pm, Tuesday/Wednesday 3.15pm and Thursday at 9.15pm.

UCI Trafford
"Guess Who" on Sunday at 1.00pm, Monday/Wednesday at 6.30pm and Tuesday/Thursday at 9.15pm.

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