27 April 2012

20 April 2012

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The letter has produced a lot of interest in the media, see the news report provided.

We are grateful for the responses so far, all these show there is a commitment to finding a solution to ensure deaf people have equivalent access to telecoms services and recognition that the regulatory route will at best provide a limited solution.

We will update you as soon as we make progress with the invitation to meet in open forum.

If you want to know more about the campaign, or get involved please contact info@deafcouncil.org.uk

Relay services have made a huge difference in enabling deaf and deafblind people to access the telephone network, but the community has been left behind by advances in technology. Deaf people have the right to access telecommunications services which are functionally equivalent to those enjoyed by hearing people. Modern relay services are the only way to achieve this.

The Government has called on the industry to work with the deaf community and come forward with solutions which meet deaf people’s needs.

That is why UKCoD is campaigning with TAG, our members and many others to ensure that the next generation of relay services provides people who are deaf access to the phone network that is equivalent to everyone else.

Why are relay services needed?
In a world in which technology is changing rapidly, deaf people need access to telecommunications in the same way as hearing people: at work, at home, on the road, for communicating with friends and families, for work purposes, as well as for the more mundane and practical uses. And that means almost live, real time communication.

Who uses relay services?
Deaf and deafblind people use relay services; for some written and spoken English is their preferred mode of communication, for others British Sign Language (BSL) is their first language – all need to be supported by relay services.

What are relay services?

Text relay
Text Relay connects deaf people using a textphone with people who are either using a telephone or another textphone. In its current format, the service uses technology that was developed over 30 years ago; it can be quite slow and inhibit conversations. Nonetheless it is a hugely valuable service.

Currently BT provides the UK national text relay service.

Captioned telephony
Captioned telephony enables a deaf person to hear what they can over the telephone, conducting a traditional phone call. In addition an operator re-speaks the hearing user’s speech word for word into a voice recognition engine to produce text for the deaf user.

The only captioned relay service in the UK was closed in 2007 for funding reasons. For a video explanation, see how Captel worked.

Video Relay
Video relay enables sign language users to communicate on the telephone through a sign language interpreter. The sign language user signs to the interpreter over a video link (computer or video phone), the interpreter speaks the message, the hearing user listens and their response is signed by the interpreter back to the sign language user.

For explanations of video relay service in action, see Sign Video in action on the news and an explanation of video relay from VRS Today.

NDCS have produced a useful factsheet explaining the different types of relay services (link to NDCS document – to be uploaded on UKCoD website)

What are we asking for?
Deaf people want fully funded, functionally equivalent access to the telephone network for all deaf and deafblind people in the UK. The relay experience for a deaf person must be as close as possible to a call between hearing people using the telephone network or the Internet.

If deaf people are to be enabled to make the same use of telephones as the rest of the population then developments in relay services must comply with the following principles

• Be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a week

• Be real time equivalent

• Meet appropriate quality standards

• Be available to users at no cost other than the cost of a standard call.

• Meet the varying communication needs of deaf people, whether deaf with speech, BSL users, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or deafened

• Be capable of taking advantage of new developments in technology

• Treat Captioned Telephony, Video Relay Services (VRS) and Text Relay with equal importance to ensure that all sections of the deaf and hard of hearing community benefits from functional equivalent access to telecommunications

• Enable the full participation of all deaf users through the provision of appropriate software and terminal equipment to access different types of relay services

• Provide number portability

• Provide real choice for consumers through open competition between “same type” relay providers

• Use standard protocols to ensure interoperability across platforms and networks

• Provide equivalence to all standard telephony platforms including the provision of mobile phone solutions software communication packages

What are the Government and regulators doing?
The regulator, Ofcom, recently consulted on a review of relay services. UKCoD and TAG responded along with many individual organisations.

We are expecting a response from Ofcom to the views expressed by the deaf community, along with further consultation around the implementation of video relay.

Ed Vaizey MP, Communications Minister has made a number of direct requests to the industry to engage with the deaf community and come forward with solutions for the implementation of modern telecommunications for deaf people

UKCoD, TAG and others are working hard to work with Government, the regulators and industry to build a consensus on the solutions that will deliver equivalent access to the telephone network for deaf people.

If you have further questions
Please contact info@deafcouncil.org.uk if you want to join the campaign or find out more about the issues and what the deaf community is doing about them.

Signatories of the letter

Jim Edwards
Chairman
UK Council on Deafness

Ruth Myers
Chairman
TAG

David Buxton
Chief Executive
British Deaf Association

Clare Kennedy
Chief Executive
deafPlus

Ross Trotter
National Association of Deafened People
National Association of Deafened People

Susan Daniels
Chief Executive
National Deaf Children’s Society

Roger Beeson
Chair
Royal Association for Deaf People

Mark Nelson
Managing Director
Remark

Steve Powell
Chief Executive
Sign Health

Gill Morbey
Chief Executive
Sense

Jim Edwards
Chief Executive
Signature

Jeff McWhinney
Managing Director
Sign Video

Gordan Chapman
Chairman
DN: UK

Rt Hon Ben Bradshaw MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2009 – 2010

Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP
Chair
All-Party Group on Deafness

Anas Sarwar MP
Deputy Leader
Scottish Labour Party

Rt Hon Tom Brake MP
Co-Chair, Liberal Democrat Policy Committee on Equalities

Mike Crockart MP
Member, Joint Committee on Human Rights

John Walker
Convener of Deaf Studies
University of Sussex

Charlie Swinbourne
Deaf journalist and broadcaster
Other useful links
DAART
VRS Today

The organisations involved are: Action on Hearing Loss, ASLI (Association of Sign Language Interpreters), NRCPD (National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People), BDA (British Deaf Association), SignHealth, Signature, Action on Hearing Loss, BSMHD (British Society for Mental Health and Deafness).

The new research shows that 41% of surveyed people who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language have left a health appointment feeling confused about their medical condition, because the interpretation was not of an adequate standard. 68% said they have asked for an interpreter to be booked for a GP appointment but did not get one.

People who are deaf have the legal right to experience the same level of service as other patients so, to avoid unnecessary confusion, anxiety or embarrassment, it is vital that they can access communication support best suited to their individual needs.

To sign the petition calling for local health services to use only interpreters registered with the National Registers of Communications Processionals (NRCPD), which shows they meet the required standard for communicating essential medical information, visit http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/deafaccess

Monday 7th to Sunday 13th May is Deaf Awareness Week -  do take a look at some of the events that have been organised by visiting our website where publicity materials are also available to download.

Deaf Awareness Week is when organisations working with deaf people across the country are inviting everyone to ‘Look At Me’.  The theme aims to improve understanding of the different types of deafness by highlighting the many different methods of communication used by deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing people, such as sign language and lipreading.

Lord Ashley was a great champion of causes relating to Deafness and hearing loss and played an active and leading role in advancing Deaf equality and the recognition of BSL and in December 2003 Lord Ashley was given a lifetime achievement award in the ePolitix website charity champions awards, pictured above.

It was in 1994 that Lord Ashley became president of UK Council on Deafness and in June 2004, was appointed Honarary President of the All Party Group on Deafness.  Through his prominent role within the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness, he ensured that Deaf issues continued to be recognised at the highest political level and was instrumental in securing major improvements to the Communications Act, introduced in 2003 to greatly improve quality of life for deaf, hard of hearing and many other disabled people.

He was involved in many other deaf organisations working with deaf people including patronage of The Ear Foundation, President of National Cochlear Implant Users Association and President of Action on Hearing Loss (formerly known as RNID) and demonstrated his great commitment and enthusiasm in supporting many initiatives that have improved the quality of life for people who experience hearing loss or deafness.

His significant contribution and warm and friendly disposition will be sorely missed, and on behalf of all its member organisations, UKCoD would like to convey our deepest condolences to Lord Ashley’s family.

23rd March 2012

16 March 2012

9 March 2012

2 March 2012

At yesterday’s UKCoD conference on the latest hearing technologies, John Brennan (Director of UKCoD) reminded everyone of the huge contribution that Roger Hewitt had made through managing the Opportunities for Volunteering scheme (OfV).  Many organisations throughout the UK that support deaf people have a lot to be grateful for, due to the knowledge and professionalism that Roger brought to his role.

Sadly UKCoD’s OfV Grant is not being renewed, so Roger will be leaving UKCoD at the end of March.  On behalf of the Trustees of UKCoD, John presented to Roger an inscribed silver salver and a couple of brandy glasses as a memento of his time with UKCoD, and it came with the grateful thanks for all Roger had done.

John Brenna, Roger Hewitt & Clare Long

Roger responded, stating how pleased he was to have made a difference to so many people through the volunteering scheme.  He gave as an example Jane Shaw, who was in the audience.  Jane started off as a volunteer; and is now Chief Executive Officer of Action for Deafness and is also a Trustee of UKCoD.

Roger Beeson, BSL Interpreter & Roger Hewitt, OfV Manager

Brian Archbold, 28 March 2012