UK Council on Deafness

August 2002 Bulletin

New Full Members

British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists represents private hearing aid dispensers and provides on going education for dispensers in order to maintain high standards in the dispensing of hearing aids. Contact: The Secretary, BSHAA, 9 Lukins Drive, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1XQ Tel/Fax 01371 876623 Email secretary@bshaa.com Website www.bshaa.com

Reversed Youth / Children's Provision is a Youth Club aimed at Deaf Children, designed to have 'Reversed' Integration - hearing children are expected to 'fit in' like Deaf Kids are at mainstream schools. All children are encouraged to sign, or at least try! Contact Tj Jobson, 2 Erconwald Street, East Acton, London, W12 0BS, Text: 020 8762 9983 Fax 07976 760 310 Email tj.jobson@cbcf.co.uk

Affiliate Members

Welcome to this month's new Affiliate Members:

Boots Hearingcare
Mayflower Hospital Ltd

Affiliate Membership is open to Voluntary Organisations, Public Sector Bodies and Companies that work with deaf people. Please contact us if your organisation would like to become an Affiliate Member.

Deaf Awareness Week 5th - 11th May 2003

The planning process is now under way. We hope to be able to launch the new Deaf Awareness logo in September so that you can incorporate it in your own publicity material. The Planning Committee would be pleased to receive your suggestions for national fundraising and publicity events and to hear about what you are planning to do locally for your own organisation.

A Sign of the Times

Modernising Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf

The Department of Health launched their consultation document, A Sign of the Times, at our recent Mental Health and Deafness conference on 11th July. A summary of the document is available on request. If you would like a copy of the full document you can obtain one, quoting 27966/A Sign of the Times, from:

Department of Health Publications, PO Box 777, London, SE1 6XH
Tel: 08701 555455 Fax: 01623 724524 Email: doh@prolog.uk.com
Or it can be downloaded from the DoH website: www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth

We will be co-ordinating a joint response, which will be compiled by SIGN. If you would like to contribute to our response rather than making your own, do please send your comments to us by 10th September. We will then present an interim report at the Council Meeting on 26th September.

Education Meeting

The next Full Council Meeting is on 26th September. Council business will be discussed in the morning, including an update on the plans for Deaf Awareness Week 2003, the response to A Sign of the Times and presentations from new members. The afternoon theme is Education: Raising Standards and speakers will include Anne-Marie Hall from NDCS, Dr Malcolm Garner from BATOD and Liz Andrews from RNID.

Ian Stillman

The campaign for Ian's release goes on. Clearing Ian's name and securing his release remain the top priority. Recent developments include:

• UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw raised Ian's case on his recent visit to India.
• Ian's sister Jenny recently met the new UK consul officials in Delhi.
• The Chief Executives of the RNID and BDA wrote jointly to The Guardian to call strongly for Ian's release.
• Hugh Bayley MP presented to the UK parliament a petition from the city of York calling for Ian's immediate release, noting his wrongful imprisonment and the abuse of his human rights. It was signed by 5,477 people.

For further information about how you can help the campaign visit www.ianstillman.fsnet.co.uk

Ear Foundation

The Ear Foundation have recently re-launched their website at www.earfoundation.org.uk

dDeaflinks - Staffordshire

STOKE ON TRENT AND STAFFORDSHIRE DEAF SOCIETY is pleased to announce its change of name to: dDeaflinks - Staffordshire with effect from 1st August 2002. The reason for the unusual spelling of our new name is cultural, as traditionally: 'd' refers to partially hearing or hard of hearing people and 'D' refers to Profoundly Deaf sign language users and everyone else linked to this group. 'links' refers to uniting all people with a hearing loss. Please also note the contact details: The Ellis Centre, Wellesley Street, Shelton, Stoke on Trent, ST1 4NF Email: stokstaff.deaf@virgin.net Tel: 01782 219161 Text: 01782 281125 Fax: 01782 286174

OfV Grants

The Department of Health still hasn't confirmed the details of the Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme grants for 2003-2006, and it is unlikely that we will know what is happening until later this year. That means that when we do (hopefully) get the go ahead there won't be a lot of time to assess applications in time for projects to start in April 2003. So that we can deal with the applications as quickly as possible we are asking organisations that may want to apply for an OfV grant to complete a First Step Application Form. This just asks for very basic details of your project and we will use this information to select applicants that meet the criteria and who will then need to complete the Full DoH application form. The First Step Application Forms are now available and are being sent out to all members and other appropriate organisations. You can ask for a printed form or an electronic version by writing to Roger Hewitt at UK Council on Deafness or by email on r.hewitt@deafcouncil.org.uk. The deadline for submitting First Step Applications is Friday 18th October 2002. The Department of Health guidelines (General Notes of Guidance) can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/volunteering or contact us if you want a printed version.

National Sign Language Week

The first British Deaf Association National Sign Language Week will be held 7th - 13 October 2002. Aims of the week To let as many people as possible know how essential BSL is to the Deaf community. To provide the nation with information on sign language and Deaf awareness. To fundraise, to allow the BDA to continue its work in advising, representing and empowering the Deaf community and in providing vital services such as a BDA Helpline, advocacy, counselling, and training for young people. To break down communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds. This year the campaign will have a particular focus that alongside all other activities will be targeting schools.

Contact the BDA at www.bda.org.uk for details of how you can get involved.

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