UK Council on Deafness

December 2002 Bulletin

In this Bulletin

• New Members
• Ian Stillman
• 2003 Diary Dates
• Parliamentary Report
• Equality & Diversity, Making it Happen
• Opportunities for Volunteering
• BDA Helpline launches e-videomail service and wins award

New Members

Cochlear Implanted Children's Support Group provides contact, information and support for families whose children are undergoing assessment for, or already have, a cochlear implant. Contact: Tricia Kemp, PO Box 28843, London, SW13 0WY. Tel 020 8876 8605 Fax 020 8241 8177

HiYPE! Is an internet based resource of information specifically for students/working age people with a hearing impairment. Contact Maria Butcher email info@hiype.org.uk website www.hiype.org.uk

Ménière's Society helps people with vertigo, Tinnitus and deafness. Contact Brenda Shield, Ménière's Society, 98 Maybury Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5HX. Tel 01483 740597 Text 01483 771207 Fax 01483 755441 Email info@menieres.org.uk Website www.menieres.org.uk

West Sussex Deaf & Hard of Hearing Association helps the Deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing people in the West Sussex area. Contact Peter Ford, West Sussex Deaf & Hard of Hearing Association, 5a Hazelgrove Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3PH. Tel 01444 415582 Text 01444 415593 Fax 01444 415587 Email wsdeaf@dial.pipex.com Website www.wsdeaf.org.uk

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Ian Stillman

We were delighted by the news that Ian has at last been released from prison in India. Ian was released from Kanda Jail on Saturday 7th December on health grounds. Following a few days in India with his family he will be arriving in the UK. We wish Ian a speedy return to good health. Thank you to all of you who have supported the campaign for his release.

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2003 Diary Dates

Plans are already being made for a full Programme of Events for 2003. Here are a few dates for your diary for the Spring/Summer Programme. Further details of each event will be available shortly:

25th Feb: Trustee Induction & Networking Day. For all Trustees of Deaf Organisations, an opportunity for new trustees to learn about the role of a trustee and for experienced trustees to bring their knowledge up to date. A unique opportunity to meet trustees from other Deaf Organisations and share experiences with each other.

27th March: Fundraising Seminar. Following the very successful seminar held in March this year this will be a further opportunity to improve your Income Generation skills and meet fundraisers from other Deaf Organisations. Sessions will include accessing European Funding, Partnership Bids for Regional Grants and Monitoring & Evaluation.

10th April: Access to Health Services Conference. Including In-patient and Out-patient provision, GPs and Mental Health Services, Training for Deaf Nurses and Doctors.

5th - 11th May. DEAF AWARENESS WEEK

3rd June: Combating Social Exclusion Seminar. Deaf people face barriers to accessing leisure, recreation, arts and cultural activities, in education and at work. Often minor adjustments can make all the difference. This seminar will look at a number of projects aiming to bring about a more inclusive society.

1st July: Deaf People and the Legal System Conference. From arrest, through the Trial procedure, Imprisonment and Release, deaf people face discrimination and lack of Communication Support. This conference will explore the solutions and highlight examples of best practice.

17th July: Youth Work & Summer Camps Seminar. A timely opportunity for Youth Workers to meet each other, compare activities planned for the summer and learn from examples of new and innovative ideas for young deaf people.

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Parliamentary Report

Our weekly Parliamentary Report email service has resumed and recent topics have included Hearing Aid Services, Disabled People's Rights, Deaf Children (Education) and the Communication Bill. The report is available to all member organisations. To receive your copy please email to parliament@deafcouncil.org.uk with 'Subscribe to Parliamentary Report' in the Subject Line.

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Equality & Diversity, Making it Happen

Following on from Towards Equality & Diversity event in February, the government is now consulting widely on the proposed new legislation and on future equality institutions. As part of this process we held a consultation day on 21st November which included presentations from Bert Massie, Chair of the Disability Rights Commission, Sir John Wall, President of the European Blind Union and Brian Lamb of RNID and a debate about the proposed Single Equality Body. A similar event is being hosted by Scottish Council on Deafness in January. Please contact them direct for details info@scod.org.uk . For full details of the consultation process and copies of the consultation documents on the new legislation and the future equality institutions please visit the DTI website at www2.dti.gov.uk/er/equality

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Opportunities for Volunteering

The deadline for receiving full applications has now passed and no further applications will be considered. We have received 24 applications and the Grants Committee will be assessing them and meeting in mid January to make their decisions. We hope to be able to inform the applicants of the outcome during the third week of January.

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BDA Helpline launches e-videomail service and wins award

British Deaf Association Helpline has launched its e-videomail service for Deaf people. Now, with the technology provided by webcams, BDA Helpline can respond to enquiries with a signed e-videomail.

Webcams are excellent for the Deaf community as they do not rely on written language like email, fax, and textphone. The e-videomail service works in the same way as email. You can send signed 'e-videomails' to your friends, family and BDA Helpline and receive them the same way.

Deaf people with a webcam can send their enquiry in sign language to helpline@bda.org.uk. A response will be sent back by e-videomail. If the enquirer does not have a webcam but can watch video clips on their PC they can provide their email address and request for their answer to be by e-videomail. This is just one way that BDA Helpline uses new technology to provide a service to sign language users.

The Telephone Helplines Association held their first award ceremony on 1 November. Five awards were presented and BDA Helpline won the award for 'Innovative use of technology 2002'. One of the main reasons for winning the award is that BDA Helpline is the only national helpline which is accessible by videophone and therefore able to give information in BSL. This award is an excellent achievement for such a new helpline.

Jeff McWhinney, Chief Executive of the BDA said "I am especially proud of the BDA Helpline as it is run by a small but dedicated team and this award is a valid recognition of their creativity. We plan to build on this success by expanding the service."

BDA Helpline is open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Contact BDA Helpline on textphone: 0800 6522 965, telephone: 0870 770 3300, videophone: 020 7496 9539, fax: 020 7588 3527, email: helpline@bda.org.uk All factsheets are free to download from www.bda.org.uk

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