UK Council on Deafness

May 2006 Bulletin

New Member

Welcome to our new Member Organisation joining this month:

Hertfordshire Hearing Advisory Service is an independent countywide charity offering over 20 years experience of providing practical help and advice on all aspects of hearing loss.

Contact: Philip Linnegar, HHAS, The Woodside Centre, The Commons, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 4SE.
Telephone 01707 324582
Textphone 01707 375486
Facsimile 01707 390644
Email HHASatWGC@aol.com
www.hhas.org.uk

Lipreading Classes

The funding situation for Lipreading Classes across the country is causing grave concern. Although the classes are eligible for LSC funding they have not been included in the Skills for Life definition of ‘basic skills’. Some colleges have recently increased the fees from a few pounds to many hundreds of pounds causing the classes to close. ATLA, the Association of Teachers of Lipreading to Adults, is coordinating a coalition of deaf organisations to campaign for this situation to be reversed. To get involved in the campaign email atla@lipreading.org.uk

Mental Health Services for Deaf People – No longer an option? – Conference 25 May 2006 in Newcastle

The BSMHD 2006 Annual Conference and AGM will include presentations from healthcare and voluntary organisations involved in collaborative approaches to developing mental health services for deaf people nationally and in the North East.

Other presentations include: The psychosocial influences affecting the length of hospital stay of Deaf mental health service users - Neil Patterson and Di Baines; Deafblindness and Mental Health: The mental health needs of adults with dual sensory impairment - Sarah Bodsworth, Isabel C.H. Clare, and Christine Hardy; Art Therapy - Rubbena Aurangzeb-Tariq, Rachel Coppage and Ailsa McGilp; ‘Work hard, improve, better, leave’? What happens when service users don’t change? - Diane Walsh and Sue O’Rourke; BME Deaf People’s Families & Communities: The Key - Penny Beschizza; Developing a Deaf Studies Curriculum for deaf children in United Kingdom - Robin Ash.

There will also be a small exhibition attached to the conference. For information about booking exhibition space or registering as a delegate please contact Jenny Hitchen, the conference organiser, at j.hitchen@deafcouncil.org.uk

NADP Conference and AGM

NADP will hold its Conference and AGM in Nottingham on Saturday June 17th 2006 at Nottingham County Hall. The theme is “Deafened people: Brave New World? Benefits from future technology and research” and the speakers will Brian Archbold (Ear Foundation), Paula Clements (Deafness Research UK), Professor Roger Moore (University of Sheffield) on the future of computer speech recognition, David Padmore (Red Bee Media) on speech recognition in live subtitling and Chris Durst (Med-El) on the latest developments in cochlear implants. For more information please contact NADP, PO Box 50, Amersham, Bucks HP6 6XB. Email: enquiries@nadp.org.uk

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Interpreting in Mental Health Settings – Conference
11 July 2006 in London

To be held at the Britannia Street Centre in Kings Cross. With input from Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Interpreters and Clients the conference aims to promote a better understanding of the needs and issues relating to each other’s professions and to converge upon a consensus for good practice and ideal working. For further details please contact the conference organiser: Jenny Hitchen at j.hitchen@deafcouncil.org.uk

New standards for Communication Agencies

Communication agencies across the UK have been involved in developing new standards for all agencies that provide LSP the collective name given to the professionals who deliver a communication support service, such as BSL/English interpreters, Lipspeakers, Speech to Text Reporters and Electronic Notetakers. The standards represent a set of working practices that all agencies should aim to implement, so when people who require communication support book an LSP through an agency, they know what level of service to expect. To mark the launch of the new standards, the Agency Steering Group have produced a DVD presented in British Sign Language and subtitles. This outlines the standards and explains to consumers what they should expect from a Communication Agency. The DVD will be available from mid May 2006. If you would like to order a copy, please contact ASG by emailing agencysteeringgroup@hotmail.com

New Affiliate

Welcome to our new Affiliate Organisation joining this month, East Kent Coastal Teaching PCT. Full contact details can be found in the Directory of Affiliated Organisations

“Look At Me” 1st – 7th May 2006 Deaf Awareness Week

1st - 7th May 2006 is Deaf Awareness Week and 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. Supported by over one hundred organisations, Deaf Awareness Week involves a UK wide series of national and local events. "The UK Council on Deafness are delighted to be coordinating the joint all-inclusive Deaf Awareness Week campaign, promoting social inclusion and raising awareness of the work of all the national and local organisations that support deaf people and their family and friends."

On Wednesday 3rd May UK Council on Deafness are hosting the annual Deaf Awareness Week reception, sponsored this year by Alpha Hospitals. Over 200 guests are expected including representatives from member organisations and many MPs. During the evening the publications produced by RNID on behalf of the Access to Communication in English consortium of deaf organisations will be launched and the 2006 AGM of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness will be held.

Details of all the events taking place across the country to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week can be found on the campaign website at www.Look-At-Me.org.uk

The website is sponsored by Rayovac MicroPower Batteries. A few of the events taking place are:

East Durham Deafened and Hearing Impaired Support Awareness Day on Tuesday 2 May will be opened by Mr John Cummings MP. A Presentation by Tees Valley and Durham Communication support will make aware the valuable communication service now available to Deaf deafened and hard of hearing people.

Nottingham City Council will be hosting a Deaf Awareness Event at The Gallery, Waterstones Bookshop. The event aims to raise awareness of deafness by the provision of information, including interactive teaching sessions in BSL, Lip reading and Communication Tactics.

Jersey Society for Deaf Children and Young Adults. Jersey's 'Look at me' Day. Jersey Society for Deaf Children and Young Adults are encouraging people to wear bright colours that draw attention. The message being that the hearing impaired need to be able to see your face when you communicate with them as they read lips and facial expressions. By sponsoring a dress down day you will be helping us to spread the word and reinforce this point.

Farnborough College of Technology in conjunction with Hampshire Deaf Association and deafPLUS South. Programme includes: ‘Sign Song’ workshop, How to become an Interpreter workshop, Deaf Awareness Event.

Tayside Deaf Association at the Wellgate Centre with the Wave 102 Roadshow, featuring a presentation by The Link Centre for Deafened People and a performance from The Claypotts Castle Primary School Signing Choir at 1pm. A competition will be run at this event, with the first prize being a Level 1 British Sign Language Course worth over £200.

Denbighshire County Council Signed Woodworking, Wednesday 3 May in Llangollen. Signed workshop with the Plas Newydd artist in residence. Learn about woodworking and have a go. Free but please book in advance.

Havering College Deaf Open Day, Thursday 4 May. What do you want to learn? We have qualified Communication Support Workers (CSWs) to support your needs.

Countess Wear Community School will be joined by the Royal School and College for the Deaf in Exeter and together with the signing choir and drama students, will be doing a special assembly for the children on Deaf awareness. We will be inviting all classes to come and look at our 'Deaf Home corner' to show pupils the kinds of aids to living which Deaf people have in their homes, i.e. flashing lights, vibrating alarms, etc. Throughout the week, children in school will have the opportunity to learn a signed pop song, make doorhangers using fingerspelling and sign graphics, learn about famous Deaf people and the development of hearing aids through the ages.

To promote Deaf Awareness week Hampshire Deaf Association are planning to hold a mass sky dive. They hope to get between 20-30 people to jump together. Currently they have 15 people confirmed as jumping so are well on the way. This event is due to take place in Salisbury. Anyone that is interested in participating or supporting the above event should contact HDA.

Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People presents 'Deaf Awareness Day' on Thursday 4th May at Centenary House in Leeds. It is the perfect chance to get a first hand experience of the wide range of services that the Society has to offer. For example, the on-site Sensory Room is an exhilarating experience for all ages - sensory play time for children with lighting effects and bubble machines, chill out zones with massage and aromatherapy for young people and behavioural therapy groups for adults. The NDCS 'Listening Bus' will be bringing technology to deaf children and their friends. Deaf people, friends, family, carers and healthcare professionals alike will be able to get information on organisations, equipment and aides from visiting exhibitors such as the NHS, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, West Yorkshire Fire Service, Social Work Services and many more. The Society is also running taster sessions in sensory awareness training and free bite size sign language classes on the day. The Society is also celebrating its 130th anniversary later this year.

Please submit information for the next UK Council on Deafness Bulletin by 31 May 2006.

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