Event Ideas / Top Tips

Are you thinking of holding an event during Deaf Awareness Week but don't know where to start? Do you need some Top Tips?

On this page you will find some useful ideas to help make your event a success.

There are lots of ways that you can support Deaf Awareness Week. The easiest way is to use an activity that you are already holding during the week and introduce a 'deaf flavour'! Perhaps you could arrange communication support (BSL/English Interpreting, Speech to Text, Lipspeaker or Loop System) and then contact your local deaf organisation and invite them to join you. Or why not invite someone from one of our member organisations to come and give a talk about their experiences of deafness. You can find the contact details of all of the deaf organisations in the UK Council on Deafness Members Directory.

For children, at School, in Playgroups or at Youth Clubs there are lots of fun ways of celebrating Deaf Awareness Week. You could have a sponsored silence, learn to finger-spell your name in British Sign Language or hold your school assembly in mime. You will find lots of useful information on the National Deaf Children's Society website.

If you are a Brownie or a Cub Scout then you could take your Disability Awareness Badge during the week. We have a helpful guide to Deaf Awareness for children either as a Word Document or a PDF Document, prepared by the Royal Association for Deaf People:

• Deaf Awareness Activities for Children - Word Document
• Deaf Awareness Activities for Children - PDF Version

If you need any help with ideas for an event then do contact us and we will be glad to be of assistance. We can send you the Deaf Awareness Week logo for you to put on your own publicity material.

And once you have decided what you are going to do we can help you publicise the event by putting it in the Deaf Awareness Week diary of events.

Remember the two golden rules for success: Keep it simple and Make it Fun. Good Luck!

Top Tips prepared by Laraine Callow, Director Deafworks

- full details available at http://www.deafworks.co.uk/2011/04/may-2011-deafworks-e-newsletter-deaf-awareness-week-special/

Top Tips at work
It's really all very simple!
1) Face the person you are talking to.
2) Repeat things they have missed.
3) Email them notes of meetings.
4) Think carefully about conference calls.

Top Tips for deaf children
They benefit from Deaf Awareness too
1) Don't get hung up on communication.
2) Let them enjoy their childhood.
3) Include them in games and fun.
4) Explain what's going on.

Top Tips for home
For an inclusive home life
1) Have a rule that subtitles are always on.
2) Always say who is on the phone.
3) Include everyone at the table in the conversation.
4) Never say: "I'll tell you later".

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