Deaf
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Awareness Week |
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Examples of Good Practice |
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All the companies and individuals listed here have agreed to be interviewed about their policies and work in relation to their good practice towards deaf people. Please feel free to contact them. In many cases they already have photographs available.
Almeida Theatre Tel: Access booking phone line - 020 7288 4999 The Almeida Theatre is committed to scheduling a captioned (STAGETEXT) performance and a separate BSL interpreted performance for each production. We aim to advertise these dates well in advance of each new season and to include the name of the interpreter for each show in our brochure. A synopsis of each play is available at the theatre or can be sent to you in advance. Tickets are reduced to £10 (from £27.50) and this discount is available to a D/deaf patron and their companion. Accor UK - owners of IBIS Hotels 255 Hammersmith Road, London W6 8SJ Contact Candice Couillard - Assistant to Karelle Lamouche (Sales &
Marketing Manager) The IBIS chain, which was launched in 1974, is the largest chain of budget hotels in Europe and offers quality services at very competitive prices. They have 43 hotels in major cities throughout the UK. Accor UK have a policy of training their staff in disability awareness. They have designated disabled rooms with wide doors and in many hotels the rooms have a red flashing light smoke/fire alarm and teletext TV. Link House, 2 Stoneycroft Rise, Off Chesnut Avenue, Eastleigh, Hants, SO53 3YU Contact Sue O'Neil - Diversity Manager B & Q have a Disability Policy which gives both customers and employees major benefits. They have an ongoing programme encouraging their employees to learn BSL, they have appointed a Store Disability Champion, they provide an alternative media format for printed information, including BSL signed videos with subtitles. Access design is automatically built in to all new stores. Staff receive disability awareness training, sell products with accessible design features, have clear signage with icons, provide induction loops at customer service points and ensure all employment policies and procedures are accessible. Sign language interpretatin can be arranged on request. They want disabled people to be able to shop with confidence in their stores, secure in the knowledge that they will be able to access goods and services easily, find solutions to meet their needs and be treated with respect by their store staff. B & Q is a Gold Card member of the Employers' Forum on Disability. Bearsden Dog Training Club Contact: e-mail: james.barnes1@ntlworld.com They run a 12-week Responsible Dog Ownership Course, to help not only with basic dog training but also to inform new dog owners on how to look after their dog, by giving a half hour talk each week on a different subject, such as, Communication, Parks and Public Places, Public Transport and Motor Vehicles, Children and Dogs etc. The course has been designed to Community Standards to promote dog ownership responsibly for the benefit of the community as a whole and not just for dog owners. Discussions with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People showed that there was a need to help deaf and hard of hearing owners access this type of course. As one of their committee members is employed signing for deaf people, it was decided that when the opportunity arose, the signer would "shadow" the person handling the dog and teach them hand signals that the dog would understand and respond accordingly, and provide sign language interpretation during the talks, which are also provided with powerpoint presentation. There is no extra charge for this service. The Bearden Dog Training Club was approached to run the animal events at the recent IAHAIO 2004 conference, (International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organisations) which was attended by 550 delegates, mainly vets, from all over the world, so the work of the club has become known internationally. Birmingham International Airport Contact: External Relations Birmingham International Airport (BIA) has become the first airport in the UK to introduce an innovative alerter system to assist passengers, visitors and staff who are deaf or hard of hearing. The £22,000 'Deaf Alerter' system notifies the user via a small hand-held unit, known as an Alerter, in the event of a fire alarm situation. Permanently connected to the Airport's fire alarm system, 'Deaf Alerter' responds immediately to an alarm activation and transmits a message simultaneously to each Alerter wherever they are in the terminals. Once triggered, the Alerter will vibrate and flash to attract the wearer's attention and will continue until the person is outside the building. Birmingham International Airport offers a range of facilities and services designed to make the disabled traveller's journey as comfortable and trouble free as possible. The following steps have been undertaken by BIA to improve accessibility to deaf people.
BIA prides itself on being an employer committed to and recognised for providing the best opportunities to employees and potential employees with disabilities:
Birmingham Tourism Centres have been awarded the Silver Award in the Enjoy England Excellence Awards 2005 for Tourism Centre of the Year. Birmingham Tourism Centres has three offices that offer a wide range of services, as listed below, to local, national and international Visitors Telephone / Email Fax 0121 616 1038 Tourism Centre and Ticket Shop , The Rotunda, 150 New Street, Birmingham,
B2 4PA Welcome Centre, New Street, Birmingham City Centre An induction loop is fitted in both of the above offices.
The NEC Atrium office , The NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT Also, information includes details of blue badge parking at The NEC and
Birmingham city centre. 379-381 High Road, Willesden, London NW10 2JR Contact Umarani Nathan Brent Mind is the leading independent mental health organisation in Brent offering services to local residents seeking mental health advice and support. Services include housing, counselling, befriending and social clubs. Around 30 to 40 members of Brent Deaf People's Group (now operating under RAD) meet at Brent Mind's offices every week and it was decided that to help staff communicate more confidently with the visitors that some training was needed. Umarani Nathan at Mind was tasked with sourcing some training and was delighted that Brent Mind was eligible to have Deaf and Disability Awareness Training, free of charge, from RNID, the largest charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people living in the UK. Umarani says: "Every week our staff, particularly the receptionists, have the opportunity to put the training to practice when Brent Deaf People's Ltd visits. They are now more aware of disabilities and can use this practically for example, thinking about how they can help a deaf person lip read them more easily by facing them directly and ensuring they are standing in a good light. Staff are also more assured that they are considering best etiquette when dealing with all disabled people. "Every small business or charity should do it," says Umarani, "It is free, RNID delivers the training at your offices so staff do not need to travel and the small investment of time is well worth the improved accessibility to services that will result from such a course." Corporation of London Records Office (CLRO) Address: PO Box 270, Guildhall, London, EC2P 2EJ Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/clro for general information. Opening hours: Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 4.45pm, except public holidays. What does CLRO offer to you? CLRO is the 'corporate memory' of the Corporation of London, the local authority body which governs the 'Square Mile' of the City of London, which is the historic heart of the metropolitan area. It holds the official archives of the administration and government of the City from medieval times to date, and is essential for anyone interested in the history of London, especially prior to the development and expansion of the outlying satellite villages in the 19th century. CLRO is free to visit and use, with staff always available to help you get started. You can contact us for free in advance to find out what records we hold, or download a range of free information leaflets about our sources from our website. In addition to the City's government, we hold records of the City's courts, finance (including accounts relating to London Bridge back to the 14th century), the Irish Society estates in Ulster, coroner's inquests and admissions to the Freedom of the City, amongst many other records. Access to building for hearing impaired users: The CLRO searchroom on the 2nd floor of the North Block of Guildhall is equipped with hearing induction loops. Access to building for physically disabled users: The main public entrance to Guildhall from Guildhall Yard is level and wheelchair accessible. There is lift access up to the second floor and wheelchair accessible WC cubicles are available on the ground, 3rd and 4th floors. Guide dogs and other assistance dogs are welcome at the CLRO. For further details and a plan of the Guildhall entrances, please see our website. Parking for orange/blue badge holders is available in Aldermanbury or Basinghall Street after 10am for a maximum of 3 hours. Limited parking for disabled visitors is also provided within the Guildhall complex; however it is not possible to reserve space. Please contact the Guildhall Facilities Manager on 020 7332 1157 who may be able to utilise other areas if disabled parking bays are full. Neelam is Director of Crystal Windscreens Ltd and has a lot of experience in working with the Deaf Community having been involved in different projects for over 11 years. Neelam had previously worked as a Specialist Lecturer with Deaf students and then set up a own Windscreen Repair Company. Since the Disability Discrimination Act came into force Neelam has been looking into how people with hearing loss are getting access to windscreen repair services. Crystal Windscreen Ltd from the outset promoted equal access via a minicom number to the Deaf community and all fitting technicians have had basic Deaf Awareness training. If you have a broken windscreen you can contact them if you live in the West Midlands area. When your windscreen breaks or has a chip in it they can repair or replace the screen and replace any door glasses to your vehicles, regardless of whether you have third party or fully comprehensive, as they will invoice the insurance companies direct. They have invested in the best equipment for the job. Reception staff have advanced sign language skills and will attend calls with the technician if they are needed so that clear communication is obtained. They also have staff for people who speak Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi. Visit their web site at http://www.crystal-windscreens.com/ for further information. Please note at times reception staff may be out with fitters (translating) so please leave a message on the minicom or send sms to 07815 943 851 if you need assistance. Crystal Windscreens Tel: 01902 405040 Derwentside PCT - Improving communication between staff and public Contact Judith Snaith, Education Training and Development Co-ordinator Derwentside Primary Care Trust is committed to improving communication between deaf and hearing people. Due to recent amendments of the Disability Discrimination Act, the key provisions have been to raise interest in deaf awareness, with emphasis on communicating with deaf people in all services provided to the public. Judith Lund, Acting Chair of Derwentside PCT said "The PCT is committed to providing training of a high standard to enable GP staff to become more confident and motivated in providing an efficient and professional service to patients in the GP practices in our area." The PCT are keen to provide staff the opportunity to learn and communicate with deaf people and 13 health workers have already undertaken deaf awareness training and have been accredited with certification. However 10 of the 13 staff are continuing further and have completed 3 out of the 4 modules of the Foundation Certificate in Deaf Studies. The aim of the Foundation Certificate in Deaf Studies is to encourage communication between deaf and hearing people and also to enable deaf and hearing people to work together. This training is being provided by the Deaf Project, Return to Learn Centre, in Stanley. Chester Road, Daresbury, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4BB Contact: Mark Fuller, General Manager
The hotel is fitted with two fixed hearing induction loops - one at the main reception desk and one at the Leisure Club reception desk. There is also a portable hearing loop for use in conference rooms and bedrooms, plus a clipboard induction loop which is for use by guests in the restaurant and bar areas. There are five rooms with accessible features which include a visual and vibrating pillow alarm in the event of the hotel alarm system sounding. These pillows are portable so can be used in any one of the 183 hotel bedrooms. Duty management are made aware of guests who are hearing impaired to ensure the fire procedure is explained to them. Staff are trained to be 'deaf aware' and we are currently rolling out a series of courses entitled 'Disability Matters' which is a De Vere group project. Guests may make reservations via the internet by booking direct on www.devereonline.co.uk. In the bedrooms there is teletext TV with subtitles and remote control. Guests are offered a free daily paper and all hotel information is displayed in the bedrooms. The AA judge stated "The employees were pro-active, anticipating my needs and making me feel comfortable throughout my stay. They made me feel like any other guest." The hotel's policy is to provide high standards of customer care and attention to detail, with staff training and a positive 'can-do' attitude, to ensure 'inclusive access for all'.
41 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LD Contact Charlotte Franklin - Marketing Director Have both signed and captioned performances at different times, of each play they produce. They hold an allocation of seats at those performances so that either the BSL Interpreter or the STAGETEXT captioning can be clearly seen. They offer tickets at £12 to hearing impaired people, which is a substantial reduction. They also invite a hearing Signer to every play just in case anyone has any questions. When tickets are booked in advance they offer to send a synopsis of the play. Kate Hall - Education & Access Manager English Touring Theatre believes that quality productions of great drama should be open to all. At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to national touring supported by a comprehensive education and access programme. We aim for an average of at least one accessible performance per week of our tours. Services include British Sign Language interpreted and audio-described performances. Having seen the success of tours which accompany audio-described performances, we are currently investigating the possibility of making all of our education programmes fully accessible as well. The Press Office, Lloyds TSB Group plc, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN Contact Catherine Battershill Lloyds TSB was the first UK organisation to be awarded RNID's prestigious Louder than Words charter in February 2004. In awarding the charter mark to Lloyds TSB, RNID recognised publicly that the bank offers a high quality, deaf aware service to all its deaf and hard of hearing customers, service users and staff and that significant steps had been taken to make the organisation compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. Lloyds TSB not only ensured that its Equal Opportunities policies were robust, and that deaf and hard of hearing staff had equal access to development opportunities, but also rolled out a comprehensive disability awareness training package, incorporating basic deaf awareness, to over 40,000 staff. They also ensured that customer needs were met by completing the installation of induction loops in all branches and introducing a comprehensive testing programme to ensure that they remained working. Lloyds TSB also made certain that all staff had access to the information they need to ensure deaf / hard of hearing customers can easily access the bank's products and services in whatever way the customer chooses, in person, over the internet, on the telephone or via textphones. Peter Ayliffe, Lloyds TSB Group Executive Director, UK Retail Banking said: "Offering facilities such as subtitles on staff training videos and induction loops for customers is both easy and cost efficient. We believe that these measures will have a profound impact on deaf and hard of hearing people's experience of dealing with the bank and will bring significant benefits to customers, staff and the organisation as a whole." Contact: David W. Morris, Senior Coordinator-Disability Equality Contact: Benjamin McKnight, Senior Press Officer - Community & Culture The GLA aims to be a leading organisation for promoting equal opportunities and diversity in London. We believe that any modern organisation has to reflect all the communities and people it serves, in both employment and service delivery. As a world city and major European capital, we have a responsibility to promote the diversity of London worldwide. We will challenge discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, marital status, age, disability, sexuality and faith. The GLA's vision for equal opportunities and diversity goes beyond establishing processes to achieve change. We will monitor progress made towards meeting objectives to:
The GLA has taken a number of actions to ensure that the organisation meets this vision for Deaf and hard of hearing Londoners. These include:
London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) Address: 40 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 0HB Websites: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma for general information and research applications www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/learningzone for education website Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9.30am - 4.45pm; Tuesday, Thursday 9.30am - 7.30pm. Open selected Saturdays 9.30am - 4.45pm (call or see website for dates). LMA is closed on public holidays. What does LMA offer to you? LMA is 'The Memory of London' - the largest local authority archive in the UK. It is essential for anyone interested in the history of London and Londoners. LMA is free to visit and use, with staff always available to help you get started. You can contact us for free in advance to find out what records we hold - these include photographs, maps and drawings, and the archives of charities, churches, schools, businesses, courts and London Local Government. If you can't visit in person, for basic genealogical research you can apply and pay online for our Family History Research Service, and even search thousands of the wills we hold for names you want to find. We also run an exciting programme of events for adult learners, families, colleges and schools - for details go to our website and see 'What's Going On?' From meeting a highwayman in a drama workshop, to practicing calligraphy, or simply meeting our staff to find out how to start your research at LMA, there's something for everyone! Access to building for hearing impaired users: All the public research rooms have hearing loop microphones at the enquiry desks. There is also a hearing loop in our meeting room if you come to LMA for a public event. All Public Services staff have received deaf awareness training, and we have several regular users who are deaf. Access to building for physically disabled users: There are 2 blue/orange badge parking spaces available by prior request - for public transport details please see our website. The ground floor entrance is level to the pavement. The public cloakroom is on the mezzanine floor - take the stairs or the lift. Public research rooms are on the first floor also by lift or stairs. The public rooms are on a level surface. Manchester United Museum, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0RA Contact: Mike Maxfield, Manager Old Trafford's Theatre of Dreams is home to a museum that pays homage to the heroes who have worn the red shirt of United. Fans can trace the path of the team from its birth back in 1878, through stories of the Busby Babes, Munich disaster and 1968 European Cup triumph to the present day all-star side. Memorabilia on show includes shirts, trophies and international caps. Visitors can also book ground tours taking them to the dressing rooms and through the players' tunnel onto the pitch. For deaf and hard of hearing visitors, the daily tour is free of charge and your guide is qualified to BSL Level 2. In the museum, there are written transcripts available for all the videos being shown. Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association works very closely with the Club to ensure that there is equal access. Also selected members of staff from various departments at Manchester United are undertaking the RNID Start to Sign course with a clear aim to enhance the experience of deaf supporters' involvement with the Club. The aim is to recruit more signers for museum and stadium tours and for whenever the need for BSL arises. Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1GE Contact Paul Lewis - Head of Marketing & Operations There is at least one interpreted and one captioned performance during every production lasting more than one week. An infrared amplification system operates in the auditorium during performances. A loop system is available at the Box Office. The majority of Front of House and Box Office Staff have been given Deaf Awareness Training. Staff are offered the opportunity to learn BSL. All the main facilities for people with disabilities are listed in each season brochure and on our website, as are accessible performances. A general leaflet on access to The Mayflower is produced in standard, large print and Braille formats, as is a leaflet specifically on facilities for people who are deaf and hearing impaired. BSL Interpreted Performances Hospital Textphone Numbers Outpatients - 0115 9627749 Contact: Marilyn Parsons Nottinghamshire Deaf Society Nottingham City Hospital Nottinghamshire Deaf Society have been working together on a Health Awareness Project with the local hospitals, Queens Medical Centre (QMC), Nottingham City Hospital and local PCT's, to improve access to services for Deaf Patients. Marilyn Parsons and a Deaf colleague, Lisa Warnock are the main workers on this project and are delighted that both hospitals have now got improved minicom textphone access for Deaf patients. They have given staff in both hospitals training on how to use the minicoms and are launching the minicom textphone service, during Deaf Awareness Week, in the Accident and Emergency department of QMC on Thurs 8th May 3pm. Both hospitals have also had Deaf Awareness training for various departments. This means that a Deaf patient or health service provider can book the services of a BSL interpreter and not have to worry about barriers in communication. Also Nottingham City PCT have raised awareness of Deaf issues amongst the local PCTs and sent articles to the Local Medical Committee and local PCT publications. If you are interested in getting more information about our work in the Health Project and Sign Language Interpreting Service please contact Marilyn Parsons at Nottinghamshire Deaf Society and they will be happy to help you. Nottingham City Primary Care Trust Contact: Jane Godden, Commissioning Manager, 1 Standard Court, Park Row,
Nottingham NG1 6GN Nottingham City Primary Care Trust (PCT), Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham City Hospital, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust have been working in partnership with Nottinghamshire Deaf Society to raise awareness of health services staff across the Nottingham health community. To date the following has been achieved:
Hospital Textphone Numbers Accident and Emergency (A + E) - 0115 9194437 Contact: Marilyn Parsons Nottinghamshire Deaf Society Nottinghamshire Deaf Society have been working together on a Health Awareness Project with the local hospitals, Queens Medical Centre (QMC), Nottingham City Hospital and local PCT's, to improve access to services for Deaf Patients. Marilyn Parsons and a Deaf colleague, Lisa Warnock are the main workers on this project and are delighted that both hospitals have now got improved minicom textphone access for Deaf patients. They have given staff in both hospitals training on how to use the minicoms and are launching the minicom textphone service, during Deaf Awareness Week, in the Accident and Emergency department of QMC on Thurs 8th May 3pm. Both hospitals have also had Deaf Awareness training for various departments. This means that a Deaf patient or health service provider can book the services of a BSL interpreter and not have to worry about barriers in communication. Also Nottingham City PCT have raised awareness of Deaf issues amongst the local PCTs and sent articles to the Local Medical Committee and local PCT publications. If you are interested in getting more information about our work in the Health Project and Sign Language Interpreting Service please contact Marilyn Parsons at Nottinghamshire Deaf Society and they will be happy to help you. Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire,
CV37 6BB. The main theatre in Stratford Upon Avon has at least one captioned and one BSL signed performance of every play. The smaller Swan Theatre has one captioned performance of each play. They do their own in-house captioning. They also tour the country and aim to caption at least one performance of every play. Their regional touring theatre company, the one that takes a portable theatre to towns and villages that do not have a theatre usually provides one captioned or signed performance depending on the wishes of the venue. They have 2000 people on their Access mailing list to whom they send their newsletter with all BSL signed and captioned performances listed. They invite groups from deaf schools to their BSL signed family shows. Roseberry Avenue, London EC1R 4TN ContactSarah Baker - Access Officer Employ two deaf ushers. Have formed Deaf Debating Dance, which is an extension of the assisted programme for deaf people and includes pre and post information about the dance performance and is BSL signed. There are regular dance classes for deaf children and their friends, including master classes with famous dance companies. There is a Summer School for deaf children. Any performance that can use Stagetext will have it, as they use captioning whenever appropriate. Contact: Liz Holmes (Assistant Administrator) Shared Experience is committed to creating theatre which goes beyond our everyday lives. For Shared Experience the rehearsal process is a genuinely open forum for asking questions and taking risks that redefine the possibilities of performance. At the heart of the company's work is the power and excitement of the performer's physical presence and the unique collaboration between actor and audience - a shared experience. We believe that everyone should be able to share in the experience of theatre, and endeavour to provide either BSL Interpreted or Open Captioned performances for each show that we tour. Budgets allowing, we will always try to schedule one accessible performance per venue. See our website for details of performances. Access provision for deaf audiences at Tate Britain Tate Britain organises a range of talks which are interpreted into BSL. In addition there is a regular programme of BSL interpreted talks called 'Spotlight' which take place 6 times a year on Sunday mornings. The Guides who take our 4 free daily tours (6 on weekends) offer the use of a microphone and transmitter which is suitable for visitors with hearing aids. On our Schools programme, the workshop leaders have had disability awareness training, including deaf awareness. Studio 1 and the Auditorium have induction loops. The video produced for the Caro exhibition has a transcript of the dialogue available alongside the monitor for deaf visitors. All front of house staff including catering staff, gallery assistants and information staff have had disability awareness training. Tate Britain Tate Modern Gallery, Bankside, London, SE7 9TG Contact: Calum Sutton Tate Modern is committed to widening access for all visitors. There is a Minicom text telephone as part of the Gallery's aim to improve access. Deaf and hard of hearing people can contact the Gallery directly for information on the Collections and the exhibition and events programmes. There is also an induction loop system available for hearing-aid users attending events in the Tate Modern Auditorium. The wide-ranging programme of events includes talks, films, courses and conferences throughout the year. Tate Modern has launched the second phase of the free public trials of its BAFTA award-winning Multimedia Tour of the Collection displays. Phase Two trials a new type of tour on the handheld computer or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The British Sign Language Tour is designed for deaf and hard of hearing people and is the first of its kind. It plays video clips of an interpreter signing information about selected works in the Collection displays. The aim of this trial is to develop a tour that will gives BSL users the opportunity to take their own personal tour of the Collection. The Tate Modern Multimedia Tour allows information about artworks on display to be provided to visitors in a variety of different media on a portable screen-based device. Content is accessed on the hand-held computers through a wireless network that connects to a central server. This means that almost limitless information and content with real-time interactivity can be provided, and visitors can see video and still images in the galleries that provide additional context for the art. Visitors can also request the central server to send further information about the art they have seen to their home email address, creating a link between the in-gallery experience and Tate's website. Both phases of Tate's Multimedia Tour programme have been sponsored by Bloomberg and developed in association with Antenna Audio. The hand-held device used is a Toshiba e750, donated to the project by Toshiba. Thurrock Adult Community College Contact: Sylvia Maney The following steps have been undertaken by Thurrock Adult Community College to improve accessibility to the Deaf and hard of hearing. The college invited in an auditor from RNID 'Louder than Words' organisation in January 2003. Since then the college has acted on some of the recommendations made by their auditor, such as; installing induction loops on all reception desks at each of their main sites; purchasing personal audio hearing loops that work on radio frequencies, for use at any of their sites by students and staff alike. These have proved particularly popular with a number of learners on many courses, who have experienced increased participation in their classes: much to satisfaction of their tutors and colleagues alike. They have flashing visual fire alarms fitted at their main Grays centre and will be looking at including these at their other sites this year, along with vibrating pager fire alarms which they have for the Grays centre so far. In addition they have portable hearing loops and have had a training session from a member of the 'TYPETALK' organisation to show them the best use of their new textphones which have been installed at all of their main sites. The college holds regular 'Deaf awareness' courses, alongside British sign language courses which are run by a tutor who is deaf. The college also runs lip-reading courses. More members of staff have recently come forward to learn British Sign Language in order to give greater access to Deaf people coming into the college. They are currently looking at the installation of room loops in some of their classrooms, and in the main hall at the Grays Centre. The review of policies and procedures within the college are also progressing, in line with other recommendations made to them, and those laid down by DDA legislation. Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd Toyota Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, Burnaston, Derbyshire, East Midlands DE1 9TA Contact Steve Carter- Press Officer Employ 17 deaf or hard of hearing people in the Derby factory with more coming through the recruitment process. They provide BSL Interpreters throughout the different stages of the recruitment process and on the Induction course. They provide deaf awareness training to supervisors and support staff (Occupational Health, Human Resource Officers etc). They have a pager system where all deaf and hard of hearing staff are given a vibrating pager. They also have minicoms. They have been awarded the RNID Louder than Words Charter, a charter of excellence for companies/services that have contact with deaf and hard of hearing people. University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB Contact Matthew Finn, University of Wolverhampton Press and Public Relations
Officer New 'Alerters' help University lead the way in UK Deaf safety The University of Wolverhampton is boosting its investment in an invaluable fire safety device for deaf students - making it the UK's top university for deaf safety. The University's Facilities Department, in conjunction with Deaf Alerter plc, is providing hi-tech Deaf Alerter radio based equipment which warns the Alerter wearer of a fire alarm in any of the linked University buildings - whether the person is in that building or just about to enter. As nighttime presents the greatest risk, bedside units called 'Night Cradles' will be provided by the Residential Services Department. The Alerters are placed in the unit overnight and when the fire alarm is activated it switches on the units vibrating pillow pad, placed under the mattress. This initiative is a clear indication of how highly the University values student safety. The University's Student Enabling Centre, part of the Student Services Gateway - a 'one-stop' centre where students can get advice and support on anything from financial problems to facilities for the disabled - is co-ordinating Alerter distribution and will provide instruction and guidance to students who need the Deaf Alerter system. Cindy Williams-Findlay, who heads the Enabling Centre, is delighted with the extension of the initiative and said: "This increased investment in Deaf Alerter means that virtually every building on each of the University's campuses is covered by the system, bringing yet more peace of mind to our many deaf students. All campus receptions will also be issued with Alerters for deaf visitors. "I would like to thank Deaf Alerter plc for their support with this initiative and also the Property Services division of the Facilities Department for sharing in the vision of wider access and safety for deaf students; and for the planning and implementation of such a valuable and rewarding project." Martyn Coldicott, Technical Director of Deaf Alerter plc, is similarly upbeat about the collaboration with the University and commented: "As the Disability Discrimination Act suggests, with 'reasonable adjustment', discrimination and barriers preventing equal access can be removed to achieve inclusion for all, something the University of Wolverhampton has worked so hard to facilitate". "We welcome the initiative that the University of Wolverhampton has taken in making their campus a safe environment by installing a fire alarm warning system for deaf people and students." said Jonathan Isaac, Director of the UK Council on Deafness who are the national umbrella organisation for charities and professional bodies working in the field of deafness. "This is an excellent example of good practice towards safety and access rights." The University of Wolverhampton is at the forefront of pioneering work in deaf issues. It offered the UK's first undergraduate degree in Interpreting for British Sign Language and now provides an unrivalled selection of courses for deaf students and those concerned with deaf education issues. Wigan Council - Benefits & Revenues Service Contact Lesley O'Halloran The Revenues and Benefits service is committed to provide an excellent service to all its customers. We also provide equal opportunities to employees and potential employees. For customers who are deaf or hard of hearing we have a range of support services available, including:
Disability awareness is included in policies and business plans, which are easily accessible to all. We also have an ongoing program to train all staff in deaf awareness. Through close working with the RNID and Access to Work a number of support services are now available to deaf and hard of hearing staff. This has enabled them to progress in their careers. An arrangement exists with local deaf clubs to display job vacancies. Detailed examples are available on request. Our efforts to constantly go that extra mile were rewarded recently when the service gained the highest rating under the government's Comprehensive Performance Assessment process. We also achieved Charter Mark accreditation for the second time and the IIP award for a fourth time. We have received accreditation of the "Louder than Words" charter as recognition of our high standards of service to our deaf and hard of hearing customers. Contact: Sharon Squire Abbey is committed to promoting equal opportunities both for employees and customers and is a member of the Employers Forum on Disability, the world's leading employers' organisation on disability. Abbey offers a number of services to customers with disabilities - for example; induction loops, a textphone service, statements in Braille, large print, PC disc or audio tape. These services are supported through ongoing staff training to raise awareness and understanding of the differing needs of disabled colleagues and customers. Abbey is committed to maintaining and developing a working culture supportive of disabled people. One example of this is Abbey's Banking Operations team in Bradford which employs ten hearing impaired people. A series of workshops run for the benefit of existing staff not used to working alongside hearing-impaired colleagues ensured these employees were swiftly and effectively integrated into the wider Abbey team. The workshops, run by the deaf or hard of hearing employees, covered a number of simple day-to-day adaptations; such as supporting lip reading by making sure conversations are carried out in clear view. To ensure deaf colleagues are not excluded from key decisions, an interpreter attends the Bradford office each Wednesday, and classes in sign language were offered to all interested employees. The team also took some more formal training and weekly classes in Level 1 British Sign Language (BSL) training were run. Currently six employees have achieved the Level 1 BSL standard. A number of other practical measures such as installing a Minicom, providing deaf staff with pagers and the installation of a text messaging system for deaf colleagues to call in to the office, help smooth day-to-day communications. Herald Way,
Pegasus Business Park,
Castle Donington,
DE74 2TU Everyone that lives in this area across central England is a customer of ours, no matter who their electricity supplier may be. We are the company that any of our 4.9m customers should call if they have a power cut and we were recently were awarded the ‘Louder Than Words’ Charter Mark by the RNID. |
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