DCAL have been working hard at creating coronavirus stories in BSL for children in collaboration with Frank Barnes school. The first story ‘Bunty and Bubbly UK’ can be viewed below.
There will be three further stories to come.
‘Members News’ Category
22 JunUK Council on Deafness endorses NDCS’s letter to Grant Shapps MP Transport Minister as regards to clear facemasks in Public Transport
UK Council on Deafness supports NDCS’s letter as we believe there is a clear need to ensure that communications around face coverings consider the needs of everyone, including deaf people, and are widely shared.
Information should also be shared around deaf awareness and the beneficial use of transparent facemasks, which allow for lip reading and ensure facial expressions can be seen. These measures will ensure that deaf people are supported in the best way possible during an extremely challenging time.
Grant Shapps was asked to look at the following measures:
- Highlight the specific exemptions to the guidance for deaf people and tips for communication at the daily briefing when you next lead it;
- Raise these issues with transport companies and ask them to ensure that staff and passengers are aware of the exemptions;
- Include tips for communication in the guidance and;
- Share importance of clear face mask and communication tips on Government’s social media channels?
NDCS – Letter to Grant Shapps MP [pdf]
22 JunSignHealth in England
We are now able to offer remote, online, specialised, Deaf support in Domestic Abuse to all of England.
SignHealth can provide online support video relay platforms (WhatsApp, FaceTime etc.) with the client, contact with professionals, support in finding refuge, ensuring that communication access if correct. We can also work with different professionals and offer advice and guidance to build on the bubble of support that the client needs.
This is an amazing opportunity in providing specialised IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) client’s outside of London and the South East, which we have not been able to provide.
Our qualified Deaf IDVAs can communicate in British Sign Language (BSL) and can adapt their signing for Deaf people from aboard – less language barrier.
Please share our information. If you know anyone who needs this support, then get in contact by any of the below ways:
- Text the number 88802 with the message 121SIGN
- Email – da@signhealth.org.uk (regularly monitored)
- Telephone – 0203 947 2600 (all calls to the Domestic Abuse Team are being redirected – if unable to get through then please email the service)
- WhatsApp/SMS: – 07970 350366
An explanation about our remote service has also been translated into BSL (with subtitles). Follow this link: Coronavirus response – https://signhealth.org.uk/with-deaf-people/domestic-abuse/domestic-abuse-service/ (scroll down the page a little)
Our website also has a wealth of information produced in BSL (with subtitles) explaining domestic abuse issues such as Migrant and Refugee Survivors, Finances, Wellbeing and Self-Care, What is an IDVA? and many more – please use and share https://signhealth.org.uk/video-category/domestic-abuse/
18 JunJoin the first NADP Webinar
Are you new to online platforms? Want to pick tips how to run an online meeting? What about speech to text? Then join our free online workshop where will share practical information for all!
“Working and participating remotely when you are deaf or hard of hearing”.
Agenda:
1. Comparison of most popular virtual platforms
2. Accessibility
3. Participating in online meetings at work and in webinars
Place: Zoom
Date: Saturday 20 June 2020 Time: 12 pm – 13.30 pm
The webinar will have speech to text/ captioning
Please register using the Registration link
07 JunUK Deaf Sport and Coronavirus
As with many organisations and charities, UK Deaf Sport (UKDS) has had to adapt and look at different ways to the organisation’s objectives around supporting and enabling opportunities for deaf people to keep active. This update aims to share our experiences over Coronavirus lockdown, some 8 weeks at the time of writing.
Back in March and in response to COVID-19, Sport England launched #stayinworkout which saw a huge increase in online sports and physical activities being provided and signposted to across the sector, a significant alternative to the traditional face to face delivery of sports and physical activity.
In response UKDS approach was to set up the hashtag #deafstayinworkout as a way for deaf people to easily find accessible activities, often delivered by deaf trainers/instructors but also those by hearing people who either use BSL and/or captions.
This was the right approach to take since UKDS is not a primary delivery organisation but instead works with its member organisations (e.g. deaf football and deaf basketball) and other partners across the sport and physical activity sector to make sure deaf people are made aware of and provided equal and accessible opportunities.
We reached out to numerous individuals in the field and quickly agreed a number of activities to be delivered online via grants, and a further number to be promoted using social media especially with the hashtag. We also set out to continually learn and develop with the trainers/instructors about their needs and wants to deliver optimally.
Challenges:
There have been a number of challenges identified in this work which includes the following. Read more of this article
