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Grumpy Old Deafies
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New BDA CEO: Simon Wilkinson-Blake
Posted: July 2nd, 2008, 11:22am BST
The BDA has appointed Simon Wilkinson-Blake as their new CEO. Simon was previously CEO of the British Motorcycle Federation and Director of RiderConnect. Their new Chief Development Officer (CDO) is Mark MacQueen. A 100% Deaf board has obviously appointed a hearing CEO here. Hearing allies, especially with outside connections are important and powerful, however should they take a leadership role? Is the position of CEO indeed a leadership role, or do they take on a day to day administrative stance at wider led Deaf strategic direction? Ask the Readers: What do you think of hearing appointments? Would it ever be acceptable for a women's organisation to be led by a man, a black organisation ... -
Queen's Birthday Honours 2008
Posted: June 14th, 2008, 3:41pm BST
In line with tradition, the Queen's Birthday Honours for 2008 has been published [PDF]. The relevant Orders of the British Empire in relation to Deaf people are: Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Dr John Menzies LOW Chief Executive, Charities Aid Foundation. For services to the Voluntary Sector and to Deaf People. (West Malling, Kent) John Low (hearing) was CEO of the RNID until 2007. He was previously Executive Director, Research, Technology and Health at the RNID, responsible for bio-medical and technical research programmes. Order of the British Empire Officers of the Order of the British Empire David John LIVERMORE For services to People ... -
The Effects of RSI
Posted: June 13th, 2008, 9:02pm BST
Part of the reason why there's been no posts on here for a while, I'm cursed with RSI. This makes typing amongst other activities - at times - somewhat painful. It annoys me to say the least, as I've got plenty of things I would like to get on with. I will try and catch up on some political news I've missed (check back later for backdated entries, if you're interested), it seems the best way to do it. Which brings me neatly onto Coterie of the Zombies, and his posts about the effects of having to give up interpreting due to RSI. See this post: The GP told me I have many things ... -
Royal National Institute of Hearing: Imagine a World Without Money
Posted: May 16th, 2008, 4:45pm BST
A new website by the Royal National Institute of Hearing (RNIH) has been launched. Its theme, "Imagine a World Without Money". Ask the Readers: What do you think? Throw us your thoughts in the comments. See also: The Sickness of Deaf Awareness Week: Imagine A World Without Sound ... -
BSL Recognition: Tender Specification from the Department of Children, Schools & Families
Posted: May 15th, 2008, 12:21pm BST
Last week we blogged about a forthcoming tender from the Department for Children, Schools and Families in respect of a project to improve access to and demand for BSL. The tender has now been released and we've taken liberty to upload it here [Word], so that anyone can access. The specification is described as: COMPETITIVE GRANT SPECIFICATION FOR A PROJECT TO IMPROVE BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE PROVISION AND STATUS FOR FAMILIES OF DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. More information is given on the aims and objectives of the project: Aim The overall project aim is to improve British Sign Language provision and status for families of deaf and hearing impaired children ... -
Parliament: Deaf People & Employment Schemes
Posted: May 14th, 2008, 12:05pm BST
Another question has appeared in parliament around the effectiveness of employment schemes: Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to measure the effectiveness of specialist disability employment service providers from all sectors working with specific impairment groups, including deaf people, under the (a) Pathways to Work, (b) Flexible New Deal, (c) New Deal for Disabled People, (d) Remploy and (e) Workstep schemes. Anne McGuire (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions; Stirling, Labour) All Department for Work and Pensions contracts with employment service providers, including specialist disability employment service providers, contain the performance standards required. Professional contract managers ... -
Petition Against 14(4)(9) Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
Posted: May 13th, 2008, 8:42pm BST
For anyone who has been following the Stop Eugenics campaign will know there's been a campaign against Clause 14(4)(9) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. A petition has now been approved on the Downing Street website, relating to clause 14(4)(9). Please go and sign it (open to UK residents only). We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Keep reproductive liberty: drop clause 14/4/9 of the HFE Bill. The details are: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (HFEB) is due to pass through the House of Commons soon. The media has said that Clause 14(4)(9) of the Bill would allow people to create "designer deaf or disabled babies", but it would not. It would let ... -
Deaf Awareness Week: Elizabeth Foundation tops RNID
Posted: May 13th, 2008, 4:33pm BST
The Elizabeth Foundation went one better than the RNID for Deaf Awareness Week. Instead of using hearing people to subtitle sound and make everyone cry; they used real live deaf children, and sent them off on a listening walk: The [deaf] youngsters listened out for as many different sounds as they could and recorded it on their clipboard and tape recorder. A highlight of the walk was a visit to the building site of the Listening for Life Centre which will be the base of Bradford Royal Infirmary's Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service and is right next door to The Elizabeth Foundation in Smith Lane. Run this one past me. This was how I would interpret ... -
Parliament: Assistance for Deaf People into Employment
Posted: May 13th, 2008, 12:29pm BST
A question around deaf people and employment: Sandra Gidley (Shadow Minister, Health; Romsey, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms are in place to help deaf people into employment. Stephen Timms (Minister of State (Employment and Welfare Reform), Department for Work and Pensions; East Ham, Labour) We are committed to helping all people, including deaf people, into suitable, sustainable employment through Jobcentre Plus. Access to Work can provide a range of individually tailored support to enable disabled people to enter or stay in employment. Access to Work can fund specialist support for deaf and hearing impaired people in work. One type of support that deaf people may find ... -
Parliament: Subtitling & Sign Language on Television
Posted: May 13th, 2008, 12:12pm BST
A question in parliament around subtitling on television: Rosie Cooper (PPS (Mr Ben Bradshaw, Minister of State), Department of Health; West Lancashire, Labour) What steps are being taken to ensure that television programmes are accessible to deaf children—and deaf adults, for that matter—through more comprehensive subtitling and sign language for programmes? Andy Burnham (Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Leigh, Labour) I do not know whether my hon. Friend was present in the reception in the House last week at which we marked the successful completion by the BBC of 100 per cent. Subtitling on all programmes —a condition and requirement laid down in the Communications Act 2003. Other public service ...