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Grumpy Old Deafies
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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 ... -
The Guardian: The Sign Language Teacher; the Personal Experience of John Smith
Posted: May 13th, 2008, 3:32am BST
The Guardian has published a hitting piece on the reality of deaf education, through the personal experience of John Smith, who is known for his Deaf comedy: I went to a primary school for the deaf, where we weren't allowed to use sign language. We were forced to speak, using hearing aids. What was the point of that? It makes me angry just thinking about it. When the teachers' backs were turned, we used to sign to each other. I learned nothing at school. The teachers told me I was rubbish. I used to get very tense and stressed out. I was good at maths, but I struggled with English. Even now I find writing ... -
First Sucessful Claim of Disability Discrimination against a Recruitment Agency
Posted: May 12th, 2008, 2:46pm BST
The first disability discrimination case has been brought against a recruitment agency - Sales Link Services - and won. The case in hand concerned a deaf person, Pauline Alexander: Although Alexander is deaf, that had not prevented her from formerly being director of a property company and, having applied to the agency in her present occupational guise as a diversity trainer, she felt she was well qualified to work in the field. But Sales Link Services had other ideas. "I was asked to phone in, which I did using TypeTalk [a relay telephone service for deaf people]," says Alexander. "The person I spoke to said he thought my hearing loss would be an impediment to doing ... -
Parliament: Cochlear Implants & National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence
Posted: May 12th, 2008, 1:13pm BST
Last week there was a debate in parliament about the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Within this debate, there was reference made to cochlear implants, and wider benefits not being factored or measured when making a budgetary argument. This suggestion was made by the RNID: Sandra Gidley (Shadow Minister, Health; Romsey, Liberal Democrat) ... That might be a little unfair, but many patient groups feel that they are treated unfairly and that wider benefits are not fully taken into account. It would help the public accept some of the decisions more readily if they were reassured that such factors had been taken into account. The then Minister of State, Department of Health, who ... -
Post about iPlayer on Noesis
Posted: May 12th, 2008, 4:03am BST
Earlier I knocked together a post on iPlayer, over at Noesis. If you're interested in iPlayer issues, you might want to read.... -
First Memorial in the UK to Mark Disabled People's Treatment in Nazi Germany
Posted: May 11th, 2008, 10:32pm BST
The first memorial in the UK, to recognise the one million disabled people who were persecuted, sterilised or killed by Nazi Germany has been unveiled. This has located at The Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire. Firstly it serves as an important memory, these people are never forgotten. It is also about time some more mainstream recognition was given, as history contains important lessons and a good education to prevent repeats including discriminatory law and policy. Within this, I hope that deaf people gained recognition, as they were killed and sterilised, too. Subjected to the Law for Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Disease 1933, the Marital Health Law 1935 and Action T4. Ask the Readers:... -
HandTalk: A glove that (supposedly) translates sign language
Posted: May 10th, 2008, 2:24pm BST
There's a glove being developed at Carnegie Melon University which is supposed to translate ASL hand shapes into speech, via a mobile phone. One would hope some collaboration is happening with linguists. Now I don't know the first thing about the linguistics of ASL, but as a mere user of another sign langauge - BSL - I can't see this working well anytime soon. Receptive BSL requires a recognition of facial expression and an understanding of placement. Would some crazy device be developed that incorporates facial expression and body movement picked up in some Wii like fashion? Let not the mind limit possibilities here, if man can go to the moon and all that! ... -
BSL Recognition: Tender to Improve Access & Demand for BSL
Posted: May 9th, 2008, 1:07pm BST
Following the meeting with the Prime Minister in February, the Department for Children Schools and Families are planning to announce the publication of a tender for a project to improve access to and demand for BSL. The relevant DCSF page by Lord Adonis can be found here, and the direct link to the document is here [Word] (the link on their website does not work). British Sign Language. I recognise the importance placed on British Sign Language by many in the deaf community and their desire to make sure it thrives as a language. Malcolm Bruce MP, the Chair of the APPG on Deafness, has been campaigning for legislation on ... -
Photo Friday: Mary Hare Grammar School
Posted: May 9th, 2008, 1:05am BST
We've not done a Photo Friday for a while, but thought we'd do a Photo Friday Special: This photo was taken at Mary Hare Grammar School, presumably early 1990s. Does anyone know the exact date? Does anyone recognise who's in the photo? ::evil laugh:: Photo credit: BBC Stills Archive... -
BBC Vision Celebrates 100% Subtitling
Posted: May 9th, 2008, 1:04am BST
The BBC says it has now reached a 100% subtitling target in respect of television: BBC Vision has confirmed that it has reached its target of subtitling 100% of programs on its main channels - BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBeebies, CBBC and BBC News. Deaf and hard of hearing people will now be able to fully enjoy the complete range of BBC television programs on these networks. This is good news, and the hard work of campaigners, especially that of the Deaf Broadcasting Council spanning over decades. Historical Context A public commitment for 100% television subtitling output came in 1999, from a road that started in 1979: In 1979, a documentary about ... -
Film: Experience of Tinnitus, from Channel 4's The Shooting Party
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 5:34pm BST
The Shooting Party is a series (Sunday mornings) on Channel 4 which follows nine disabled directors. Two of the participants are deaf: Sam Dore is 30, profoundly deaf and uses BSL. He has worked in television on Channel 4's VEE-TV, and as a writer/director since 1999 with several short films to his name.He has also worked as a presenter and actor. His short film for The Shooting Party is a music video. Zoe Cartwright is an art student and a keen photographer and traveller. She has chosen to make her film - 24.7.52.10 - about her experience of tinnitus. Its always good to see artistic expression. Zoe's film is online, and about tinnitus. Unfortunately there's no subtitles. However, if ... -
The Sickness of Deaf Awareness Week: Imagine A World Without Sound
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 3:39pm BST
Its Deaf Awareness Week, and the RNID has excelled itself at being the most patronising and paternalistic deaf organisation on planet earth. Before I go on, its no secret that I have my reservations about Deaf Awareness Week, but that is the subject of another blog post. However, I would imagine the aim of such a week was supposed to be about deaf people - in whatever form - being accepted and respected in society. To promote equality by changing attitudes. Or did I get that wrong? It seems so. So what does the largest deaf organisation in the UK do? Launch a campaign called Imagine A World Without Sound. Before you read on, go and take a look ... -
Northern Ireland Assembly: The Bamford Review & Deaf People
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 2:43pm BST
The Northern Ireland Assembly recently had a generic debate on health services. Within this debate it made mention of a review of deaf mental health services in Northern Ireland: Michael McGimpsey (UUP) The Bamford Review did not examine needs in respect of the mental health and well-being of people who are blind or partially sighted; however, it did examine those needs with respect to people who are deaf. Ask the Readers: I've not come across The Bamford Review before, but does anyone know if it contains any useful or new recommendations in respect of deaf people's access to mental health services? What about deaf children? Source: They Work For You ... -
Parliament: Health Service Funding & Provision for Deaf People
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 1:28pm BST
Sandra Gidley (Shadow Minister, Health; Romsey, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much funding was provided for support services for deaf people in each region in each of the last five years; (2) what steps he is taking to improve health services for deaf people. Ivan Lewis (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health; Bury South, Labour) Information on funding provided for support services for deaf people is not held centrally. Funding for audiology and support services for deaf people, along with the majority of other services, is provided through the general allocations to national health service trusts and social services departments. It is their responsibility to allocate resources to audiology ... -
Film: Waterfront
Posted: May 8th, 2008, 1:01am BST
Waterfront - a film produced in 2001 - is available on online: Total clip time: 7 minutes 20 seconds For international readers, Old Street is / was in the vicinity of a few deaf organisations. Writer/Director: William Mager, Producer: Rosa Rogers, Camera: Barbara Nicholls, Edit: Schuman Hoque, Music: Ken Easter, Tsunami Sounds, With thanks to: Maverick Television and Channel 4 Cast: Jonathan Reid, Michael Reid, John Maidens, Cathy Woolley, Alexander James Norris, Joe Healy, William Mager See also: Text, Batteries and Earwax and coming soon The Association Film Trailer: The Association... -
Skype BSL Commercial
Posted: May 7th, 2008, 8:52pm BST
Below is a BSL based commercial for Skype, who had commissioned Remark!: You can watch it in full glory here. Fantastic collaboration, and good to see BSL being used as a marketing tool. Deaf people after all do use Skype as a communication tool. Source: Skype: Hello is now “What shall I cook?” Remark! Skype Commercial See also: Sign language in advertising Pepsi Superbowl Advert More ASL Pepsi advertising... -
Video: BSL March 2000
Posted: May 7th, 2008, 1:10am BST
Here's a trip down memory lane, a video by Usher Life of FDP's BSL March 2000: I think this march have around 10,000 people (am I right?) In the footage, spot Jen (the co-author of this blog), being bossy via her co-ordinating duties. There's also footage at the end of Doug Alker, and Clive Mason MC; however the umbrellas sort of get in the way! Does anyone else have any footage of BSL marches, or past demos? Elsewhere: Usher Life Usher Life egroup See also: The 5th anniversary of apathy BSL recognition Photo Friday: Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets suit-types to discuss BSL... -
Jeff McWhinney vlogs
Posted: May 6th, 2008, 6:59pm BST
Connecting Bristol introduced Jeff McWhinney as a guest vlogger, in recognition of Deaf Awarness week. Jeff's first post is introductory and introduces a Festival of Ideas. The first video in the post is in BSL, which is good (more BSL online please): For those of you who don't understand BSL, the original post has English text underneath. Unfortunately the second video is neither subtitled or signed, thus I'm not sure what its about apart from a statement on social enterpreneurs and a link to Innovation Exchange. This begs a wider question, who exactly is Deaf Awareness week for? And what's its aim? Something I want to touch on in another post. Ask the Readers: What ... -
Deafness Matters
Posted: May 3rd, 2008, 9:08pm BST
I was just rooting through Teachers TV for any more programmes around deaf issues. The only ones there, appear to be old, but not programmes we've covered on here before. Here's Deafness Matters: The project was developed by Fran Simmons and Erika Stevenson for young people from the Oxfordshire Deaf Children's Society. You can buy this dvd from here. Whilst such a portrayal from young people should be encouraged, you can't help but noticing the underlying hearing analysis of deaf people. For a start, will someone please tell that instructor to actually look at deaf people when talking, and it also underlines the need for role models. Who is shaping the self esteem of these ... -
Parliament: Access to Work Scheme, Marketing
Posted: May 3rd, 2008, 12:17am BST
John Barrett (Shadow Minister, International Development; Edinburgh West, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department is doing to publicise Access to Work. Stephen Timms (Minister of State (Employment and Welfare Reform), Department for Work and Pensions; East Ham, Labour) The Access to Work national delivery team is currently implementing an internal marketing strategy to ensure that all Jobcentre staff involved with disabled customers are fully briefed on the Access to Work programme. This will cover the aims of the programme, eligibility criteria and the application process. The programme is also being promoted through presentations and exhibitions, and through close working partnerships developed with the major disability groups ... -
Parliament: Public Transport, Concessions
Posted: May 1st, 2008, 10:26pm BST
David Drew (Stroud, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of the nationwide concessionary fare scheme on (a) the level of eligibility set by local authorities and (b) the level of access by disabled people. Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department for Transport; Doncaster Central, Labour) The criteria for eligibility for the statutory minimum concession are set out in statute supported by revised guidance recently issued by the Department. The Transport Act 2000 (or for those resident in London, the Greater London Authority Act 1999) makes provision for concessionary travel to a wide range of disabled people. Categories of disability ...