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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 ... -
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 ... -
Parliament: Police Interrogation: Speech Impaired
Posted: April 30th, 2008, 10:00pm BST
Ann Winterton (Congleton, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are issued on the procedure and protocol which a police officer must follow in (a) questioning and (b) physically taking hold of a person with a speech impediment observed to be under the influence of neither drugs nor alcohol, when the officer cannot understand what the suspect is saying. Tony McNulty (Minister of State (Security, Counter-terrorism, Crime and Policing), Home Office; Harrow East, Labour) holding answer 24 April 2008 The Code of Practice for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers (Code C) issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, provides that if a ... -
Parliament: Access to Work Scheme, Marketing
Posted: April 30th, 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 such as the ... -
Deaf BSL Gorilla
Posted: April 29th, 2008, 5:05pm BST
We may be grumpy, but we still wish there was more stuff on YouTube etc like this bloke's video: More BSL funnies, please! Know of any? Tell us! ... -
Poor little Deaf children
Posted: April 28th, 2008, 8:50pm BST
==== This is why deaf organisations have a lot to answer for... ==== The scene: My kitchen, this evening. Doorbell rings. C (my partner): There's someone at the door. [goes to front door, opens it] Through the glass door, I (Jen) can see three people on the doorstep; one of whom is wearing a weird bib thing (think netball) with "NDCS" on it. I bid a hasty retreat to the back garden to throw breadcrumbs out for the birds. A minute later, C appears and persuades me to go to the door. I go into the hall, to find NDCS Bib Man stroking our dog, who is lying across the doorway, with two very smart looking women ... -
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Children, Schools and Families
Posted: April 24th, 2008, 3:04pm BST
Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by his Department through call centres. Kevin Brennan (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Children, Schools and Families; Cardiff West, Labour) The Department for Children, Schools and Families operates a telephone enquiry service that offers a textphone/minicom service for deaf people. We also accept enquiries by email, fax and letter. DCSF periodically contracts with suppliers to provide telephone helpline services to the public, usually in support of information campaigns; in such instances our contract stipulates that a textphone service should be provided. Source: Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Business, ... -
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Posted: April 24th, 2008, 2:53pm BST
Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by his Department through call centres. Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development; Harrow West, Labour) The Department provides access to its services for deaf people via a minicom number in its Central Enquiry Unit. The Arbitration and Conciliation Service (ACAS) and Companies House, who are Executive Agencies of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, also provide access via minicom numbers. Source: Hansard They Work For You See also: Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Innovation, Universities & Skills ... -
Northern Ireland Assembly: Teacher-Training Provision
Posted: April 23rd, 2008, 11:40pm BST
Pat Ramsey (Social Democratic and Labour Party) 4. asked the Minister of Education to detail the provision for training teachers of deaf pupils. (AQO 3017/08) Caitriona Ruane (Sinn Féin) Tríd is tríd, déanann an oilúint múinteorí thosaigh múinteoirí atá cáilithe go ginearálta. Ach aithníonn an oilúint i riachtanais speisialta oideachais riachtanais speisialta daltaí agus díríonn sí ar straitéisí le riar ar na riachtanais sin. Initial teacher training produces generally qualified teachers. However, training in special educational needs in all courses covers the recognition of pupils’ special needs and focuses on strategies to meet those needs. Some student teachers choose a special-educational-needs-specific option during their training programme, and some spend part of their teaching practice in special schools. During ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Transcript of ‘Debating Deafness And Embryo Selection: Are We Undermining Reproductive Confidence In The Deaf Community?’
Posted: April 23rd, 2008, 1:40pm BST by Alison Bryan
On the 9 April 2008, the Progress Educational Trust and the Wales Gene Park, organised a debate in Cardiff, “Debating Deafness And Embryo Selection: Are We Undermining Reproductive Confidence In The Deaf Community?” This debate was primarily to focus on the merits of Clause 14(4)(9) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. This event was oversubscribed, and had a long waiting list; which gives indicates the topic’s current importance. A full English transcript, can now be found here [PDF]. ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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Parliament: British Coal Compensation
Posted: April 22nd, 2008, 11:06pm BST
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract (Labour) Whether, in the light of the report of the Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales in the cases of Dennis Rimmer and Norman Dickinson, retired miners whose British Coal industrial deafness claims were dealt with by Beresford's Panel Solicitors Scheme, they will request reports from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Complaints Service concerning the other 6,796 claimants whose cases were sold by Beresford's to its panel of 10 firms of solicitors between June 2002 and March 2004. Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Justice; Labour) Reports by the ombudsman on individual cases are confidential to the parties concerned. It would not be appropriate for ... -
Competition: Win Four Deaf Yorkshiremen on dvd! (And you can buy the dvd too ..)
Posted: April 21st, 2008, 12:40pm BST
Remember Four Deaf Yorkshiremen on last year? It was viewed 40,000 times, and also nominated for 'Best UK film' at Deaffest 2007. The team behind the film are trying to raise some money to make a second film to be filmed this summer. To do this, they've produced a special edition dvd, which includes extra features: The original film with subtitles The film without subtitles (so you can watch in PURE BSL!) The original version (extra 3 minutes!!) Deleted scenes (the jokes that got cut) Photo gallery - photos of the filming Trailer for the film DVD menu The DVD also comes with two exclusive photos of the 'Four Deaf Yorkshiremen'. ... -
David Lodge: Deaf Sentence (forthcoming book)
Posted: April 20th, 2008, 4:15am BST
David Lodge was an author I came across in the early 1990s, when I was a student at the University of Birmingham. He was once a lecturer there, and my flatmate who studied English, happened to have one of his books which I took an interest in. Subsequently became one of my favourite authors, especially for his sense of humour and ability to see irony. I met Lodge at the Hay Festival a couple of years ago (where the above picture was taken). This is part of what I wrote afterwards: Lodge is actually hard of hearing, and was conscious of not being able to pick ... -
Sign Language Interpreters at a High Ergonomic Risk
Posted: April 19th, 2008, 11:16am BST
Science Daily reports of research that sign language interpreting comes with a high risk from RSI (or similar), following research from RIT’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering: The research indicates that interpreting causes more physical stress to the extremities than high-risk tasks conducted in industrial settings, including assembly line work. It also found a direct link between an increase in the mental and cognitive stress of the interpreter and an increase in the risk of musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. And goes onto state: “The impact of repetitive stress in industrial and office settings has been well documented, but there ... -
Geeky device to alert you to goings on in your home
Posted: April 18th, 2008, 4:04pm BST
Alert Me is a new UK start up, which has a product right deaf people's street, and looks cool. Its a product based on the back of your wifi signal in your home, and it will alert you via SMS or via a website, the status of various sensors including the doorbell, alarm detector, smoke detector and even door and window sensors. Check this page out. What's more it actually looks totally cool, works with modern technology and its not something that looks as if its dropped out of a social services department storeroom cupboard and has been sitting there since the 1970s. Its excellent that mainstream manufacturers have built something that we can ... -
Behind the Scenes: Deafinitely Theatre's Lipsticks & Lollipops
Posted: April 18th, 2008, 3:41pm BST
Good to see Deafinitely Theatre making use of and embracing Web 2.0 as a platform for promotion, and it ups my estimation in progression stakes. You can also see a full list of tour dates on Upcoming. They also have a Facebook group, which includes some pre-production photographs.... -
Coming soon: Hybrid Implant - Hearing Aid
Posted: April 17th, 2008, 3:54pm BST
It seems a hybrid implant / hearing aid is currently being tested. Part hearing aid part implant, which is aimed at hard of hearing people with some residual hearing but too much hearing to be considered a candidate for a CI. Since the implant threshold is much lower now (I have known people who have identified as HoH with implants); this would encompass a much broader spectrum of people. This hybrid device claims to insert a thin wire, alongside or next to natural nerves: The implant is specifically designed with a thin electrode to occupy less space in the inner ear. It is implanted by special surgical techniques to preserve natural hearing. If you were hard of ... -
More ASL Pepsi advertising
Posted: April 16th, 2008, 11:58am BST
(I'm not sure why this one done by Keith Wann and Justin Callaway didn't seem to get as much attention as the other one? Perhaps they're meant to link together or something. I don't know how USA advertising works?) Anyway - always good to see more ASL out there in the big wide world :o) Jen ... -
Problems with DeafRead
Posted: April 14th, 2008, 11:20pm BST
Earlier Tayler posted something about solutions for DeafRead. I've got my own thoughts on this, but its not quite the subject of this post. I've stopped using DeafRead, because it does not work for me and its having implications on the free flow of content. Since most of our UK readership won't know what it is, DeafRead is a moderated or filtered aggregator. The deal is best stuff (its subjective) goes on the front page. Anything else, including not deaf related content / not of mainstream interest / contains adult content and it gets pushed. Guidelines here. As far as I'm aware, its moderated solely by humans living in North America, yet has some international reach. Am ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Disability Now Coverage
Posted: April 14th, 2008, 1:45pm BST by Alison Bryan
Disability Now wrote a recent Editorial which can be seen here [PDF]. This compliments a recent article by Dr Steve Emery, in the same publication. Details of other media coverage can be found here and here. An updated list will follow shortly. ... -
Transcript: BBC Radio Wales, Good Morning Wales
Posted: April 11th, 2008, 1:02pm BST by Alison Bryan
BBC Radio Wales’ programme Good Morning Wales broadcast a debate on genetics on Wednesday 9th April 2008, at approxtimately 8:40am. Here’s a transcript, with thanks to Claire from TeamHado. Rhun ap Iowerth – Now you might assume that if deaf people have children, they’d hope that their hearing would be normal. However, you might be wrong. There’s an intriguing debate going on at the moment over whether such parents should be able to choose if their child is deaf or not. Bethan Rhys Roberts – well, a clause in the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill going through Parliament at the moment would mean embryos used in IVF treatment would have to be screened out if the ... -
Letter from WFD to the Department of Health
Posted: April 8th, 2008, 8:30pm BST by Alison Bryan
The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) wrote a letter to the Department of Health over their concerns over section 14(4)(9) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (HFEB). A copy of this letter can be found here [PDF]. It is good to get international support, and to get a wider frame of reference to the implications of this proposed legislation. ... -
Department of Health response to 19 March meeting
Posted: April 8th, 2008, 11:58am BST by Alison Bryan
On 19 March representatives met the HFE Bill team at the Department of Health. The summary of this meeting can be found here in English and BSL. The Department of Health has since formally responded to points raised, in English here [PDF] and a BSL translation: [See post to watch Flash video] ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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Hilarious!
Posted: April 4th, 2008, 2:17am BST
Go here. Says it all. Wonder if it was for a catalogue of condoms, to stop you having deaf babies ("RNID does not support the selection of a deaf embryo for IVF implantation where a hearing embryo is available")? And to think they churn ~£50 million smackers per annum, to look after us and again: to promote and encourage the prevention and mitigation of deafness and the better treatment, education, training, employment and welfare of people who are deaf or hard of hearing .... to promote, safeguard and protect the welfare of such people You must be prevented, but at the same time let all those 100k salaries care for your welfare! We pretend to ... -
Parliament: Deaf Communities & Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill
Posted: April 3rd, 2008, 11:41am BST
Janet Anderson (Rossendale & Darwen, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with representatives of deaf communities on provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health) Officials at the Department have had contact with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, the British Deaf Association, Islington Deaf Campaign and the Stop Eugenics group. Communication with these groups is ongoing. Source: Hansard They Work For You... -
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Innovation, Universities & Skills
Posted: April 2nd, 2008, 12:06pm BST
Andy Reed is at it again, with his telephone questions: Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by his Department through call centres. David Lammy (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills) The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has its telephone enquiry service provided as a shared service by the Department for Children Schools and Families. The Department for Children, Schools and Families' telephone inquiry service offers a textphone/minicom service for deaf people. They also accept inquiries by email, fax and letter. On information campaigns—such as provision of Student Finance—our advertising directs people to our ... -
Summary of the Meeting at the Department of Health
Posted: April 1st, 2008, 5:02pm BST
There is a post on Stop Eugenics, of a summary of the meeting at the Department of Health on 19 March 2008, to discuss concerns over clause 14(4)(9). This summary is available in both English and BSL. A direct link to the post can be found here....
Stop Eugenics!
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Summary of meeting at the Department of Health
Posted: April 1st, 2008, 3:36pm BST by Alison Bryan
On the 19 March 2008 representatives of Stop Eugenics, the BDA, the Progress Educational Trust and two individual genetics counsellors met with the HFE Bill Team at the Department of Health. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss our concerns over Clause 14(4)(9) and relevant Explanatory Notes of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (HFEB). A summary of the meeting can be found in English here [PDF] and in British Sign Language: [See post to watch Flash video] The Department of Health will be releasing their response to this meeting in the near future. Stop Eugenics would like to thank all those involved for making this meeting happen. ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Home Office
Posted: March 27th, 2008, 10:48am GMT
Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by her Department through call centres. Liam Byrne (Minister of State, Home Office) The Home Office provides textphone facilities in all of its contact centres. The numbers are: Central Home Office: Textphone 020 7035 4742. Border Immigration Agency: Textphone 0800 389 8289. Identity and Passport Service: Textphone 0870 240 8090. Typetalk is also available through the 24-hour Passport Adviceline 0870 521 0410 Criminal Records Bureau: Textphone 0870 909 0811. Comment: Hello deaf organisations! This is called pissing about and time wasting. There's way too much serious work ... -
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Department of Works & Pensions
Posted: March 27th, 2008, 10:26am GMT
Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by his Department through call centres. Anne McGuire (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions) Deaf people can use the typetalk service or our separate textphone numbers to access all our call centres. Comment: Again, what is the deal with all these parliamentary questions on how to contact various departments by telephone. Does it actually necessitate a parliamentary question for this subject? Any random person can go use Typetalk now to phone up, and really doesn't need this amount of political work! There's plenty of other things deaf organisations could be doing ... -
Channel 4 Balls of Steel: Deaf TV with Miss Lee & Mark Nelson
Posted: March 26th, 2008, 5:34pm GMT
Last Friday Mark Nelson appeared on Channel 4's Balls of Steel: Don't watch it if you're easily offended! A transcript appears in the extended entry of this post, with thanks to Claire from Team HaDo.... -
Parliament: Attitudes within the House of Lords
Posted: March 25th, 2008, 7:33pm GMT
Parliament is a good place to weed out attitudes of our legislators, via the language used. Within a debate on Families, Community Cohesion and Social Action a speech from Baroness Platt of Writtle (Conservative), in the House of Lords stated: Macmillan nurses and Samaritans are wonderful too, as are the organisations specialising in care for the blind, the deaf and the arthritic. As many noble Lords have said, how lucky we are in our country to have the loving work of all those people. Okay! So those who are specialising in the care of the deaf, are wonderful and provide very loving work! For all of you working for deaf organisations, Baroness Platt says thank ... -
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the HM Treasury
Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 1:05am GMT
Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by his Department through call centres. Angela Eagle (Parliamentary Secretary, HM Treasury) HM Treasury does not provide services through call centres. Comment: So HM Treasury doesn't speak to hearing people on the phone! Tax man doesn't use the telephone is a difficult one to believe. What about deaf employees, or aren't there any? Besides, what's with all these call centre questions in parliament? Is the rnid doing some indirect marketing or what?! Source: Hansard They Work For You See also: Parliament: Contacting the Department of Transport Parliament: ... -
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Department of Health
Posted: March 23rd, 2008, 12:59am GMT
Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by his Department through call centres. Ben Bradshaw (Minister of State, Department of Health) The Department has a single public facing call centre. This has a textphone and accepts calls made using Typetalk. Source: Hansard They Work For You See also: Parliament: Contacting the Department of Transport... -
Parliament: Contacting the Department of Transport
Posted: March 22nd, 2008, 6:27pm GMT
Andy Reed (Loughborough, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision is made for deaf people to access services provided by her Department through call centres. Jim Fitzpatrick (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport) The Department for Transport and its agencies are very conscious of the need to provide a high level of service to all customers, including those with hearing disabilities. As a result, all call centres are able to communicate by phone with hearing impaired customers using text-based systems. Comment: this is a bog standard response from the government, and doesn't address the concern behind this question. The government would inevitably have sought advice from the rnid, which (a) is a predominately hearing run ... -
Parliament: Bus Services, Disabled
Posted: March 21st, 2008, 6:15pm GMT
Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008, Official Report, column 2753W, on concessions: mentally ill, what the evidential basis is for determining which groups of disabled people should be entitled to concessionary bus fares. Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department for Transport) The Transport Act 2000 (or for those resident in London, the Greater London Authority Act 1999) set out the eligibility criteria for statutory concessionary bus travel, covering any person who: is blind or partially sighted; is profoundly or severely deaf; is without speech; has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and ... -
Parliament: Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Deparmental Equality
Posted: March 20th, 2008, 10:53am GMT
Roger Berry (Kingswood, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of the duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty. Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) DEFRA was one of the Government Departments that was criticised by the Disability Rights Commission in 2007 for failing to produce an effective Disability Equality Scheme. Rather than trying to improve and strengthen the disability aspects of our Joint Equality Scheme, DEFRA took the opportunity to produce a more focused and effective single ... -
Parliament: Bus Services Concessions (2)
Posted: March 19th, 2008, 6:52pm GMT
Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008, Official Report, column 2753W, on concessions: mentally ill, if she will make it her policy to hold a consultation on broadening the scope of the eligibility criteria for statutory concessionary bus fares. Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department for Transport) The Transport Act 2000 (or for those resident in London, the Greater London Authority Act 1999) make provision for concessionary travel to a wide range of disabled people. Categories of disability were drawn up following representation from local government and support from the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. The people eligible are as ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Transcript: CBC Radio’s As It Happens
Posted: March 18th, 2008, 2:20pm GMT by Jen Dodds
The issue has now reached Canada - CBC Radio interviewed Tomato Lichy for the As It Happens programme, which was broadcast last night. Listen here (for a limited time). Many thanks to Mary Therese Durr for transcribing it below: Title: A deaf couple in England wants a second deaf child but the government won’t hear of it. Introduction: Tomato Lichy and his partner, Paula Garfield, are trying for another baby, but trying for this baby has put them in an unusual fight. Both parents were born with congenital deafness. Their first child deaf is deaf and now they want their second child to be deaf as well. Which is a possibility, thanks to modern genetic testing and ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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The 5th anniversary of apathy BSL recognition
Posted: March 18th, 2008, 9:23am GMT
Yep, five years ago today, the Government announced that it recognised BSL as an official British language. Whoopee-do! A few months later, we had another (pre-planned) march through London to push for a BSL Act. This banner was there: And on the back, it wisely said... Did we? Umm, no. I've said it before and I'll say it again - we British Deaf NEED to get off our arses and do something useful without squabbling or saying "oh, he's doing it, you don't need me." We do need you. More than ever before! And on a final note - one final question - do you think anyone would ever ... -
b3ta: Car logos for the deaf
Posted: March 17th, 2008, 10:01pm GMT
b3ta.com, a time wasting Friday afternoon site, recently published on its boards "Car logos for the deaf" Petrolheads, how many do you recognise? via JK - thanks!... -
Parliament: Bus Services Concessions
Posted: March 17th, 2008, 3:57pm GMT
Deaf people in the UK are generally entitled to a free bus pass. In April, those living in England will be entitled to travel throughout England for free. Recently a question came up in parliament, in relation to mental health but the answer touched on the legal criteria for bus passes (which includes deaf people): Bob Laxton (Derby North, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received on the withdrawal of concessionary bus fares for people with mental health problems as a result of the introduction of the national concessionary bus travel scheme in (a) Derbyshire and (b) other areas; and if she will make a statement. Rosie Winterton ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Deaf People & Genetics: Media Coverage, Part 2
Posted: March 17th, 2008, 2:17pm GMT by Alison Bryan
Following this post, here’s the second summary of coverage on this subject (from the past week): Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live: The Victoria Derbyshire Show, Transcript here, Discussion here and here BBC Radio 4: The Moral Maze, transcript and online discussion BBC World Service: Have Your Say, transcript, discussion, and transcript comment BBC Radio 4: Today, Lord Winston & Professor Jones, transcript Television: BBC Breakfast: Interview with Tomato Lichy and Paula Garfield BBC Breakfast: Interview with Jackie Ballard (link to follow) Scottish Television: The Five Thirty Show, Transcript here BBC News: Catholic pressure on ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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Parliament: Departmental Translation Services
Posted: March 16th, 2008, 4:48pm GMT
Recently there was a parliamentary question on the proportion of translation services contracted out to commercial providers: Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of his Department's translation and interpreting work is outsourced through framework agreements with commercial providers; and if he will make a statement. Anne McGuire (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions) Under the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000) and the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), the Department has a responsibility to make appropriate provision to communicate with customers who do not speak English or Welsh, or who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, or who provide the Department, at our request, legal or official documents ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Transcript: BBC Radio 5 Live’s The Victoria Derbyshire Show
Posted: March 14th, 2008, 7:51pm GMT by Jen Dodds
Broadcast on Wednesday at 9am, this programme featured interviews with Tomato Lichy and Paula Garfield, the RNID’s Jackie Ballard and David Blunkett, then a phone-in discussion, with quite a few phone calls from parents of deaf children and people who know Deaf people. Listen here. Discussions here and here. Big thanks to Claire from Team HaDo for transcribing it below! Victoria Derbyshire – Also this morning an important and for some very worrying debate – should IVF treatment screen out embryos that are likely to develop disabilities? One deaf couple doesn’t think so. They want to try for a child using IVF, but say that a proposed law would force doctors to screen out some embryos ... -
Transcript: Scottish Television’s The Five Thirty Show
Posted: March 14th, 2008, 7:30pm GMT by Jen Dodds
The British Deaf Association’s Richard Jones was interviewed on Scottish Televisions’ The Five Thirty Show on Wednesday. You can watch it here (link valid until Tuesday 18th March). Richard uses BSL but there are no subtitles - many thanks to Rachel Belk for transcribing it below: Male presenter (Stephen): Now, who would choose for their child to be anything less than perfect? Well, a Deaf couple in say they, at least, would like the option. New fertility legislation is set to make it illegal to use embryos with an abnormality like deafness during IVF treatment, but the couple argue that is discrimination. Female presenter (Debi): They believe they have the right to choose to have a ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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Wanted: your videos please!
Posted: March 14th, 2008, 8:24am GMT
Does anyone have any digital videos of any of the BSL marches or roadblocks that they wouldn't mind me using for an art project? If you have any footage - I just need a short clip - that you can send to me on CD, or preferably via email or filesend, I would be very grateful. Comment below or email me at tips@grumpyoldeafies.com. Cheers! Jen...
Stop Eugenics!
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Transcript: BBC Radio 4’s The Moral Maze
Posted: March 13th, 2008, 12:17pm GMT by Jen Dodds
Click here to read BBC Radio 4’s own transcript of yesterday’s broadcast of The Moral Maze, starring Dr Steve Emery. Great to see an internal transcript at last! Discussion here. ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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KFC SAVES "the hearing impaired"!
Posted: March 13th, 2008, 10:58am GMT
Wow. According to this article, KFC have bowed to their "social responsibility" and started to give "hearing impaired" people jobs. So if you too want to be specially trained how to lipread difficult things like "Toasted Twister" and "Zinger Burger", now's your chance! Get yourself down to KFC and they will help you. But, DON'T WORRY. They also employ "normal people" too, just to make sure vegetarians aren't served meat and stuff like that. Phew. - Jen... -
Muslims in a Deaf World
Posted: March 13th, 2008, 12:17am GMT
There's a film on YouTube which focuses on Raza, a Deaf Muslim who asks questions about living as a Deaf Muslim in the UK. My first language is British Sign Language but really I have three languages. First BSL, second English, and third Urdu, my family language. [snip] I feel strongly that being a Muslim has an effect on deaf people, being based on a background which is influenced by different cultures and based on languages which are difficult to access. Another reason being that at the mosque there is no access, beacuse there are no interpreters. This means that it is difficult for deaf people to get knowledge about their faith and identity with their religion. The film also ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Transcript: BBC World Service, Have Your Say
Posted: March 13th, 2008, 12:03am GMT by Alison Bryan
Tonight BBC World Service, Have Your Say’s broadcast touched on the subject of genetics and what this campaign has been about. It featured Dr. Anna Middleton. A full transcript is below, and a massive thank you to Sam Taylor for transcribing this. To the BBC: shame on yourselves, your a multi million £ organisation, where’s the access for the very people you are talking about? If you wish to participate in discussion, you may do so here. World Have Your Say, BBC World Service, 6pm. March 12th 2008 Ros & Shymar are the two presenters; everyone else is a guest. Ros Atkins: Do you see blind and deaf people as a minority in society and no more disabled ... -
BBC Breakfast, Interview with Tomato Lichy and Paula Garfield
Posted: March 12th, 2008, 7:46pm GMT by Alison Bryan
Here’s a BSL/English Interpreted version of this morning’s BBC Breakfast interview with Tomato Lichy and Paula Garfield: Hopefully the earlier interview with Jackie Ballard, CEO of RNID will be available online soon. ... -
Transcript: BBC Radio 4 Today, Lord Winston & Professor Jones
Posted: March 12th, 2008, 7:23pm GMT by Alison Bryan
Yesterday’s BBC Radio 4’s Today featured Lord Winston and Professor David Jones (note link will be inappropriate a week later, broadcast Tuesday 11 March 2008). Both discussed the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, with specific reference to wanting deaf babies. Below is a transcript, with thanks to Neil Corry (shame on the BBC for not providing access, again): John Humphries: As far as you’re concerned Lord Winston, your reaction to what that man said on this programme yesterday, accepting that there will be very few cases where this choice would have to be made. LW: I think there was a misunderstanding there, because I think that no government, and certainly not this one, is intending to enforce screening ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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Horseradish Fire Alarm for Deafies
Posted: March 12th, 2008, 12:11am GMT
Throw away your vibrating fire alarm, a new Horseradish Fire Alarm has been developed for deafies! Yes it sprays a strong smell of horseradish to wake you up in as little as 10 seconds. Medical equipment manufacturers have developed a technology to extract components of the strong odor of horseradish, seal them inside a can and spray them out. Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital cooperated with the makers and carried out experiments to see if the horseradish smell can wake up people from a deep sleep. Fourteen people, including those with hearing disabilities, took part in the experiments. In the experiment, 13 out of the 14 subjects woke up in less than two minutes after the ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Deaf People & Genetics: Media Coverage
Posted: March 11th, 2008, 9:44pm GMT by Alison Bryan
Firstly, for those of you in the UK, tomorrow BBC Breakfast will air an interview with the RNID (7.10am) and also Tomato Lichy plus Paula Garfield (8.10am). Dr. Steve Emery will be appearing on BBC Radio 4, The Moral Maze (8.00-8.45pm). Irrespective of where you are located, you should be able to participate in debate online afterwards and we would actively encourage you to do so. We will try and make available media on this blog. Things have taken a faster pace in the UK, and within the last two days here’s media covering this issue (in response to Clause 14(4)(9), which this campaign is about). Radio: BBC Radio 4: Today BBC Radio 2: ...
Grumpy Old Deafies
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Genetics: BBC Radio Transcript Links & BBC lack of impartiality
Posted: March 11th, 2008, 7:23pm GMT
Transcripts of yesterday's genetics programmes on Radio 2 and Radio 4 is on the Stop Eugenics: BBC Radio 4: Today BBC Radio 2: Jeremy Vine Show These transcripts were provided as goodwill through personal connections, however the BBC has failed badly in this respect. As a public service provider, the BBC should have an obligation to make accessible content, i.e. transcripts, especially if its talking about DEAF PEOPLE. More than a day later, these transcripts have not being available. This is not just a disability discrimination issue, but compromises the BBC's impartiality and introduces bias. If only one part of the population can access the content and the other not (the group that is being attacked), ...
Stop Eugenics!
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Transcript: BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show, Deaf Babies
Posted: March 10th, 2008, 8:08pm GMT by Jen Dodds
BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show aired a programme on as a follow up to BBC Radio 4 Today this morning (see this blog post). You can listen to this programme here, and a full transcript of the programme has kindly been provided by Claire, of Team Hado. Shame on the BBC for not providing immediate access! Transcript begins: Jeremy Vine (JV) - We’ll talk in a moment about deaf campaigners asking for the right to choose deaf children and why they say being deaf is not a disability….. JV - Should deaf parents be allowed to choose to have a deaf child over one that has all its senses intact? This is the controversial debate ... -
Transcript: The Right To be Deaf (BBC Radio Four)
Posted: March 10th, 2008, 12:05pm GMT by Jen Dodds
From today’s BBC Radio 4 Today programme (audio recording may not be available for readers accessing this page later on). Discussion here. [text on web page] The Right to be Deaf A new bill going through Parliament could mean embryos used in IVF treatment would have to be screened out if the child would be born deaf. [interview transcribed by Claire from Team HaDo] John Humphrys (JH) – You would think that if deaf people had children they would hope that their hearing would be normal. You might be wrong. There is an important, and to many people, deeply disturbing, debate at the moment over whether they should be able to choose, effectively whether their ...