Grumpy Old Deafies

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 this issue and for greater availability of signers and interpreters. He and many others here will be pleased to know that later this week my department is inviting organisations to bid for a project testing an approach to improving demand for and use of British Sign Language in a particular area or region. It is important that parents with deaf children are aware of BSL and can make informed choices as to its use with their children. We also need to share the expertise we have in those schools and colleges that use BSL amongst mainstream services.

Comment from GOD:
Whilst this is a practical step for families, and it even makes a government policy statement - it has the language of NDCS written all over it - to counteract all the medical agenda, "It is important that parents with deaf children are aware of BSL and can make informed choices as to its use with their children", it does not go far enough.

This is very much a single department response, and still fails to address the root issues that comes with BSL recognition. BSL recognition cannot be driven by project funding, e.g. more money for interpreters, funding for more websites for BSL. This is not what BSL recognition is about.

Deeper issues needs to be addressed first, and if project funding comes later as a result of addressing these issues, then all good. Continually aiming at short term solutions - whilst good for an organisation's balance sheet - is not in the interests of the greater good.

Ask the Readers:
What do you think? Drop us a line in the comments.

Source:
Department for Children, Schools and Families: Speech by Andrew Adonis : Children with Disabilities and Special Education Needs

See also:
The 5th anniversary of apathy BSL recognition
Photo Friday: Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets suit-types to discuss BSL

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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

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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 deaf children called Quietly In Switzerland became the first BBC programme to carry subtitles using the brand new Ceefax technology ....

Blue Peter was the first live program to carry subtitles in 1986 and subtitling of news programs followed in 1990.

Any gripes?

Of course - this is GOD!

Is this really 100%? What about the announcement saying what programme is on next, and a commentary about context. Yes I'm nitpicking, but 100% is meant to mean just that.

Its a shame that the BBC focuses on two deaf organisations in its press release, and doesn't really give credit where its due. Will these people get invited to a knees up at parliament, I mean the ones that worked for 0p and probably did their campaigning at 2am?

Subtitling probably existed because initially because of National Union of the Deaf (NUD) and later Deaf Broadcasting Council, and those who worked towards achieving this goal. Since I don't think I've been around long enough, who would people nominate as key players for where subtitling is today?

Additionally, this is not a time to be complacent. I've got a lot more to say about subtitling and the BBC, i.e. the dire state of affairs when it comes to non existent subtitles for online services, more on this soon.

What about other channels?

The output targets of other channels under the Communications Act 2003 are:

[T]he analogue services of ITV and Channel 4 must reach 90% by 2010; and Channel Five must reach 80% by 2008 ... All new digital channels must reach a level of 60% five years after their start-up, and 80% after ten years.

Sources:
BBC Vision celebrates 100% subtitling
Hearing Concern: Subtitling Campaign

See also:
BBC & accessible online content
iPlayer: A Deaf Perspective
BBC on YouTube, but where's the subtitles?
BBC iPlayer, Part 2

Posted by alison at 12:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

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 people wanted to watch, it does contain some English text and gets a bit more visual:

From the visual alone, I can see its well made. I was curious about the audio, and I'm told by a hearing friend, the film starts off as this:

"It's ironic that I can't hear anything, yet for the last 10 years... I've been (unclear) this (unclear sound (shreiking noise) (high pitched with cracking) You think I live in silence but I'm tired of this illusion.."

"You think I live in silence but I'm tired of this illusion ..."

And so it goes on. They did not have time to translate all, but the the talking stops when the subtitles start, however, the tinnitus noises carry on. Does any of our hearing readers have time to translate this?

For those of you based in the UK, The Shooting Party is on Channel 4 on Sundays around 8.25am. Check the listings here for any time variations.

Note to Channel 4:
To promote diversity, especially a programme about diversity; you really should be subtitling your content.

Ask the Readers:
Do you know of any other films about the experience of tinnitus?

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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 around the website, and judge for yourself. Warning: the video does not contain any subtitles.
UPDATE 2: Click the T on the video for subtitles (not immediately obvious - thanks anon).

Take a moment to imagine if you couldn’t hear birdsong at dawn or danger signals in the street, enjoy wonderful sounds like a baby giggling or listen to your favourite music.

Okay, get your violins out. Now. Also reach for your box of tissues. Hearies everywhere drop at the feet of deaf people, and all lets have a communal Wallow In Pity Session.

The RNID also sends staff dancing around London in fancy dress, subtitling noise. Their innovation never fails to astound.

That organisation needs to be closed down, and fast. I am fed up to the back teeth of some hearing marketers who basically don't have a bloody clue, portraying me and others to the world. And in the process wasting public money, because there is nothing positive about this.

A clueless hearing person viewing that website might take away the following messages:

- I value my hearing
- I need to feel sorry for deaf people
- deaf people can't do XYZ because we don't have people dressed up in fancy dress costume 24/7 to help them
- deafness is a terrible tragedy
- deaf people need help
- sound is important, everything in life hinges on this. Lets rub that in the face of deaf people, your existentialism (or life) is of lesser importance.

Etc.

And here's me sitting inside on a sunny afternoon, having to spell this out for free to a multi million pound corporation. Whilst hearing people create this spin, and then take home up to £100k salary. That is taking the piss. Veiled as for the benefit of deaf people.

The website also runs a sound competition, in the form of photography.

Capture the sounds you love to hear.

This is not a deaf awareness campaign, this is a hearing awareness campaign. There is nothing "deaf awareness" about this.

I can see how deafened people might latch onto this mentality, but even a deafened friend has said they really do not need this. Deaf and deafened people already exist, as deaf and deafened people. They still need to be respected by those around them, and does this website achieve that? No.

Imagine if an organisation that got funding for black issues ran a campaign: IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT WHITENESS, and let their staff loose in the streets in some art form, with white people painted black.

Think about it; this is not a campaign about the benefit of deaf people in society, it is a campaign about how awful deafness is. And furthermore, it is extremely bad timing in a climate where deaf people have been trying to kick back on negative media attitude and spin. Instead a deaf organisation (which churns over £50 million each year) supposedly "helping" us, is actually giving the media and the government a further excuse to oppress.

The entire campaign does nothing but play on people's fears over something they've possibly not experienced before. The issue with this approach is that it does nothing to counteract attitude within society. It goes on to state:

We want [to] .. carry out vital research into deafness and hearing loss.

And the video states:

Your donation could help develop vital treatments to prevent or restore hearing loss.

In other words, medical research for hearing people to get rid of deaf people. Then they provide a DONATE ONLINE button. Sick.

Ask the Readers:
So what do you think of this campaign. Love it or loathe it? Tell us in the comments.

UPDATE 1:
Gwallgofi: Perfecting the Art of Being Deaf
All the Young Dudes: Celebrating Neurological Devastation Week
SignFire: The World Without Sounds - My Entries

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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

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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 services based on their knowledge of the needs of their local populations and the resources available.

Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning the full range of health services for their local populations including deaf people, and for ensuring that they meet their capacity needs through improving existing NHS services, and where necessary, by procurement of additional independent sector capacity.

Source:
Hansard
They Work For You

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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

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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

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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

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