Grumpy Old Deafies

Its difficult to continue to post about stuff on here, without mentioning the current situation at the BDA. This is probably the most burning issue for everyone in the UK right now, and why its so difficult to focus on anything else.

I'm not the best person placed to comment on all this, since I'm not a current member plus I've not attended events and lived within Deaf community much in the past 3-4 years (compared to what I used to), nor have I directly contributed to anything on an organisational level. I'm in no hurry to go back there either. Thus I'll be the first person to state that it doesn't qualify me to write this. That said, there's no use carrying on pretending nothing is happening.

For international readers, the BDA is the equivilent of NAD in the States, and has been around since 1890, as a result of the Milan Congress in 1880. It goes without saying that the BDA is in a severe crisis right now. The insolvency experts have been called in, and its worrying that the BDA will go bankrupt and be no more. Its in the region of 1/2 million in debt, and as a cost cutting exercise has experienced many redundancies of the late. Staff who are left, face a future not knowing what will happen to their jobs.

Half the problem with this crisis, it is not producing an environment for people to be honest. There's way too much backstabbing and accusations. Perhaps some of this comes down to frustration?

I've been asked several times to say something about the BDA crisis, and apart from not wanting a lot to do with deaf organisation politics, I didn't know enough. I would perhaps only add fuel to a fire and irk someone out there. Not what a crisis situation needs. There's also an element of respect on my part, and leaving people be. However, I wonder by not contributing ideas is harmful in some way?

I know one thing that stops many people from saying something is the culture in the UK, and the interwoven relationships where its better to shut up. Perhaps a necessity of existing within such a community? However, the conversation that takes place in private is no better and hardly constructive.

The smallness of the community in the UK, can be a detriment here. Its difficult for many people to be impartial, or comment without past emotions attached. They have either been employed by the BDA, or know someone who has. Or you've been or are a member of the board. It seems if you live in London, your version of events is different to the rest of the country. There's a whole pot of emotions brewing, and everyone has an emotional view on this matter.

The smallness of the community, and the fact that we are populated by far too many deaf organisations chasing the same money (425 deaf organisations in the UK), means that sometimes you don't trust disclosing information through a fear of giving others a competitive advantage. I've been there. I'm no executive, but I've read an awful lot of blogs in the past 4 years including corporate ones, and sometimes honesty and openness is what gets you ahead.

Due to a long history of existing alongside each other, many people in out community don't like each other. This sometimes inflames the current situation, and does not produce a good environment to come out the other end of this crisis.

In fact its on many levels: people don't say anything, due to fear of their job or perhaps a job in the future. I suspect that Doug and the rest of the board is trying to juggle too many balls right now, and dropping them. I would be, and would not even want the responsibility for little or no reward.

I've also been told that much of the existing problem was inherited from the previous board. Others say that the crisis is down to the current board.

Whatever. The BDA is in a severe crisis and at a time of crisis it is imperative that communication channels are wide open, for a two way conversation. Trust needs to happen, and you cannot build a channel for communication without trust and allowing for the board to reach out. Its extremely easy to backstab, and on the same coin easy to huddle together, and attempt to keep things contained. Exposing vulnerabilities is not an easy thing to do.

However, the keeping things to oneself is not working. Confidentiality is a massive issue (a problem not confined to the BDA, but to the Deaf community as a whole), and communication is being leaked. Some of this communication should not be leaked, e.g. potential redundancies. Everyone tries to be a manager here, and does not leave things be.

However, also with a lack of communication comes rumours, and rumours that are potentially damaging. Whilst the BoT is responding to these, there is mistrust as with any PR speak, that its spin. This concept is not unique to the BDA, but all organisations.

I've said this before, and I will say it again: the BDA badly needs a vlog, to communicate with its members and the wider community. Do not keep this closed shop. It will cost nothing, you have your server, get your tech admin to install a open source platform, and just sign to a webcam if need be. As a BSL organisaton this is preferable, however in a time of crisis English would be better than nothing. Its fine to strive for idealistic principles, but sometimes it stops you from doing anything. Any communication is much better than nothing. Ditch the corporate speak: blogs are not a method of corporate speak and to treat it as a slightly modified form of PR is totally not getting it. Blogging is about a conversation, warts and all. Don't leave it for the entire board to agree on content (otherwise information will be months out of date). Trust needs to happen here, and tell it how it is but bottom line is through communicating via honesty and integrity you are showing you are trying to do the best for the BDA. That way you win trust, and perhaps more people will actually begin to care enough to help the BDA out of its current mess.

What do you think?