Entries from Grumpy Old Deafies tagged with 'deaf'
Disability Scroungers
Today the BBC has as its top news item, GPs should 'not sign off long-term sick'. This is yet another in a long running line up of the BBC (and the rest of the media) attacking certain adults. Which is...
Milan 1880: ICED 2010 Regrets Milan 1880
Currently the International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED) is taking place in Vancouver. The conference website can be found here. A statement was put forward to the congress, on Milan 1880. This is the draft text via Senan...
Uganda: Death Sentence and Deaf People
Uganda's Anti Homesexuality Bill [PDF] is disturbing, across the board. Certain groups are take a harder hit, including the Deaf community. If you think LGBTQ issues have nothing to do with you, because "I'm straight" you're wrong. You do not...
Dr. Ádám Kósa: MEP's Fighting the Underdogs
Deafies are now the underdogs! A programme that features Dr. Ádám Kósa, relevant bit starts at 15:10. Some interesting comments by Brussels, that they now need to think of 24 languages instead of 23. Hopefully Ádám's presence will start to...
Norwegian Commercial: Deaf Metal
Norwegian commercial with English subtitles: If you've ever worked or been involved with a deaf organisation or group, you'll know the old typo error: Dead Society, Institute of the Dead, Society of the Dead. A quick search, gives me death...
Dr. Ádám Kósa addresses the EU Parliament
This morning at 09:39:44 (GMT +2) was a historic moment, Dr. Ádám Kósa addressed the EU Parliament in sign language. Here's some footage, which I uploaded to Vimeo to make viewing easier (2 minutes and 37 seconds): You have to...
Helene Jarmer: Sign Language in the Parliament of Austria
Here's a video of Helene Jarmer using sign language in the Republik Österreich Parament (Parliament of Austria): Cool! Now where's sign language being used in the national parliament of your country? Elsewhere: Das österreichische Parlament See also: Helene Jarmer, Deaf...
Trafalgar Square Plinth for Occupation: Get BSL Up There
One of the plinths in Trafalgar Square is basically up for occupation in the name of art. In other words, someone stands on the plinth for one hour as a 'living statute'. The project describes itself as: This summer, sculptor...
Deaf Families Featured in a Government Parenting Campaign
Two videos has been produced by and for Deaf parents in the UK as part of Everyday Adventures in Parenting; with the support of the Parent Know How programme from the Department for Children, School and Families. My Favourite Day:...
At Glastonbury: a dig at RNID Don't Lose the Music
Last weekend was Glastonbury, which means photos start popping up on Facebook. At the festival there was a DeafZone Tent, and this is one of the many photos snapped: I have to admit I totally howled out laughing; a nice...
Waiting For The World To Change
Some of you will have seen this before and it has a USA slant, but gets a point across: D-PAN's Waiting for the World to Change. Elsewhere: D-PAN: Deaf Performing Artists Network...
Quote from Elie Wiesel
Last night I came across this quote, by Elie Wiesel. I put it on my Facebook page, but thought I'd share it here, as its very relevant: "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the...
EHRC Human Rights Inquiry 2009: Launch Inaccessible
Today the EHRC launched the Human Rights Inquiry 2009. Last Friday I got an e mail from the EHRC telling me there would be a webcast this morning: The event will be broadcast live over the Internet giving you the...
Helene Jarmer, Deaf Person to Sit in the Parliament of Austria
Helene Jarmer is to take a seat in the Parliament of Austria or as is properly known, the Republik Österreich Parament. She will take a seat for Die Grünen, in English, The Greens – The Green Alternative. Helene is taking...
Helga Stevens, re-elected to the Flemish Parliament
Deaf lawyer, Helga Stevens has been re-elected to the Vlaams Parlement or Flemish Parliament, as a candidate for N-VA. She represents the East Flanders constituency; amassing 12.71% of the vote. You can see the result here. Helga was first elected...
Sign Circle on Spanish Television
The 3rd Sign Circle Camping Festival was recently held in Lancashire. The festival was covered by Spanish television, TVE, En lengua de signos. Reporting is by Javier Guisado. The item starts at 16:32, if you can make out international sign...
Dr. Adam Kosa: First Deaf Member of the European Parliament (MEP)
Deaf lawyer, Dr. Ádám Kósa has won a seat at the European Parliament! Here's the result (its in Hungarian). He represents FIDESZ (here's the Wikipedia page in English on FIDESZ (Hungarian Civic Union)). All I am capable of saying: bloody...
BSL Programme: Under the Lamp with Carolyn Nabarro
BSLBT is now screening a series, Under the Lamp with Carolyn Nabarro. This is a BSL chat style programme, and the guests for the first episode are Stephen Dering, Issy Schisselman and Oliver Westbury. It was produced by Remark! If...
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Irish Deaf Schools
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, in Ireland was established in 2000, which includes abuse in deaf schools. The Commission's Report [PDF], [HTML], along with an Executive Summary [PDF], [HTML], has been released. The Executive Summary mentions deaf schools....
European Parliament Elections: Dr. Adam Kosa
The 2009 European Parliament Elections takes place in June. Deaf lawyer, Dr. Ádám Kósa from Hungary will be standing at the forthcoming elections, as a candidate for FIDESZ. Wikipedia has information in English on FIDESZ (Hungarian Civic Union). Adam's official...
Dooce Overhears An Angry Deaf Person via a Relay Operator
Heather Armstrong aka dooce.com is carrying a post where she describes a relay operator conveying a deaf person being angry at the lack of captions. It was a hate phone call. An emotional hate phone call. A hate phone call...
As Seen on Twitter #4
Source: Twitter @ jpenny2525 Elsewhere: CODA International Deaf Parenting UK Children of Deaf Parents UK Deafness About: SODA (Sibling of a Deaf Adult)...
Film: Voices from El-Sayed at Bristol
Voices from El-Sayed (Israel) is being shown at the Watershed, Bristol on Saturday 9 May 2009 (1500). You can see the trailer here: The presentation is described as: The Bedouin Village of El-Sayed has the largest percentage of Deaf people...
It Really Takes All Sorts
A quote from Christina Aguilera: I’m not really religious but very spiritual. I give money to this company that manufactures hearing aids on a regular basis. More people should really hear me sing. I have a gift from God. Ironically...
As Seen on Twitter #3
For Brits, its a relay service in the States. Source: Twitter @maryhoover See also: GOD's Twitter category...
Wicked Episode 1 Online
In case you missed it, the first episode of BSBLT's Wicked is now online. You can find it here (27 minutes 6 seconds). Wicked is described as: Wicked is a brand-new TV series presented in British Sign Language (BSL),...
Parliament: Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, Clause 237
This post is about amendment 78 of clause 237 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill 2008-09. It concerns the acoustic quality in schools. In other words, school buildings are failing to comply and as a result an amendment...
Parliament: Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill, Clause 210
This debate concerns an amendment to Clause 210 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill 2008-09, around the requirement to for school inspectors to have "training and expertise in special educational needs [SEN]". The debate below happened at the...
Part 2: UK and UN CRPD - Article 33 Implementation & Monitoring
In a previous post, we said that we'd go through relevant articles in UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UK will be implementing this Convention in Spring 2009. In this post we will focus on Article...
Hail Body Perfection!
The Daily Telegraph is carrying an article on Hairs grown from stem cells could restore hearing to the deaf. Researchers at the University of Sheffield have created the complex hair cells and the neurons needed for hearing from human stem...
Deaf People at a Higher Risk of Heart Disease & Stroke
There's a video report on the BBC website, which explains that doctors have found that deaf people are at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. (BSL/English Interpreted only - no subtitles, sorry. Go and complain to the BBC)....
Parliament: Deaf Parents Access to their Children's Education
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what support is available from his Department to deaf parents and their families; (2) what support is available...
As Seen on Twitter #2
She has a point! Source: Twitter: Sangreverde See also: Our Twitter category...
Report on World Audiolgocial Devices Market
There is a 366 page report available on the World Audiological Devices Market. In other words, how much money there is to be made from flogging CIs and hearing aids in aid of making us normal. Sorry, an investment opportunity...
Part 1: UK and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
In the Spring 2009 the UK will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is an important Convention, and even has specific parts relating to sign language. The potential implications are huge and it is...
Parliament: Number of Children who have Become Deaf
Sandra Gidley (Romsey, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children of each age under 17 years old have become deaf in each of the last 10 years. Phil Hope (Minister of State (Care Services;...
Parliament: Bilateral Cochlear Implants
John Heppell (Nottingham East, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future provision of simultaneous bilateral cochlear implant to those who require it. Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of...
Parliament: Implementation of NICE Cochlear Implant Guidelines
John Heppell (Nottingham East, Labour) Last week, I attended a celebration of the Ear Foundation, which is a charity that was set up to fund the first cochlear implant procedure in the city of Nottingham. Now that the National Institute...
Deaf Brain: Auditory Regions Convert to a Sense of Touch
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers did some research on ferrets. They discovered that deaf ferrets re-routed the sense of touch into parts of the brain usually intended for hearing. This study is published in the Early Edition of...
Sabina Iqbal featured in The Times: Most Powerful Muslim Women in Britain
Photo credit: Jude Edginton, The Times The Times has a feature on the Meet the 13 Most Powerful Muslim Women in Britain. The article features Sabina Iqbal, chair and founder of Deaf Parenting UK: Sabina Iqbal, 33, chair/founder Deaf...
The Rebuttal: Deaf, British and Sex
The Rebuttal (an Australian blog) pens some thoughts on deaf people and sex, and for extra measure mentions the reserve because they are British. That lethal mix lends it to being quite funny. Here's a snippet: If you are deaf...
Parliament: Deaf Access to Connexions
Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham & Morden, Labour) Nikita is 17 years old and profoundly deaf. She moved to my constituency in September with her Gurkha family. Despite having been allocated a Connexions adviser and a social worker, and having had assessments...
You Neutral?
And you still claim you're not political, or not bothered?...
Parliament: Protection of Vulnerable Adults, Including Deaf
Tom Levitt (High Peak, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to enforce a multi-agency approach to safeguarding vulnerable adults, with particular reference to those who are both deaf and blind. Phil...
Parliament: Disabled Witnesses
Tom Levitt (High Peak, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to ensure that witness statements from disabled adults who communicate using non-formal methods can be accepted in courts. Maria Eagle (Parliamentary...
Deaf Organisations Being Run By Hearing People & Competition With Deaf Businesses
A week ago we blogged the first half of an e mail we'd received raising some concerns. Here's the second half: Talking to some friends the other day, it is clear that there are many hearing people out there working...
Hear and Now - More4, Tuesday
More4 will broadcast HBO's Hear and Now (USA) on Tuesday 10 March 2009 from 10pm - 12 midnight. You should be able to catch it on More4 +1 from 11pm - 12 midnight (again on Tuesday). Here's a trailer...
Depressant Drug For The Annoyingly Cheerful
This isn't strictly a deaf related post, but it has an underlying point. One around what society classes as "normal", and how it strives to perhaps push towards medicalisation of those people who fall outside that category. To pull them...
RNID and Medical Research
Yesterday we received an e mail, around deaf organisatons. The e mail raised two main issues, so we'll split this up into two blog posts. Instead of me rephrasing (which no-one needs), with permission I've copied (part) of the e...
Channel 4: Language of Love
Channel 4'sdocumentary The Seven Ages of Love, describes itself as: Zara Hayes combines documentary and poetry to paint a funny and moving portrait of what love means to seven very different couples. One of the clips features a deaf couple,...
As Seen on Twitter #1
Taxi just took me past a sign that said "Merseyside centre for deaf p op es" lolz at lost letters. Source: babygeek310 Seen something amusing, outrageous, or else on Twitter that might be of interest? Drop us a comment....
Private Eye Cartoon
Private Eye, 12-25 December 2008 (Page 9) carried a cartoon featuring an in-vision interpreter on his cigarette break: Elsewhere: Communications Act 2003 and s.303 Ofcom: Signing on television is changing Ofcom: Statement - Television Channels Required to Provide Television Access...
Four Deaf Yorkshiremen and the Missing Wife
Last weekend was Deaffest at Wolverhampton. Premiered at the event was Charlie Swinbourne's Four Deaf Yorkshiremen and the Missing Wife: The four grumpy old men (no relation to us!) are arguing over the women they've loved and lost. Written and...
New British Deaf film coming soon!
Hooray, another BSL film in the pipeline... click here to see photos from the filming. Know of any more British Deaf films being made? Please tell us - we like to know these things! Further info: The first Four...
New BDA CEO makes an appearance
As seen on Sign-tube (if you can't get the below video to work, click here), the new BDA Chief Exec took to the stage at the BDA's recent conference in Cardiff... ... it seems he has been learning BSL. As...
Charlie Swinbourne: Waiting for baby
Charlie Swinbourne has penned an article for BBC Ouch around his forthcoming fatherhood. When we passed the magic three-month mark, we decided to tell everyone the news. It was then that I noticed something interesting. As happy as my hearing...
Monkhouse Deaf Support Centre Closes
GOD was quoted in The News Guardian last week, around the closure of Monkhouse Deaf Support Centre, Tyneside. The decline is down to: More and more parents of deaf children are choosing normal schools causing a drop in the number...
Parliament: Disability Discrimination (General Qualifications Bodies) (Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
Maria Miller (Shadow Minister, Children, Schools and Families; Basingstoke, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons the Disability Discrimination (General Qualifications Bodies) (Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2008...
Parliament: Deaf Literacy
Michael Gove (Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Children, Schools and Families; Surrey Heath, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what arrangements are in place to ensure that the...
Parliament: Regulation of Hearing Aid Dispensing
It appears that the Hearing Aid Council is being abolished next year, and its work merged with the Health Professions Council. The Hearing Aid Council describes itself as: We are the Government body that regulates the private hearing aid market....
Parliament: Deaf Education, No Official Statistics
Deaf children's education or rather the standards, has been a subject that has been buried under the carpet by consecutive governments. Its a subject that plays like a broken record, and the same mistakes made decade after decade, with...
New BDA CEO = NEW BDA blog?
Great to see a letter from the new BDA CEO here. Seems quite an interesting bloke, so I guess all we can do now is cross our fingers and hope for the best for the BDA.. We've been doing that...
Parliament: BSL in Prisons
Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many British Sign Language users worked in each prison at the latest date for which figures are available. Maria Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of...
Parliament: Deaf Children & Listening in Examinations
David Laws (Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Children, Schools and Families; Yeovil, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues on assessing the ability of...
Parliament: Lipreading Funding
Bob Spink (Castle Point, UKIP) I know that the Leader of the House cares about the 9 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing, for whom lip-reading is an absolutely essential life skill. Could we...
Parliament: Deaf & Hard of Hearing Pilots
Lord Hanningfield (Shadow Minister, Transport; Conservative) asked Her Majesty's Government: What representations they have received from gliding clubs and individuals regarding the proposed requirement that all aircraft carry Mode-S transponders and radio equipment; and whether they have received any representations...
New BDA CEO: Simon Wilkinson-Blake
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 Cultural Development Officer (CDO) for Scotland is Mark MacQueen, with Sue Barry as the NI...
Queen's Birthday Honours 2008
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...
Royal National Institute of Hearing: Imagine a World Without Money
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...
BSL Recognition: Tender Specification from the Department of Children, Schools & Families
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...
Parliament: Deaf People & Employment Schemes
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...
Petition Against 14(4)(9) Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
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...
Deaf Awareness Week: Elizabeth Foundation tops RNID
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...
Parliament: Assistance for Deaf People into Employment
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...
Parliament: Subtitling & Sign Language on Television
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,...
The Guardian: The Sign Language Teacher; the Personal Experience of John Smith
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...
First Sucessful Claim of Disability Discrimination against a Recruitment Agency
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...
Parliament: Cochlear Implants & National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence
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....
Post about iPlayer on Noesis
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
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...
HandTalk: A glove that (supposedly) translates sign language
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...
BSL Recognition: Tender to Improve Access & Demand for BSL
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...
Photo Friday: Mary Hare Grammar School
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...
Film: Experience of Tinnitus, from Channel 4's The Shooting Party
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,...
The Sickness of Deaf Awareness Week: Imagine A World Without Sound
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...
Northern Ireland Assembly: The Bamford Review & Deaf People
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...
Parliament: Health Service Funding & Provision for Deaf People
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...
Film: Waterfront
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...
Skype BSL Commercial
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...
Video: BSL March 2000
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...
Parliament: Access to Work Scheme, Marketing
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...
Parliament: Police Interrogation: Speech Impaired
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...
Poor little Deaf children
==== 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...
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Children, Schools and Families
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...
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
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...
Northern Ireland Assembly: Teacher-Training Provision
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...
Parliament: British Coal Compensation
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...
Competition: Win Four Deaf Yorkshiremen on dvd! (And you can buy the dvd too ..)
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...
David Lodge: Deaf Sentence (forthcoming book)
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...
Geeky device to alert you to goings on in your home
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...
Behind the Scenes: Deafinitely Theatre's Lipsticks & Lollipops
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...
Coming soon: Hybrid Implant - Hearing Aid
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...
Problems with DeafRead
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...
Northern Ireland Assembly: Further Education Provision for Young People with Disabilities
A debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly centred around the following motion: That this Assembly expresses concern at the lack of further education courses specifically targeted at young people with learning and physical disabilities; recognises the lack of provision for...
Parliament: Deaf Communities & Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill
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),...
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Dept of Innovation, Universities & Skills
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...
Summary of the Meeting at the Department of Health
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...
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Home Office
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...
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Department of Works & Pensions
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)...
Parliament: Attitudes within the House of Lords
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:...
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the HM Treasury
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...
Parliament: Deaf Telephone Access to the Department of Health
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...
Parliament: Contacting the Department of Transport
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...
Parliament: Bus Services, Disabled
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...
Parliament: Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Deparmental Equality
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...
Parliament: Bus Services Concessions (2)
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...
The 5th anniversary of apathy BSL recognition
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...
b3ta: Car logos for the deaf
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
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...
Parliament: Departmental Translation Services
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...
Muslims in a Deaf World
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...
Horseradish Fire Alarm for Deafies
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...
My fave Signtube video so far...
Deaf power! Haven't set up an account yet, but will do when I get a chance... would be good to see more people using it! (In the meantime, it was really easy to embed the above public video -...
The Deaf version of Youtube...
... it had to happen! Click here to see it for yourself! I think it's Deaf-created, though I could be wrong. Do you know? And what do you think? That's what the comment box is for! ::grin:: And yes, I...
Parliament: House of Commons Commission about Deaf Access
Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury & Atcham, Conservative) To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what services are provided within the parliamentary estate for hon. Members to facilitate meetings with constituents who are deaf; and...
Parliament: Deaf and the Digital Switchover
Alistair Carmichael (Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Affairs; Orkney & Shetland, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether there are plans to set up an email helpline for Digital...
Parliament: Deaf Access to Telecommunications
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will review the definition of relay services for the deaf in the Government's 2003 Universal Service Order to include newer technologies...
Parliament: Funding for the Royal School for the Deaf & Communication Disorders
Lord Morris of Manchester (Labour) asked Her Majesty's Government: What powers the Department for Children, Schools and Families has, or could seek, to assist the Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders in trying to deal with budget deficit...
Kind of messy
I know, I know; Alison and I haven't managed to blog as much as we'd like to recently, but of course the world doesn't stop spinning, so all the bloggable things have piled up... and so, this post will be...
Photo Friday: Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets suit-types to discuss BSL
Back Row: Tim Loughton MP, (someone from the press), Francis Murphy, Gordon Brown, Jonathan Isaac, Jeff McWhinney, Andrew Adonis. Front row: Rosie Cooper MP, Malcolm Bruce MP, Susan Daniels, Tom Levitt MP Coming ASAP: More about what happened at...
Parliament: Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill
This concerns a debate on the Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill. Relevant bits highlighting deaf issues is included below. You can read the full debate by following the links at the bottom of this post. Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead East &...
Parliament: Educational Breakdown of Special Educational Needs
Michael Gove (Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Children, Schools and Families; Surrey Heath, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many pupils with statements of special educational need are...
Parliament: Number of Deaf Schools and Places
Michael Gove (Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Children, Schools and Families; Surrey Heath, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) maintained and (b) independent schools for deaf and...
Pepsi Superbowl Advert
The USA's Pepsi Superbowl advert based around a Deaf joke can be found on YouTube: And behind the scenes: Congratulations to those involved, more please. We're jealous this side of the pond, although its not the first international mainstream Deaf...
Almost too insulting for words
Forgive me for losing my sense of humour, but I was definitely NOT amused this morning when I read Deafweekly's report on a "sign language lady randomly waving her arms around during a British children's TV programme." You can read...
North Tyneside Council are delighted at closure of deaf support centre
North Tyneside Council seem to be happy at the closure of a deaf support centre: Councillors have expressed their delight at closing a deaf support centre – as it means all the youngsters on the books have been integrated into...
Cathy Heffernan, Being deaf has one big advantage when you're travelling abroad - it breaks down all the barriers
Cathy Heffernan currently has a piece in The Guardian, Being deaf has one big advantage when you're travelling abroad - it breaks down all the barriers. In places where politically correct language and attitudes haven't arrived, people are free to...
Mixed bag
As the title suggests, this blog post is a bit of a mixed bag, mostly because I haven’t blogged here for a while and things tend to pile up. So, here we go… Firstly, what is this about captioned radio...
stop eugenics II - who decides?
...
Parliament: Audiology
There was a debate in the House of Lords on audiology: [W]hat progress has been made in implementing the National Audiology Action Plan contained within the Department of Health report, Improving Access to Audiology Services in England; how they intend...
Parliament: Nationwide SMS number for 999
Simon Burns (Whip, Whips; West Chelmsford, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will introduce a nationwide scheme to enable deaf people to send text messages to the emergency telephone number 999. Tony McNulty...
Parliament: Emergency SMS Trial, 2008
The ability to use SMS to contact emergency services in the UK is thin on the ground, and depends on area provision. If you travel to another area, you might need to source another number or perhaps you cannot register...
Deaf Amination: Trip to Yatkumchatka (with subtitles)
Deaf animator James Merry has made one of his animations available with subtitles: Enjoy!...
Exposure to smoking can make you deaf
Earlier this week BBCi carried an article Smoking link to hearing problems. A fetus whose mother smoked during pregnancy or teenagers who smoke are at risk from experiencing "auditory attention deficits". To quote the New Scientist: Nicotine may cause the...
Not enough light for deaf people from 2011?
There's currently an article on BBCi around low energy light bulbs and skin reactions. What caught my eye was this: The government is planning to prevent the sale of conventional bulbs by 2011 to cut carbon dioxide emissions. Okay, so...
Memorial Service for the late Arthur F. Dimmock, MBE, D.Arts
The Memorial Service for the late Arthur F. Dimmock will be held on 29 February 2008, in Redhill, Surrey. Full details are on Upcoming, including how to confirm your attendance (for catering). A collection will be made and will be...
Parliament: Signing Assistance in Schools & Educational Achievement of Deaf Children
On the 18 December (I've not had time to blog!) a question was tabled in parliament over deaf education: Mark Harper (Forest of Dean, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what guidance is...
2008 New Years Honours
The 2008 New Year's Honours List has been published. The relevant Orders of the British Empire in relation to Services with Deaf People are: Order of the British Empire Members of the Order of the British Empire Mrs Dorothy Ann...
Who's Playing God?
Also to be found on Stop Eugenics....
BBC This is My Family - Wanting a Deaf Baby (subtitled)
In September 2004 the BBC aired a programme called This is My Family: Wanting a Deaf Baby, which featured a Deaf couple Paul and Claire Dowdican, and discussed their thoughts on a desire to have a Deaf child. Here is...
EFEB: BDA Letter to Members of the House of Lords in BSL
The draft BDA letter has now been translated into BSL: The letter in English can be found here [PDF] (AMENDED: 4 Dec 2007. after BSL translation). Please note this letter has gone to relevant people sitting in the House of...
Guest: Clark Denmark - Stop!
Clark Denmark has agreed to guest vlog on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, and thoughts around eugenics: Thanks Clark. Deaf people particularly in the UK need to see this, please pass this on. More BSL content to follow. If...
Can hearing directors make deaf films?
The Guardian Film blog carries a post by Cathy Hefferman asking Can hearing directors make deaf films? This post follows Deaffest last weekend....
Government response on BSL & the UN Convention of Human Rights for Disabilities
A petition was created by John Walker on ratifying British Sign Language under the UN Convention of Human Rights for People with Disabilities: On 30th March 2007, UK signed the Covention of Human Rights for People with Disabilities. This convention...
HFEB: other places discussing Deaf Eugenics
Here's some other vlogs, blogs and forums on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, aka that Deaf Eugenics clause: Vlogs: Joey Baer's ASL Vlog (vlog by DE): WIPE THE DEAF COMMUNITY OUT?! What should we do? UPDATE: Philippa Signs Off:...
HFEB: BDA draft letter to Professor Marcus Pembrey
The BDA has acted as a respondent agent on behalf of the Deaf community, and a draft letter [PDF] (AMENDED: 4 Dec 2007) has gone to Professor Marcus Pembrey (Professor of Paediatric Genetics), who is acting as an advisor...
HFEB: Explanatory clause on deaf selection
Much to report on the subject of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that is going through parliament. Things have been moving fast in the background, and we are having to try and digest complex law in a short space...
Arthur F. Dimmock
With great sadness, Arthur F. Dimmock MBE passed away yesterday morning, he was 89 years old. He was a true Deaf giant, who authored and co-authored a number of publications including Muted Passion, Tommy: A Biography of Distinguished Deaf Royal...
A question
Can anyone out there explain to me in clear, simple terms why deaf people need charity? Why exactly? This is not a joke question; I truly do want to know. The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary describes charity as: A system...
Deaf Scientist in the UK involved in Nobel Prize Peace Award
Dr Andrew Manning, a Deaf scientist from New Zealand, currently working in the University of East Anglia was involved with the Nobel Peace Prize. In his work, he makes measurements of both carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) in the...
Deaf babies linked to a higher risk of cot death
This week's Sunday Times carried an article, 'Cot death linked to babies who have suffered hearing damage'. It suggests that cells in the inner ear carry out a second function (as well as hearing), to give the brain a early...
Chloe Alexander, hearing sibling perspective on WFD
Chloe Alexander, on Nouse, a York University publication has a post about her recent attendance at WFD in Madrid. This is written from a hearing perspective, as a Sibling of a Deaf Adult (SODA). As Fintan said to me directly,...
Another Danish sign language march, in Aarhus
Following Jen's post about the march in Copenhagen earlier to recognise their sign language, another Danish march took place in Aarhus. Here's some footage: Part 1: Part 2: Via Isabelle's Sign Language Blog. If we ever marched in the UK...
Interview: Dr Paddy Ladd
Recently we promised an interview with Dr Paddy Ladd. Hooray, here it is now: UPDATE: Can't see the video in Internet Explorer? Download Firefox here and try that instead! We are hoping to do more interviews in future. Please subscribe...
Coming Out, Charlie Swinbourne
The short film 'Coming Out' - written by Charlie Swinbourne, directed by Louis Neethling (who directed 'Switch'), has been added to YouTube. It stars David Hay, Debbie Norman and Ilan Dwek. The premiere of this film was at last January's...
Lack of Parliamentary Democracy for Deaf People?
Parliamentary democracy is supposed to be one of the building blocks of our society. Parliament usually is an elected body, in place to represent its citizens. Deaf people as citizens should have as much democratic right to be represented, as...
Deaf: a choice before incarnation?
A totally different post from me this evening. Was pottering around online, stumbling on this blog and entry (via Steve Pavlina). A reader asks this initial question: Question: You mention in your blog entry, Picking Our Parents and Life Circumstances,...
Strategy & delivery of mental health services: in who's interest?
Here is a BBCi report on mental health services in Scotland, more to the point the rnid is calling for better services. Now I don't dispute for one minute that access to mental health services needs to be improved. However,...
The RNId's new digital hearing aid...
... not. I don't think even the RNId can afford this hearing aid. For a start, it's made from solid 24-carat gold and is studded with 220 diamonds. It has a remote control. It is expected to sell for...
Photo Friday: FYD / BTCV Conservation Weekend
At Cardiff, 1993. Can you recognise anyone in the photo? And do you have any old photos for us?...
More Reviews of Playing God, Deafinitely Theatre
Deafinitely Theatre's 'Playing God' (a play about cochlear implants) is still getting reviews in the mainstream press. BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 last Friday covered this issue. For those people who are hearing its the 0830 - 0900 slot,...
Deaf Graffiti
Found the below on Flickr, which always makes me wonder if a Deaf person created this, and who they are. Source taken by justanuptowngirl. See also this picture taken of the word "Deaf" in Winnipeg. Does anyone else know of...
Photo Friday: Skye, the cast and crew from the film
Photo Credit: Zoe Fudge Courtyard Bar, Ashbourne Road, Derby, Summer 2002. So how many people can you name?...
Welcome 2 My Deaf World, an Australian film
Teachers.tv is carrying a film Welcome 2 My Deaf World, which follows Australian Deaf school leavers. Joe kindly copied the video at blip.tv, for ease of watching. Click To Play A full screen version can be seen over at the...
BBC Access 2.0: Interview with Charlie Swinbourne
BBC's Access 2.0 blog is carrying an interesting interview with Charlie Swinbourne, who works at See Hear. Its always good to get to know a person behind a name. Charlie has some interesting comments on the net: Q: If the...
Photo Friday: BSL March 2003
Photo credit, with thanks to: James Kearney. Can you name everyone in this picture?...
Vlog on that new Chair appointment
If you haven't seen LEAKED - unofficial PR from RNId Chair vlog already, I would suggest you go and watch it. Humour never fails to get a point across. No prizes for guessing what Gerald Corbett's sign name would be...
Photo Friday: 007 Ball, 2002
Go on, who can name everyone? Got any photos - recent ones will do. Send them in....
Parliament: Hearing Loops (Shops)
There was a debate in parliament yesterday, on hearing loops in shops. Whilst I get people want and the need to address problems around loops, the point of this, etc. I can't help skimming through this 'debate' and reading it...
Parliament: Industrial Health and Safety
A second parliamentary question on Access to Work implies a political game is being played here and all is not well as far as Access to Work goes. Do Ministers actually get it this message - we are not happy...
Photo Friday: BSL March 1999
Who can recognise who, for the benefit of international readers. Do you have any photos? We'd like to publish these here....
Parliament: National Concession
Parliament is currently debating a National Concession for travel, meaning that concessionary will be available outside London. If for example you are Deaf and live in London, you will be eligible for a Freedom Pass allowing you free access to...
Parliament: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been debated in the House of Lords. Lord Ashley of Stoke (a Peer who is deafened), included a bit about deaf people in his speech. The relevant passage is...
Parliament: Deaf Sport
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon, Liberal Democrat) To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has received about continued funding for UK Deaf Sport; and if she will make a statement. Richard Caborn (Minister...
Employment Tribunal Judgement: Walsall Deaf Centre
Jane Fletcher has won a claim for constructive unfair dismissal, harassment and failure to carry out reasonable adjustments in the workplace.against Walsall Deaf Centre. This includes failure to provide AtW assistant (note: this could be an interpreter), the staff failed...
Parliament: Lipreading & Sign Language are not skills for life
It seems that politicians are experts at not getting it. The latest from the House of Commons is that lipreading classes and learning sign language is not a skill for life. This obviously comes down to funding, not being classed...
Photo Friday: Mildmay Infant & Junior School, 1978
Can you pick anyone out in this? For that matter, do you have any school photos that could be scanned?...
BBC breaking the law in respect of See Hear?
Earlier Jen posted a reply from the BBC in respect of BBC See Hear, and the proposed cut backs. In the comments, I left a copy of an e mail I had sent to the BBC asking the BBC...
Deaf contestant @ Big Brother
The Sun is reporting there's a deaf contestant in this year's Channel 4's Big Brother. TWENTY potential housemates include the most outrageous ever picked, claim BB bosses. There’s a butch lesbian who allegedly self-harms and boozes, a professional drag...
Mouse: first BSL targeted marketing?
A vlog from mouse, about online translation services, the first for the UK. What's interesting about this, is its online marketing specifically targeted at BSL users. Does anyone know of this happening elsewhere? All other marketing I've seen to date...
Ofcom fails its own Disability Equality Scheme?
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications industries in the UK. That includes television. Currently Ofcom has a consultation happening in respect of BSL on television. This is a major consultation, and will affect every BSL user in the UK...
Simple phone for the hard of hearing (with fat fingers)
I don't hear on the phone, and wouldn't even bother trying, so this is really not aimed at me. However, it makes me cringe anyway. Techcrunch is carrying some article about Jitterbug: because cellphones scare old people. On the face...
Open Letter re See Hear in Broadcast Now
Blogcast at Broadcast Now is carrying an open letter from Rebecca Atkinson regarding BBC See Hear. Since this is read by many people in the media, people are being urged to go over there and comment. See Hear originally came...
Photo Friday: International Deaf Lawyers, 2002
Taken in Washington DC, 2002. A Surduslaw get together. More tricky: who can name everyone? Happy Bank Holiday weekend everyone! International readers, we get Monday off in the UK. And yes, we're looking for photos with an international flavour...
Number 10 website: subtitling multimedia content?
Several weeks ago I submitted this petition at the Number 10 website: We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to: 'add subtitles to all multimedia content online produced by Number 10, & respective government departments' Downing Street currently has video...
Audism, apparently the label for everything
We have a really stupid situation in the UK right now, where everything left right and centre is labelled as audism. Domestic violence? = audism Messed up PHP (website code)? = audism Just declaring you can't understand BSL = audism...
Spot the Difference
Some of you may remember this on the Deaf Liberation Front (DLF) website back in 2002: See also: Chair BoT RNID: advert difficult to find on its website? Photo Friday: Deaf Chair Now Hanson Green: Deaf Recruitment Experts? Chair BoT...
Parliament: BSL in schools
Yesterday's debate in parliament made reference to the use of BSL in schools. Madeleine Moon (Bridgend, Labour) May we have a debate on the increased teaching and use of British Sign Language? Last week I visited Archdeacon John Lewis primary...
Parliament: Regulation of LSPs
Yesterday a question was tabled in the House of Commons around Language Service Professionals. A more accessible page is available on They Work for You. Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham, Conservative) To ask the Secretary of State for Education and...
Hanson Green: Deaf Recruitment Experts?
Since Hanson Green are doing the recruitment for the BoT @ the rnid, would people mind going over to their staff page and figuring out what any of them know about DEAF people? Even better, dig around Google if...
Chair BoT @ RNID only advertised in mainstream press
An advert for the Chair of the Board of Trustees @ the rnid appeared in the Sunday Times over the weekend, in the Public Appointments section. Due to the glass ceilings that exist over here, out of d/Deaf /...
Vee See makes BBCi News Technology: Paternalism 2.0?
VeeSee is currently the top story at BBCi Technology News page. Where's the impartial reporting by the BBC, and go beyond the reporting its done to question the set up? This is one sided reporting. The issue with DEAF...
BSL Bible Translation Project
The British Sign Language Bible Translation Project now has its own website. I'm only going to focus on BSL as a language here. Irrespective of what your religious beliefs are (even if you have them), this is an important project...
An international blogger tries to explain re RNID
Meant to post this last week, Joseph Rainmound over at Deaf and the City (love the blog name) posted 411: Firm of Scratcher & Low Leaving RNID; DeafRead Too American? It might explain to an international audience some of the...
RNID: Banging some drum, and who hears it?
The Third Sector is carrying some article about the appointment of a Finance Director at that huge charity that should not be named. New person is Paul Breckell, from the Christian Mission Society (I can't find a link, does it...
Interpreters and the whole set up scaring me
Warning, this post is long but it raises some serious questions around the nature of interpreting, specifically in the UK. I don't even want to be typing this, I've got other things I want to do, and I'm completely irritated...
British Deaf Football website launched, where's the RSS?
The Great Britain Deaf Football website was launched this evening. I'm not a football fan so I'm not best placed to do an analysis of this site. However I'm always a fan of independent Deaf stuff, on the face of...
Bush explaining Iraq policy to Republican deaf signers?
The Sunday Times carried this picture and caption at the back of its News Review section, asking what Bush was doing, in satire style. Deaf people came into it: Another day, another slightly embarrassing picture of President George Bush....
Miss Deaf UK: a micro example of how things really are
I had meant to type some thoughts on Miss Deaf UK last weekend, but personal circumstances has not allowed me to do this. Now playing catch up. A brief recap of the programme: we had a hearing person organising the...
Support / training for campaigners
Since a lot of us bang on about the lack of campaigning that happens, bottom up, something caught my eye in the Third Sector around training for campaigning. Support groups set up for campaigners by the McKechnie Foundation. “We will...
Photo Friday: FYD Initiative Training 1995
At Cardiff - who's who? You know how much people love looking at old photos. Got any? Please donate....
John Low the soap star!
The Third Sector is also carrying an interview with John Low. ""The RNID needs to be refreshed, and so do I .... After being closely identified with one charity, it's hard to run another with a specific cause. It's a...
Low: RNID CEO needn't be deaf or hard of hearing
John Low states in the Third Sector, that his successor a need not be deaf or hard of hearing. One liner from me: they've never got it, why are they going to start now? Don't forget, Really Not Interested in...
The Guardian messes up again, this time over CIs
OFT to look at £30,000 bill for ear implant. Why does the Guardian keep getting lingo wrong, and Deaf people wrong for that matter? Check out the lingo and inaccurate reporting: - "bionic ear"; - "fully repair her hearing" -...
Photo Friday: Road Block @ BSL March 2001
Photo credit: James Kearney. Who can tell the story behind this picture? We want more political photos. We will credit you....
Miss Deaf UK, in the Guardian
The Guardian is running a piece on Miss Deaf UK, which will be aired by BBC See Hear on Saturday. Some quick comments from me: - The Guardian puts this in the "Social Care" section. Why? Perhaps Big Brother should...
Voicing over BSL, by a monolinguist
Yesterday I blogged about subtitling the hard of hearing way. Adam Buxton also produced a voice over for a BSL/English Interpreter, as he understood it (not understanding BSL): Deafies won't get the voice over, so a friend has transcribed it...
John Low & James Strachan resign from RNID
John Low (CEO) and James Strachan (Chair) are both leaving the RNID. Press Release relating to Low here. John Low is off to CAF in August, and James Strachan stands down in October. Update: Can anyone find something in Private...
Photo Friday: MHGS 1991
Mary Hare Grammar School, 1991. Use the comments box to name people in the picture. Who can recognise everyone? Do you have any old photos that you could scan so we could upload here? We will credit the source....
Through Deaf Eyes
This is a must watch: A larger video can be seen here. I would recommend that you download it via Google Video Player (click onto the download button in the right column). That way you can watch it full screen....
BBC & accessible online content
If you are interested in forthcoming plans by BBCi to address subtitling and BSL through its website, go here....
Photo Friday: WFD Canada
BDA gathering, at Montreal (2003). Happy Easter! Otherwise, we are looking for scanned photos. There's only so many photos we have, and we want variety. We know how much people love looking at old photos. Do you have any...
I hate parents who have normal children
PostSecret...
Deaf and dumb banned from being Councillors!
It seems that Deaf people aren't allowed to stand for election because of an election law dating back to 1766. Bournemouth Council disqualified "deaf and dumb persons" from standing as councillors. For international readers, a Councillor is an elected person,...
Secret Language
PostSecret...
CI funding in Wales again, a political football
A couple of days ago, Glyn Davies AM reported on the fact that someone could not get a CI in Wales, because of a lack of funding. He went onto state that this happened on the same day as Wales...
Deaf headteachers in the UK = two
Whilst chatting to a friend, it just occurred to me that it is frequently reported that Mabel Davis is the only deaf headteacher in the UK. Not true. What about Mary Nest-Richardson? Its taken a very long while for the...
Cochlear Implants not value for money?
Wales is to get £750,000 for its cochlear implant programme, to implant 20 adults in 2007-08. That is £37,500 per person, this represents a 60% increase in the CI programme. From these figures, Wales implants 33.33 people each year. Wonder...
Why should I go to WFD?
Okay, can someone give me a good reason why I should go to WFD in Madrid? The ticket is expensive, and I don't even know the programme. I'm not particularly jumping at Deaf issues right now, so why should I...
Bude, 1995
FYD used to take over Adventure International for a week in August. This was my group at Bude back in '95. What a happy looking lot! Who recognises who? What's really scary, I was an adult back then, and these...
DRC guidance on volunteering: its not enough
The DRC has published a guide 'Recruiting, Retaining and Developing Disabled Volunteers'. Immediately, I went to search for interpreters, as I wanted to know how this guide dealt with this issue. Deaf people and volunteering, costs always gets in the...
Should Deaf get Death Sentence?
Various news articles are asking the question: Should deaf get the death sentence? This is linked to a murder case, link. Apart from the reasoning 'Deaf people can do anything but hear', thus be treated the same as hearing people,...
Cochlear set to grow 20% in 5 years
Cochlear's marketing tactics, and aggressive business strategy has hit the news again. Cochlear's CEO, Chris Roberts says: ... the company has 70 per cent global market share and the current Cochlear implants only cover 10 per cent of the available...
2011 census, my take
I'm told its silly season out there re picking up on the 2011 census, and who gets credit. My take: who bloody cares. Its done, just everyone else pull their finger out and campaign for something. Reminds me of other...
2011 census: question about sign languages & deafness
A test census has been released in preparation for the 2011 census. For the first time, this includes a question about British Sign Language (Page 6), which asks in relation to language usage: - No ability - Understand sign -...
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