Newsletter Spring 2011Inform

What is it like to learn British Sign

Language?

Aberdeenshire – one year on

New Developments

in Fife

The Launch of Deaf Action

(Tayside)

CONTENTS News

Tayside Deaf Association becomes Deaf Action (Tayside)

Scottish Sensory Centre saved Developments in Fife Lothian & Borders Police get a regular

slot at Deaf Action Deaf Awareness Week 2011 Highland Deaf Culture Developing a BSL storyteller

International Connections

Sign Language in Saudi Arabia

Events

Social workers with deaf people conference SignVideo on tour

Services

Including You – Extended Supported Accommodation at Slateford Green Lothian Deaf Community Mental Health Service

(LDCMHS)

Community Development

Aberdeenshire – one year on Developing links in Argyll & Bute

Social Enterprise

Charity Shop volunteer awards Updated Deaf Action Website - Coming Soon What is it like to learn British Sign Language?

Coming Up

Training at Deaf Action Multimedia Translation Learning Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Welcome to Deaf Action’s Spring Inform 2011This newsletter seems to be all about expansion, which is wonderful!

We are developing our services across Scotland and meeting lots of amazing new people in the process. Since our last newsletter we’ve expanded our services in Tayside and Fife, see pages 3 and 4 respectively. We are set to launch our online interpreting service, see page 7, which is being introduced with a series of road shows. And we have begun meeting people in Argyll and Bute, full story page 9, to promote our new sensory service. In addition to this we’re delighted to be bringing you news of our drop-in service set up with Lothian and Borders Police on page 4. There is much to tell you about; we do hope you enjoy reading Spring Inform 2011.

We value your feedback so please do get in touch if you would like to give us your opinions or share any news for our next edition of Inform; contact Jean Burke, Marketing Officer at jean.burke@deafaction.org or 0131 556 3128.You can also keep up with all of our news and events online www.deafaction.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

If you no longer wish to receive a copy, please let us know and we will remove you from our mailing list. Help us to embrace greener options by requesting your future copies of Inform via email.

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News

Following consultations with deaf people across the area, Tayside Deaf Association has merged with Deaf Action to become Deaf Action (Tayside). An official launch was held on 16th March 2011 at Discovery Point, Dundee. Over 140 people, including councillors, health representatives, organisations and clients, gathered to help us celebrate and find out about the changes that will come from the merger.

During the launch attendees were introduced to Deaf Action and the range of services we provide. We also heard from local speakers about how important deaf services are throughout Tayside; parent Gillian Smith spoke about the importance of social care services and learning sign language to enhance communication with her deaf daughter and friends. Since discovering the services available in Tayside, Petra Claydon has undergone training to allow her to teach others British Sign Language (BSL). Robert Burnett shared his personal experience of growing up in a deaf family and the important role of the Deaf Community. And Bill Nicol, who is hard of hearing and a regular attendee at a lipreading class, spoke about the confidence and camaraderie that comes from the classes.

Liz Scott Gibson, Chief Executive of Deaf Action commented “We are overwhelmed by the number of people who came out to support our launch. To meet so many representatives from the Tayside community that have come along to find out more about us has been very encouraging. We look forward to continuing and developing the services currently available in Tayside, and in working together to develop innovative solutions to meet the needs of deaf people today”.

The celebrations came to a close with an inspiring performance from Claypotts Primary School Signing Choir.

Deaf Action (Tayside) will begin offering new developments for deaf people in Tayside including; a Specialist Equipment Room, Information & Advice, Online Communication Support, Multimedia Translation and increased Community Activities. This is in addition to continuing the established services including: Communication Support, Social Care, Development and Training and the Sound Sense Befriending Project. We are also very delighted to welcome all the staff from Tayside Deaf Association to Deaf Action.

Tayside Deaf Association becomes Deaf Action (Tayside)

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Scottish Sensory Centre SavedFollowing a recent announcement to end the funding received by the Scottish Sensory Centre, Deaf Action were glad to see the decision discussed and reversed; for the next year the Centre has avoided closure. A deal has now been struck between the Scottish Government and Edinburgh University to protect these services. The move follows a commitment made by the First Minister to discuss the way forward.

Under the new arrangement, the Scottish Government will provide £150,000 to enable the Centre - which supports teachers of deaf, visually impaired and deafblind pupils - to remain open for a further 12 months. Edinburgh University, where the Centre is based, has also agreed to provide £50,000. Its longer-term funding will be considered.

News

Lothian & Borders Police get a regular slot at Deaf ActionDeaf Action has teamed up with Lothian and Borders Police (L&BP) to offer monthly drop-in sessions at Deaf Action’s Head Office in Albany Street. The sessions take place on the first Thursday of every month from 10am until 12 noon.

The drop-ins are the first of its kind in Edinburgh. Designed specifically for Deaf and hard of hearing people, a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter is present at all sessions. Attendees have the chance to speak to PC Dane Harrison, Safer Neighbourhoods Officer, in confidence about matters affecting them or their communities.

Keith Hyland, Chair, Deaf Action said of the initiative: “Deaf Action is delighted to be part of this original event, and to assist in making public services more accessible and inclusive to Edinburgh and Lothians’ Deaf and hard of hearing community.”

To coincide with the L&BP drop-ins 60 police officers and staff signed up to receive introductory training in BSL and Deaf Awareness from Deaf Action.

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Developments in Fife We are pleased to be working with the Fife Society for the Blind (FSB), the RNIB and Sense in the Fife Sensory Impairment Service. This aims to create a ‘one stop shop’ where there will be a joined up approach to working with people with a hearing loss and with a sight loss; this is particularly important for older people who often have needs which are undetected.

Deaf Action’s staff will collaborate with FSB in delivering sensory awareness training throughout the region, and will work with a variety of user panels to make sure the views of people with sensory needs are known. We are also looking forward to establishing a joint equipment display area in the Fife Sensory Centre in Wilson Avenue, Kirkcaldy, so that people will be able to try out what is available and receive expert advice.

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Deaf Awareness Week 2011

Highland Deaf Culture

This year Deaf Awareness Week took place from Monday 2nd May to Sunday 8th May 2011.

Deaf Awareness Week takes place every May and is dedicated to raising awareness of the 1 in 7 people throughout the UK affected by some degree of hearing loss. Deaf Awareness Week invites everyone to ‘Look At Me’, which aims to improve understanding of the different types of deafness by highlighting the various methods of communication used by deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing people, such as sign language and lipreading.

Deaf Action was proud to support this campaign by running information stands and presentations to highlight the many services we provide throughout Scotland. During the week we held five awareness stalls in Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire, we gave a number of presentations looking at Deaf Action and we took over Tesco’s forecourt in Inverurie one afternoon to meet the locals - we’re already looking forward to next year’s event!

Since October 2008 the Highland Deaf Communication Project has been working on preserving the Highland Deaf Culture and to record the memories and finger-spelling of older Deaf people in Highland.

Deaf Interviewers, John Montgomery and Jean Pentland, also a member of Deaf Action’s Executive Council, interviewed 15 older Deaf people from the Western Isles, Wick, Dingwall, Elgin and Inverness.All of the Deaf participants were very generous with their time and their memories, sharing details about WWII; Deaf schools/rallies/clubs; how technology and BSL/English Interpreters have changed lives; romance; health and the future of BSL. Their stories are sometimes sad, often hilarious and always fascinating.

The project has culminated in a 90 minute documentary, titled Highland Deaf Culture: Our Memories and Language, cut from nine hours of raw footage. The documentary premiered on 25th March at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, with a repeat showing on Friday 13th May. All the footage that doesn’t feature in the documentary is now safely stored in the new Highland Archive Centre, so that generations to come will have access to it.

News

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Sign Language in Saudi ArabiaLast year, Liz Scott Gibson visited Saudi Arabia to provide training to sign language interpreters there. This visit was arranged by Hend Al Showaier, who is herself Deaf and is the Manager of the Deaf and Sign Language Programme at the Prince Salman Centre for Disability Research in Riyadh. We are really pleased that Hend is now going to visit us here in Scotland in May. She will participate in the course ‘Deaf Managers - facing the challenge’, being organised by Heriot-Watt University, and spend time with Deaf Action staff who have arranged a programme of visits and meetings for her. This will include Hend observing one of our BSL classes, and finding out how our interpreting services work.

On Saturday 21st May, we have arranged an open meeting to be held in the Learning Centre at Deaf Action’s Head Office, 49 Albany Street, Edinburgh, starting at 2pm. We are also holding a similar event in Inverness on Sunday May 22nd at Highland Deaf Centre, 16th Kenneth Street, Inverness, starting at 2pm. Hend will be telling us about what life is like for Deaf people in Saudi Arabia. Everyone is welcome. If you would like to come, please contact Emma McGowan so we can arrange teas & coffees: emma.mcgowan@deafaction.org Text: 0131 557 0419.

International Connections

Developing a BSL storyteller Storyteller and native British Sign Language (BSL) user, Mark MacQueen, has been awarded a bursary presented by the Scottish Storytelling Forum, to recognise and support a storyteller who works in British Sign Language.

Events open to the public will showcase the artistry and creativity of BSL storytelling and offer opportunities for BSL learners, native BSL users and non-users alike to experience the magic of storytelling in BSL. It is hoped that the award will push the creative boundaries of BSL and of storytelling. Ultimately, the project will begin to find fresh ways of embedding BSL storytelling into the Scottish storytelling scene and into the work of the Centre.

Mark MacQueen grew up in a Deaf family in Edinburgh and is a natural BSL presenter. Mark is an active member of the Deaf community, has a passion for creating and sharing stories and poetry, and is involved in the study of sociolinguistics and BSL poetry.

Events

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Social workers with deaf people conference In March this year the British Society for Mental Health and Deafness (BSMHD) hosted a conference in Birmingham for social workers with deaf people and related professionals. The conference was a great opportunity to meet colleagues from all over the UK, share best practice and learn about the specialist issues related to providing social services for deaf people.

Deaf Action Social Worker, Frankie McLean, attended to present a paper called ‘Social Work with Deaf People - here and then?’. Frankie’s presentation focused on the current state of specialist social work services with deaf people in Scotland. The paper explored the experiences and views of deaf people and specialist social workers themselves. The ultimate aim was to stimulate a debate into the future of the profession and specialism. The presentation was very well received and it did indeed spark debate afterwards.

Frankie said of the event: “I found the conference very interesting, it was very useful to hear about practises throughout the UK and how departments are maintaining a quality service in the face of economic difficulties. I think it was agreed by all attendees that work needs to be done to clearly establish the current role of the social worker with deaf people. And hopefully with improved networking among professionals, we can continue to define and promote the role and value of specialist social workers.”

SignVideo on tourYou may remember news about Deaf Action’s SignVideo from our previous edition of Inform. We’re excited to have begun trialling our online interpreting service throughout Scotland, with plans to launch the full service later this year.

Throughout April we took Deaf Action’s SignVideo on the road! Starting off at our Head Office in Edinburgh, we showed people how to set up an account, use the software and how to make a call. Next on our tour was Inverness followed by Dundee. We will be organising more road shows to allow people the opportunity to try the software and make online interpreted calls for themselves. If you would like to find out more about upcoming road shows or you would like to organise a trial of the service, please contact Jacqui Lees, Social Enterprise Manager: jacqui.lees@deafaction.org or 0131 558 5298.

Deaf Action’s SignVideo is an online interpreting service available throughout Scotland, in collaboration with Significan’t, a deaf-led Social Enterprise.

Services

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After the launch of our very well received Including You information guides last year, we were delighted to receive some good news from the Big Lottery in early 2011.

The Big Lottery has approved an extension of the project until mid November 2011 - this is fantastic news for us and it enables us to continue the excellent work of the project. The Including You project works with people with an acquired hearing loss in Fife, Edinburgh and Lothians. The extension will allow us to deliver more Sound Advice courses and to continue providing information, advice and guidance.

You can download the Including You information guides from our website or you may request a printed copy from our Head Office. The guides provide detailed, local information on support and services available to people with an acquired hearing loss in Fife and Edinburgh & Lothian, as well as details of how to cope with the challenges of hearing loss.

Including You - Extended

Supported Accommodation at Slateford GreenDeaf Action’s Support Services provide assistance to people in their own homes throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians. As part of our service we have a base at Slateford Green that provides care and support to clients over 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Deaf Action has a number of single and two person shared flats. These flats are linked to the staff base in case of emergency and each flat is fully equipped with specialist equipment including a flashing doorbell and smoke alarm. We currently have three vacancies at our Slateford Green flats; the vacancies are within shared flats. If you would like to find out more about this service or apply for one of these vacancies please contact Donald Bethune, Support Services Manager at donald.bethune@deafaction.org or 0131 442 6924.

Slateford Green is part of a Dunedin Canmore Housing Association Development.

Lothian Deaf Community Mental Health Service (LDCMHS)

Quick reminder - The Lothian Deaf Community Mental Health Service (LDCMHS) has received a great response since the launch of the drop in facility launched over one year ago.

The LDCMHS drop in takes places on a Wednesday afternoon at Albany Street from 1pm - 3pm and includes a range of activities such as: arts and crafts, gardening and baking. For more information contact Debbie O’Reilly: debbie.o’reilly@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or Barbara Brown: barbara.a.brown@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or 0131 652 3212.

CommunityDevelopment

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Our Aberdeenshire service is now over one year old, and we are delighted to report that in the first twelve months we have provided information and advice to over 330 people, and delivered 228 individual items of equipment to assist with independence.

Since October 2010, we have been hosting drop-in sessions throughout the local authority area. The sessions have proved very popular, with 129 people attending between October and March. At the sessions, we offer people the opportunity to get advice regarding a wide range of services and supports, as well as routine hearing aid maintenance.

We have recently been working closely with NHS Grampian audiology services, and will soon be setting up Deaf Action drop-ins alongside audiology clinics in Stonehaven, so that people with a hearing loss can conveniently access both services in one visit.

Drop-ins take place every month in Huntly, Ellon, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Banchory and Stonehaven. Contact our Aberdeenshire office for more details of times and locations: aberdeenshire@deafaction.org or 01467 629 604.

Since our last update from Argyll & Bute on the launch of a Government - funded sensory service, we have been busy organising and attending events to get out and meet lots of people.

Deaf Action is new to Argyll and Bute so we have been concentrating on building relationships and raising awareness. During March we provided hearing aid maintenance and sensory awareness training to 36 care home workers, 44 home carers and 8 carers, and we have more training taking place during May.

Throughout April and May we set up exhibitions and information stands in five libraries throughout the area including: Campbeltown Library, Lochgilphead Library, Dunoon Library, Helensburgh Library and Oban Library. The events proved really useful to introduce the service to people and discuss how we can best meet the needs of people in Argyll and Bute.

Over the summer months, we look forward to working in partnership with the British Deaf Association to set up consultations with Deaf people who use sign language across the area. We also hope to demonstrate our new SignVideo service and increase our social links. If you have any queries about our Argyll & Bute service contact: argyllandbute@deafaction.org or 01838 200 841.

Aberdeenshire – one year on

Developing links in Argyll & Bute

Updated Deaf Action Website - Coming SoonFollowing the launch of our new look in January 2011, we have been busy gradually rebranding all our materials and information. You may have already noticed the change over to our new identity; this is our first newsletter using our new brand and we have new leaflets to come later in the year.

In addition to reviewing all our materials we are also hard at work on a new website. It will be launched later this year and will include information on: the services we provide, upcoming events and how you can get involved in our work. We hope you enjoy exploring our new website and look forward to receiving your feedback. You can contact Jean Burke, Marketing Officer, to discuss any aspect of the website or our new identity at jean.burke@deafaction.org or 0131 556 3128.

Social Enterprise

Our army of volunteers at our Charity Shop continues to expand! We currently have 32 volunteers who give us their free time, enthusiasm and skills to help raise money for Deaf Action.

Two of our younger volunteers have recently celebrated award achievements – Belo, our Wednesday morning volunteer has completed the Boy’s Brigade Queen’s Award and we are pleased that he continues to support our shop over and above his award requirements. Michael, our Saturday afternoon volunteer successfully completed all requirements to achieve his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Well done to both Belo and Michael! And a huge well done and thank you to all the volunteers that have contributed to the success of our South Queensferry Charity Shop. If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact Jacqui Lees, Social Enterprise Manager: jacqui.lees@deafaction.org or 0131 558 5298 or call into the shop for a chat.

Charity Shop volunteer awards

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Social Enterprise

We recently caught up with Bruce Alexander, a British Sign Language (BSL) student studying at our office in Dundee. Bruce is a Firefighter based at Balmossie

Fire Station in Broughty Ferry, Dundee; here’s what he has to say about

his experiences so far:

Hello Bruce, can you tell us how long you have been learning BSL and what level you are at?I have been learning BSL for about one year now. To begin, I was involved in a Deaf Awareness Course which was run through the Scottish Union Learning and Fire Brigade Union; I found this very interesting and it started my involvement with BSL. I am currently studying for a SVQ Introduction to BSL at Deaf Action in Dundee, tutored by George McGowan, and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

Can you remember your first impressions of the language?My first impressions were that is an amazing language, and I wanted to learn more. As a Firefighter I was curious as to how to communicate with the Deaf Community in the event of a fire and how to communicate in dangerous situations.

What sparked your interest in learning BSL?I was doing a Home Fire Safety Visit in a house in Broughty Ferry, Dundee and the occupier was a Deaf gentleman. The visit was done through an interpreter and I thought it was totally amazing and I wanted to learn to sign.

How have you been finding the course? And what aspects do you enjoy?The course has been very interesting and very enjoyable. I’ve really had to practise my fingerspelling as I wanted to pick up speed signing. I have been teaching my two daughters how to sign and we have been having great fun learning with each other. Each week they excitedly ask me what I have learned that day and I have to show them

Do you get the opportunity to practice BSL in your workplace?There is another Firefighter at my station who is also learning and we talk to each other using BSL, much to the annoyance of our watch manager who doesn’t know what we are saying - great fun!

You recently arranged for some children from Carnoustie High School to visit the Fire Station – did your BSL skills help? We invited pupils from Carnoustie High School Deaf Unit to come to Balmossie Fire Station in Broughty Ferry, Dundee for the chance to become Firefighters for the day. This was the chance for myself and colleague Paul Donnan to practice our new language. The pupils were great and everyone had a wonderful time, they got the chance to put on fire uniforms, extinguish fires and also spray water from the hosereel, along with a tour of the station using BSL. Mistakes were made especially by me, one example, I said “fire cake” instead of “fire station” everyone thought that was very funny. Overall a great success and our new language was put to good use.

Any advice or tips for people who are interested in learning BSL?I would thoroughly recommend BSL to anyone who is interested or curious about it. It is a fantastic language and I have been given the chance to meet some wonderful people along the way.

And finally, do you have any plans to take your BSL studies further? I would like to take my studies further by progressing into higher BSL classes. Introduction to BSL has been a fantastic experience for me and I don’t want my new skill to go to waste. I would like to help my employer Tayside Fire and Rescue to deliver Home Fire Safety Visits to the Deaf Community. So let see what the future holds.

Thank for your time Bruce, we wish you all the best with your continued studies.

What is it like to learn British Sign Language?

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Coming Up

Training at Deaf ActionWe have been busy in the last six months setting up training courses in North East Scotland and will shortly be announcing dates for British Sign Language (BSL) courses in Aberdeen. Our BSL and Deaf Awareness courses in Dundee are now firmly established – you can even get one of the student’s views on page 11! And don’t forget about our newly launched Sensory Awareness training, delivered in partnership with Fife Society for the Blind, as mentioned on page 4. Our next round of BSL courses, in both Edinburgh and Dundee, are scheduled to commence in August 2011 - keep an eye on our website for dates. This summer

we will be launching a new ‘pre-Level 2’ course. After receiving a lot of feedback on our training, many participants felt they would like more tuition before embarking on Level 2. With this in mind, we are introducing our first pre-level 2 course for students. This eight-week course will allow people to brush up on their

skills and ensure they are feeling confident about beginning BSL Level 2. See contact details below for further details.

Deaf Action also offer tailored Deaf Awareness courses to individuals or organisations. If you would like to find out more about any of the training at Deaf Action please contact Alyson Grainger, Training Co-ordinator: learn@deafaction.org or 0131 556 3128.

Multimedia TranslationOur Multimedia department specialise in making information more accessible for Deaf BSL users. We assist a range of organisations and public bodies in translating and delivering their information and pamphlets in BSL. If you would like to find out more about this service please contact Colin MacLeod, Social Enterprise Administration Manager: learn@deafaction.org or 0131 556 3128.

Edinburgh Signing Choir

If you’ve not already had the chance to see Edinburgh’s Signing Choir you really should get yourself along to one of their events! Their next scheduled performance is taking place on Monday 13th June at Crail Parish Church.

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Learning Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deaf Action’s Learning Centre offers a range of courses for Deaf and hard of hearing people. If you would like to find out more, contact Emma McGowan,

Learning Centre Course Organiser: emma.mcgowan@deafaction.org Text: 0131 557 0419

Registered Address: Deaf Action, 49 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QYTel: 0131 556 3128 Text: 0131 557 0419 Fax: 0131 557 8283 SMS: 07775 620 757 Videophone: 82.71.100.121Email: admin@deafaction.org Web: www.deafaction.org

Deaf Action is a company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland. Registered Charity Number SC 009898. Registered Company Number SC 396876.