Deaf Umbrella Ltd.’s Post

This week is Deaf Awareness Week. I am lucky to work with Deaf business owners on (the marketing-side). Here are just three important things to remember when you meet a Deaf person. 1. Don’t be frightened (sadly my Deaf friends/colleagues say this still come across this) 2. Look at them and not the interpreter (who’s there for you, not them). 3. Speak normally. There are lots of other Deaf Awareness tips I haven’t shared. There is a wealth of talent in the Deaf community. Communication shouldn’t and mustn’t be a barrier. - Behind me are just of the organisations my Deaf clients are working with. #DeafAwarenessWeek #DeafAwareness

Until a few years ago when my son was born, I knew nothing about deafness. Like most people I had elderly relatives who were losing their hearing and who joked about their “deaf side” but I had very little appreciation of how inaccessible the world can be for the deaf community. This week it is Deaf Awareness Week. 12 million adults (1 in 5) and 50,000 kids in the UK are deaf so it pays for us all to be more aware and inclusive. If you work with someone who is deaf, then here are 5 easy tips: 1.      Ask them what they need and how they want to communicate. 2.      Make sure you have their attention before you speak to them. 3.      Allow them to see your face clearly to read your lips and expressions. Don’t stand in front of a bright window or insist on having the lights low during a presentation. 4.      If they don’t hear you first time – please don’t say “never mind”. 5.      Speak one at a time. A room full of voices is hard to follow. As an aside, if you have young kids and want to teach them more about deaf awareness then I suggest getting the book Freddie and the Fairy by Julia Donaldson – I have adult friends who have found this useful too! If you’re interested in learning more then there are some great resources from the National Deaf Children’s Society - https://lnkd.in/eHQSXPYh How deaf aware do you think you and your workplace are?

Wow! I’m so happy to see this on Instagram; thank you, Richmond Council, for the opportunity to share some British Sign Language (BSL) signs! It’s fantastic to see such strong support for the International Week of Deaf People and for promoting BSL rights. It’s important for companies and organisations NHS, councils, banks, transport services, shops, airports, and many more to ensure that all staff, from front-line reception to managers, directors, and CEOs, are aware of how to: 1. Develop awareness of Deaf access needs. 2. Explore the impact of lack of access on Deaf people’s health. 3. Learn some basic facts about signed languages. 4. Examine technological advances your organisation could use. 5. Understand which terms Deaf people prefer. 6. Empower Deaf people through better access. 7. Develop skills for better communication with Deaf individuals. 8. Learn some basic BSL. 9. Use Access to Work (ATW) to support Deaf employees. 10. Recognise that the UK government officially approved British Sign Language (BSL) on 22 May 2022. If you’d like to know more or arrange training for your staff, contact me at feras@deafaccessibility.com. Together, we can remove barriers and create a more inclusive society for everyone! #BSL #SignLanguageRights #DeafAwareness #AccessToWork https://lnkd.in/eY8WHtdr

Crisis Resources for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing The Deaf Crisis Line (DCL) and the Disaster Distress Helpline Videophone (DDH VP) are resources for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and American Sign Language (ASL) users. Both operate as a videophone, a face-to-face platform that offers callers direct connection to trained crisis counselors fluent in ASL. Callers may use the text feature if they prefer to type. To Learn More, Visit: https://lnkd.in/edwZ9sr7 #crisisresources #brevardcounty #rockledgefl #ASL #deafawareness #brevardcountyfl #disasterdistress #Resources #personswithdisabilities #disabilityawareness

Day 7 of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP): On the final day of IWDP, we’re focusing on investing in the future of Deaf communities. We’re calling on everyone to support Deaf children and their families by fostering connections with Deaf communities, ensuring early exposure to national sign languages, and providing access to language-rich environments. We’re spotlighting the BSL in Our Hands campaign: With over 50,000 deaf children across the UK—90% born to hearing parents with no knowledge of sign language—it’s time to act. Early language acquisition is vital, yet many parents face thousands in costs just to communicate with their child. There is a world of potential in every deaf child’s hands. We just need to give it to them. We need BSL in our hands, right now. Their future is in your hands! To support the campaign go to: https://lnkd.in/eKBc3u8j #IWDP2024 #BSLinOurHands #SignLanguageRights @WFD

Did you know that the 6th-12th May is #DeafAwarenessWeek? Discover a wealth of resources provided by National Deaf Children's Society. From essential communication tips to engaging quizzes and enlightening videos, there's something to help us all become more deaf aware. Check out the resources and help make a difference: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d-ywdnKh

Congratulations to all the Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons👏 This Parliament must champion deaf children. It must support the urgent investment needed in early, effective support for all deaf children to develop language and communication, whether they use sign language, spoken language or both. Deaf children in the UK currently face a lifetime of disadvantage without access to early, effective support to develop language and communication. But together, we can change this.  For those families who want their deaf child to learn to listen and talk, increasing access to Auditory Verbal therapy is vital. Recent public research shows that 85% of UK adults believe Auditory Verbal therapy should be available to deaf children via publicly funded services. But currently, less than 10% of deaf children can access this support.  We’re ready to work with you to ensure all deaf children have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.  It’s time to Hear Us Now.  https://lnkd.in/d5tvqnqh  #HearUsNow #GeneralElection #UKParliament #DeafChildren #VitalSupport  

Every deaf child deserves an answer that begins with "Yes." At Deaf Reach, we ensure deaf children can learn, grow, and thrive with the right support and opportunities. But there are still so many more deaf children waiting for their chance. You hold the power to rewrite narratives and to give more deaf children the chance to learn: https://lnkd.in/dmSFXqQR

Deaf awareness week with this year's theme ‘It Does Matter’ This topic is close to my heart as it’s something I experience daily and advocate strongly about when I provide deaf awareness training. Deaf awareness training is not mandatory in the NHS and yet it’s the 2nd most common disability in the uk. Tips for HCP: 1. Don’t say it doesn’t matter or I’ll tell you later- it’s soul-destroying when someone does this. 2. Sit face to face- not side to side or walk around in the clinical room and make sure the window is not behind you! 3. Do not over-enunciate- this will distort your lip pattern making it more difficult to lipread. 4. Book the right support- this can be a BSL interpreter, lip speaker, palantypist or other different support available. 5. Just ask! We are not the same therefore we will not have the same needs as to the next deaf person #NHS #DeafAwarenessWeek #ItDoesMatter

For most of us, our understanding of Deaf and deaf-blind culture is limited, but it doesn’t need to be. So THANKFUL to the deaf teachers I’ve had who have shared their culture through the teaching of ASL. If you want to learn ASL, learn from a deaf person! This is a great video highlighting some of the misconceptions deaf people face every day. https://lnkd.in/gXYv9mdU