Trish Vallance

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Trish Vallance

• South West Information Officer

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Action on Hearing Loss previously known as
RNID

• We provide support for people with hearing loss
• and tinnitus in UK
• We provide information on all aspects of deafness
• We carry out research
• We campaign
• We provide equipment

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Deaf hard of hearing peoplein the UK

• 10 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the
  UK
• Over 50 of people over the age of 60 have a
  hearing loss
• 400,000 people rely on lip-reading

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Impact of hearing loss

• Among those with a hearing loss
• 68 feel isolated and lonely
• 90 believe that hearing people dont realise how
  difficult being deaf can be
• 75 have problems coping in public places, on
  transport and when meeting new people
• 79 said people were impatient with them
• So....are they all made to feel welcome in your
  church?
• Source RNIDs A Simple Cure report, 2005

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Why provide access?

• 10 million more people could access your church
  services!
• There are two persuasive arguments for making
  your organisation more accessible to the ten
  million people in the UK that have a hearing
  loss
• Its a legal requirement The Equality Act 2010
• Its socially responsible.

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Hearing aid users

• Hearing aids amplify sounds.
• The further away from the sound source the
  hearing aid user is the more difficult it is to
  hear.
• Hearing aid users can benefit from an induction
  loop amplifier.
• If you have a loop in the church make sure you
  have a sign that clearly shows this fact in a
  visible place as a person comes into the church.

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Induction loop system

• Helps people with hearing loss hear more clearly
  by reducing the effect of background noise.
• Action on Hearing Loss install, sell, maintain
  and provide training on commercial induction loop
  and infrared systems.
• We have specialist trained technicians who can
  help make your service accessible.

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Induction loop systemcontd

• GET IN TOUCH
• If you need more help or advice please contact us
  at Action on Hearing Loss. Our customer services
  team will gladly talk to you about your
  individual needs 
• Customer Services Team
• Telephone [phone] Textphone 01733 238020
• solutions_at_hearingloss.org.uk

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Clear Speech

• Speak clearly and not too quickly.
• Clear lip patterns
• Do not exaggerate lip patterns as this will make
  lip-reading harder.
• Do not shout! This will only distort lip patterns
  and will also cause embarrassment.
• Be ready to repeat when a person has not
  understood what you have said.
• You may need to rephrase what you have said.

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Clear Speech.contd

• Cut out as much background noise as possible.
• Stand at the front of the church (not the back)
• Use a mike properly.
• Ask hearing aid users to tell you when it is
  being used correctly.
• Make sure the people know it is you speaking...or
  show people who it is who is speaking, by using
  body language.

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Lipreading

• Lip-reading is a valuable communication skill.
• Many people assume deaf people can understand
  everything by lip-reading.
• A spoken language is their first language.
• Lipreading is still 70 guesswork...WITHOUT a
  beard!
• An unfamiliar accent may be tricky for deaf
  people.
• Are you are speaking with your head down, in
  prayer?

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Think backgrounds

• It is difficult to lip-read...
• If there is bright light from behind, including
  the sun through the windows
• If there is a patterned background or pictures,
  especially if they are bright and colourful.
• If there are people moving in and out of the
  background (or the foreground) it is distracting.
  
• Think obstacles. Is there a pillar in the way? A
  microphone? A music group?

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Clear Instructions

• Make sure that everyone has understood.
• Include the references for the readings and order
  of service and hymn numbers on a weekly news
  sheet.
• Make copies of the Bible available so people can
  follow the reading.
• Give people time to respond.
• Make sure the deaf person is looking at you when
  you are speaking.

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Involving a deaf person in a group

• Can they see you?
• Can they hear you?
• Do they know who is speaking?
• Do they know if there is a change of subject?
• Time to respond
• A break from lip-reading
• Can they join in?
• Have a pause for deaf people to read any visual
  information
• If you bow your head to pray, can they still
  lipread you?

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Useful materials to provide

• Copies of-
• orders of service, readings, prayers, talks,
  sermons, agenda, script, words of hymns or songs
  including those sung by a choir or solo
• - translations into English of words sung or said
  in another language.
• - Provide the copies in large print on A4 paper.
• providing written copies of sermons is one way
  of showing that the church is really deaf aware

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Information line

• If you have any questions about how you can
  improve communication with people who are deaf or
  have a hearing loss, please contact our
  Information Line on telephone
• Telephone [phone]
• Textphone 0808 808 9000
• SMS 0780 0000 360
• Email informationline_at_hearingloss.org.uk
• Website www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk

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Ask deaf people

• Ask what helps Deaf people will be able to tell
  you what is helpful or unhelpful if you ask them.
• Show them that they are worth including. Actions
  and positive attitudes speak louder than words!

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To introduce myself

• Hearing!
• Working with Deaf people from choice
• Priest and free lance BSL/English Interpreter and
  trainer
• Working as Chaplain in the Deaf Community in the
  Anglican Diocese of Bristol.

The Diocese of Bristol
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Deaf not deaf

• Big D Deaf
• Not a medical model of deafness
• Not a problem to be solved
• Linguistic minority with own culture

The Diocese of Bristol
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Some models of ministry

• Bristol Deaf Church
• St Barnabas Church, Swindon
• St Pauls Church, Chippenham

The Diocese of Bristol
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BSL - Gods gift. The language of the Deaf
community

• Language is important to identity
• BSL is Gods language too. Worship doesnt have
  to be in English!
• In mainstream worship why should Deaf people
  get everything second hand?

The Diocese of Bristol
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What can we do?

• Consider D/Deaf people
• Work with interpreters
• Work in partnership with the Chaplain

The Diocese of Bristol
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Deaf is what we are - made in God's image - and
Deaf is beautiful, is very good!
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Any questions?