Deaf-Specific Jobsite Launched
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Get your daily news online for FREE Hardcopy only £5 per year Visit www.hearingtimes.co.uk email [email protected] or call 0845 2930688 HearingSummer 2014 Timeswww.hearingtimes.co.uk Deaf-specific jobsite launched Independent newspaper Hearing Times CIC has launched an accessible, interactive jobsite with the support of a Big Lottery Fund grant The new jobsite, which is now available on the Hearing Times website, will facilitate the search for jobs and include interesting roles matching the skills profiles of deaf and hard of hearing jobseekers as well as a range of jobs in the hearing industry. Another section will provide support and information, with invaluable career advice from industry professionals, which will be updated periodically. The unemployment rate in the Deaf Community lies at 13% – a staggering 9% higher than the national average of 4% About 3.5 million people of working age (16-65 years) are deaf or hard of hearing*. Of these, 160,000 are severely or profoundly deaf. According to statistics from the British Society for Mental Health and Deafness, deaf people are far more likely to be unemployed. Indeed, the unemployment rate in the Deaf Preston MP signs up to Deaf Rights Group’s concerns Community lies at 13% – a staggering 9% higher than the national average of 4%.** Preston MP Mark Hendrick has facilitated a meeting between members of the With the launch of the first jobsite of its local deaf community and leader of the Lancashire County Council, Councillor kind, Hearing Times will proactively help to Jennifer Mein, to discuss deaf rights in Lancashire tackle the high unemployment rate among Following on from a meeting with local the procurement process of deaf services people in the UK with hearing loss. Hearing Times Editor, Helen Dewey, says, “We The jobsite will include career advice and campaigners, Colin Singh and Lesley in Lancashire. The Leader has pledged developed the idea of a HT jobsite after interview tips from experts in their field Davidson, who lobbied the MP in Parliament to include individual representation from repeatedly learning of the difficulties faced by tablets and other internet-capable devices. back in March, Mr Hendrick called for a local BSL users to inform and guide the unemployed people with hearing loss.” Editor Helen Dewey adds, “We are meeting to be held in Preston to enable acquisition of services. “Not only will new jobs be posted daily but extremely proud to be able to launch this members of the deaf community to engage Mark Hendrick said, “It was a very there will be section on courses and training unique website and look forward to the directly with both himself and CCllr Mein. productive meeting which not only available to people with hearing loss. You can feedback from long-time and new HT readers. “ Information and services will highlighted the many barriers to work and even subscribe to weekly updates and be the Although we don’t anticipate any problems, healthcare that deaf people face but also first to apply to new vacancies and courses, we hope that readers will bear with us in the have to be produced in BSL the importance of recognising British Sign whether you are unemployed or looking to event that issues should arise.” giving equal access to sign Language as minority language in this take a step up the career ladder!” The £3,000 grant awarded by the Big language users where there was country. What this will mean in practice is Since its creation in 2008, Hearing Times Lottery Fund earlier this year helped in the once a barrier” that information and services will have to newspaper has been a point of reference development of this much-needed resource, Members of the Lancashire Deaf Rights be produced in BSL giving equal access to for hearing aid dispensers, audiologists, which will be unique in providing unbiased, charities, lipreading teachers, BSL language relevant and in-depth news and features of Group (LDRG), an independent group sign language users where there was once students, and deaf and hard of hearing interest from local, national and international representing the views of BSL users, were a barrier” individuals. Jobs on the new website can sources. invited to discuss their concerns with Mr Colin Singh from Lancashire Deaf Rights Group said, “I’m really pleased about this be shared and sent to friends, and the site * www.efds.co.uk Hendrick and Ms Mein with assistance from can be accessed on PCs, laptops, phones, ** www.bsmhd.org.uk two BSL translators. During the meeting, meeting. It gave members of the local BSL lead campaigner Colin Singh, delivered community a rare opportunity to voice their a presentation entitled ‘Voice of Deaf BSL concerns. I hope we will work together Smokers and passive smokers more Users’ and the ‘Sick Of It Campaign’ by Deaf closely for a positive change in the future. Health Charity Signhealth, which highlights Mr Hendrick said that we will need to meet likely to go deaf, claims study how the health service is failing Deaf people. again and clarify what BSL users need to The Lancashire Deaf Rights Group was make sure we are on the right track. Smokers have a 15% higher chance of going deaf than non-smokers, formed in November 2013 by Colin Singh “Lancashire Deaf Rights Group is an according to University of Manchester research and they work to raise awareness about independent group representing the views Passive smoking also increases the and avoiding passive exposure to tobacco the key issues facing BSL users and to give of BSL users. We are unique because likelihood of hearing loss by 28%, but ex- smoke was also found to possibly reduce the them a voice to fight for better access to there is a communication barrier separating smokers have a slightly lower of going deaf risk of hearing loss. healthcare and information. The group also us from all other groups. In a world that is as many former smokers adopt a generally Dr Piers Dawes, from the Centre for campaign for BSL to be granted legal status. based on sound and speech, BSL users healthier lifestyle. Human Communication and Deafness at Following a question and answer session, often have no voice. That’s what we aim to The study, funded by Action on Hearing The University of Manchester who led the the Council Leader had the opportunity to be: voice of British Sign Language users in Loss, Medical Research Council and the research, said, “Given around 20% of the respond to concerns about the consultation Lancashire.” National Institute for Health Research, UK population smoke and up to 60% in with the local deaf community regarding revealed that giving up or reducing smoking continues on page 2 Photograph courtesy of H K Robertson: [email protected] If you no longer wish to recieve the newspaper, please return it to Hearing Times C.I.C. | The Lansbury Estate | 102 Lower Guildford Road | Woking | Surrey | GU21 2EP 2 News Hearing Times Summer 2014 continued from front page A note from the Editor Tributes to woman Smokers more likely to go deaf Celebrating National who dedicated her life some countries, smoking may represent a Volunteers’ Week 2014 The sun is finally here, hooray! significant cause of hearing loss worldwide. to helping deaf people “We found the more packets you smoke per Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf What better way to enjoy your week and the longer you smoke, the greater Education celebrated national Chris Shone spent her spare time the risk you will damage your hearing.” Volunteers’ Week by launching its time off than laying in the garden teaching sign language in the area, Researchers at the university studied first ever Fundraising Volunteer with a glass of Pimms and your including to emergency services, 164,770 adults, aged 40-69 years old, who recruitment campaign favourite newspaper? and set up and ran the UK’s largest took hearing tests between 2007 and 2010. deaf youth group at Bolton Lads and Although the link between smoking and Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) is an For those of you looking for a Girls Club. hearing loss is still unclear as many smokers annual event celebrating volunteers and were also found to often have heart disease. volunteering across the UK and this year new challenge then perhaps Her daughter, marks its 30th anniversary. To coincide with you want to take a look at Billie Raynor, said, this milestone, the Academy kick-started its “She was their Researchers remain unsure our new jobsite. There’s whether toxins in tobacco smoke recruitment campaign and invited people to mentor, guide and be part of something amazing. countless interesting openings, saw all of these affect hearing directly, or whether along with invaluable advice Enthusiastic and committed volunteers are children as her own. smoking-related cardiovascular needed to represent the Academy; talk about and information on training “Mum took the disease causes microvascular the work of the Deaf Academy, attend events opportunities that might just help group on residential changes that impact on hearing. and collect donations on their behalf. you climb the next rung on the holidays all over There are many exciting new roles, full England, France and career ladder. Lead researchers remain unsure whether details of which can be found at www. Greece, completed toxins in tobacco smoke affect hearing directly, exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk/volunteer. charity fundraisers and encouraged members or whether smoking-related cardiovascular You do not need any previous experience Alternatively, maybe you want of the group to overcome challenges, whether disease causes microvascular changes that of deafness or deaf culture, just a passion to to give something back to your it be personal problems or physical such as impact on hearing.