D/deaf Awareness Talk
On the 10th March BSL Society held our first official D/deaf Awareness Talk, with guest speakers Tina and Paul Wise, who are also parents of committee members Maria and Aaron. The fascinating talk covered information about deafness, types of hearing aids and their usefulness- particularly interesting in debunking common myths about cochlear implants and hearing aids "curing" deafness. Some commonly used devices such as vibrating alarm clocks and flashing doorbells were demonstrating, answering questions about the issues face with everyday life by D/deaf people. We then talked about how hearing people can be more inclusive and accomodating of D/deaf people, such as how to communicate effectively and respectfully- vital information for anyone, whether or not they are learning Sign Language with us! We were also treated to a performance of a few signed songs, demonstrating the differences between BSL and SSE (sign-supported English), which everyone enjoyed.
We hope that the Society will continue to hold D/deaf Awareness Talks for new members and try to widen the reach, as there has been interest in from Guild members of staff! It is important that we strive to create an inclusive environment in the Guild and the university, and in our first full year as a Society, we are very proud of what Sign Soc has achieved and hope next year will be just as successful!
Love, Lottie
Secretary
