e r a C l a i t n e d i s e R & e l p o e P ? e s Deaf u b A g n i n a e Well–M
Cartoonist Len Hodson
www.deafway.org.uk
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To place a Deaf person who is in need of residential care in a hearing establishment is abusive.
• The use of a capital Deaf or a lower case deaf to describe two groups of people with significantly different cultural and linguistic identities is a convention that has been around for some time. If you are involved in any way in the purchase or provision of residential services to D/deaf people – it is a convention that you must absolutely understand. • The big ‘D’ refers to people who use BSL (British Sign Language) as their first or preferred language, who have a strong and very positive view of the Deaf community and Deaf culture – and who are very likely to have had a very vibrant social life as a member of this community.
• The little ‘d’ refers to people who use speech rather than BSL and whose social and cultural life will be with other hearing people. • Occasionally you will see ‘D/deaf’ used when referring to both groups of D/deaf people. • When we talk about it being abusive to ‘..place a Deaf person in need of residential care in a hearing establishment…’ we are referring to Deaf people. • The particular situation of D/deaf people with minimal language skills/additional needs is addressed elsewhere in this booklet.
’ ‘d e l t t i l ’, D ‘ Big 02
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n ri a e ‘h a in d e c la p n o rs f pe The situation of a Deinag residential care sett • The experience which will dominate every day of their life will be one of isolation.
same well-meaning but superficial (and potentially very dangerous) level. • Some hearing establishments may send a staff member on a Level 1 BSL course and even bring in a BSL interpreter for ‘important meetings’. Whilst these are steps in the right direction, they really cannot be used as any form of justification for subjecting a Deaf person to a life of such severe isolation.
• Although other residents may relate to them kindly, offering a ‘thumbs up’, pointing, smiling and even writing things down – they will not be able to communicate with the Deaf person beyond a very superficial level. • The Deaf person will have no friends or peer group within the establishment (as friendships are forged and built through communication) and no-one with whom to share their thoughts, feelings or interests.
• The depth of cruelty involved in placing a Deaf person into a nonsigning environment and the massively negative social, emotional and psychological impact which this has on them, can and must no longer be allowed.
• In addition, there will usually be no staff members who sign thus also reducing the relationship between staff and the Deaf person to the
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• They will have the same experience that a hearing person placed in a hearing residential establishment will have. • They will be surrounded by people using their own language, BSL. (If you are a hearing person reading this who has no significant contact with the Deaf community, it may be hard to understand the deep affection and incredible emotional bond which Deaf people have for and with their language. It is so much more than that which hearing people have with their particular spoken language).
• There will be no communication barriers between the Deaf person and staff members – many of whom will be Deaf themselves and all of whom will be fluent in BSL(*).
(*)We recognise that new staff members will begin work with a lower level of BSL skills, but will be working as quickly as possible to achieve fluency in BSL.
• They will be surrounded by potential friends with whom they can communicate fully and freely.
a in d e c la p n o s r e eaf p D a f o n io t a u it g The s in t t e s e r a c l ia t ‘Deaf ’ residen 05
e g a u g n a l l a m i n i m h t i w e l p o Deaf pe s d e e n l a n o i t i d skills/ad • Some D/deaf people who are in need of residential care have minimal language skills/additional needs. This may mean that, whilst their first or preferred (and often their only) language is BSL, they are not fluent, either expressively or receptively, in this language. • There can be a variety of reasons for the above including lack of sufficient previous access to BSL for them to acquire fluency, lack of access to the Deaf community etc. • Some D/deaf people who have minimal language skills may never become completely fluent in BSL, others will – however, the vast majority will be able to improve both their expressive and their receptive BSL skills given the right environment.
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• To place a D/deaf person who has minimal language skills in a hearing residential environment is to deny them the opportunity of increasing their fluency in BSL – when BSL is the only language that they have the potential to become fluent in. • Language is at the core of being human, what we do as a species is communicate – and without language we cannot do this. • To place a D/deaf person who has minimal language skills in a hearing residential establishment is to deny them one of the most basic of human rights – the right to language.
• British Sign Language is a full language in its own right with its own grammar which is different from that of English and other spoken languages. • Anything which can be expressed in a spoken language can be expressed in BSL which is neither ‘better’ nor ‘worse’ than a spoken language – just different. • Most countries in the world have their own sign language and these signed languages have completely different vocabularies – just as spoken languages do. • Despite the above, when Deaf people from different countries meet, even when they have never encountered each others’ sign languages before, they have a much greater ability
to communicate with each other than hearing people using spoken languages do. • The majority of Deaf people in the UK do not learn/acquire BSL from their parents as the majority of their parents are hearing. • Just because a hearing person is fluent in BSL does not mean that they can interpret between BSL and spoken English. BSL interpreters need to be fluent in both languages, to have received and passed recognised training in interpreting and to be registered with the NRCPD (the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People).
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e r u t l u c f a De • Many books and academic papers have been written about Deaf culture. The points below are a very small ‘taster’ of the breadth of information that is available.
• Eye contact and touch operate differently in the Deaf community from how they operate in the hearing community (when people are communicating with each other).
• Deaf people around the world use signed languages rather than spoken languages. The fact that signed languages operate visually mean that Deaf people use space differently from hearing people. Round tables, chairs in circles rather than rows, clear sight lines, fluent communication through windows, but impossible communication through walls or between upstairs and downstairs.
• International Deaf cultural events include the Deaflympics (which has been running since 1924), EUD (European Union of the Deaf) and WFD (World Federation of the Deaf) conferences, workshops and meetings and a growing number of Deaf Film and Arts Festivals such as Festival Clin d’Oeil in France and Deaffest in the UK.
• The Deaf community in the UK has a long and proud history and virtually every town of any size in the UK will have a place where members of this community regularly meet – be it a Deaf Club, a pub or another venue.
• For many Deaf people friendships made with other Deaf people, often at school, last a lifetime and are often felt to be deeper than relationships with hearing family members who have not learned to sign.
• Across the UK the Deaf community have strong networks and links between these groups and increasingly (especially for younger Deaf people) these networks and links are becoming international.
• For a Deaf person who has lived their life as a member of the Deaf community, to deny the central role that this plays in their life by isolating them in a hearing residential establishment is cruel and abusive.
• Whilst Deaf people live in a world that is predominantly ‘hearing’ – the vast majority of their social life is with other BSL users.
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• Skype and other types of video calling via computers and mobile phones are rapidly becoming very popular.
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g n i r e d i s n o c n e h w k s e a r a o c t l s a i n t o n i t e s d Basic queDeaf person in resi placing a • Are all of the other residents Deaf? • Are a significant number of the staff Deaf? • Are all staff members fluent (or for new staff, are they working rapidly towards becoming fluent) in BSL? • Does the establishment have a policy that new staff members have to undergo BSL training (a recognised course rather than informal in-house training) before they begin to work with Deaf residents? • Does the establishment have a policy that all staff members must sign whenever there is a Deaf person in sight?
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• Do the staff understand and have a respect for Deaf people, their culture, their community and their language? • Are qualified, registered BSL interpreters used for meetings which involve both Deaf and hearing people where those hearing people are not fluent in BSL?
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Understanding, respecting and meeting the social, cultural and linguistic needs of Deaf people • All of our residents are Deaf. • A significant number of our staff are Deaf. • All of our staff are fluent in BSL or working rapidly towards fluency. • At Deafway, no staff member begins work with residents (or indeed in any other part of our organisation) without first undertaking an in-house externally recognised intensive Level 1 BSL course – and six months later an in-house externally recognised intensive BSL Level 2 course. • Our ‘BSL Policy’ ensures that all hearing staff must use BSL whenever
there is a Deaf person anywhere in sight – thus avoiding ‘spoken only’ conversations which would be inaccessible to Deaf residents, staff or visitors. • All of our staff understand and have a deep respect for Deaf people, their culture, their community and their language. • We use qualified registered BSL interpreters for all meetings which involve both Deaf people and hearing people where those hearing people are not fluent in BSL.
s e c i v r e S l a i t n eafway Reside
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s l i a t e D t c a t n o C y a w f Dea Deafway, Brockholes Brow, Preston, PR2 5AL
Telephone: 01772 796461 Email: info@deafway.org.uk Deafway
@DeafwayCEO @DeafAnimateur
www.deafway.org.uk
Skype: deafway
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Printed on recycled stock
Andrew
s’ of resident of a number a composite is y ud st se *Andrew’s ca present. s past and life storie
Andrew is 32 and profoundly Deaf. He has lived in various institutions for most of his life. He moved into residential care because he needed full time support with his demanding behaviour which was posing a risk to his siblings. It was generally thought that Andrew suffered from a personality disorder which affected his behaviour. Prior to moving to Deafway Andrew was placed in an establishment where a little sign language was used. As a result of this he began to learn a few signs and, through these, to make his basic needs known. However, Andrew’s behaviour continued to deteriorate and he was then transferred to a general psychiatric unit. Andrew moved to Stephen Bannister House at Deafway two years ago and almost immediately began to make improvements. Whilst he will probably never become completely fluent in BSL, he now has a wide range of BSL vocabulary and can sign full ‘sentences’ rather than just isolated ‘words’. As Andrew’s communication has improved, there has been a parallel improvement in his behaviour. He has a good relationship with both staff and his peers at Deafway and he has developed an amazing sense of humour.
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Emma is 55 and profoundly Deaf. She lived with her parents until their death when she was aged 16. She was then taken into care. Emma has lived in various institutions and spent some time in a psychiatric unit due to her mental health and severe behavioural difficulties until two years ago when she moved to Stephen Banister House at Deafway. Emma’s sign language and her behaviour have improved significantly since moving to Stephen Bannister House and she now enjoys mixing socially and has made friends with other residents. “Before I came to Deafway, I had no friends and I used to fight with staff and the other patients. Once I tried to set fire to my bedroom because I hated the place I lived. I moved to Deafway and started to work in the garden and I felt so proud of my achievements. I like the staff because they look after me and help me when I’m sad or angry. I love my bedroom and I would never damage it. I am saving up to go on my first ever holiday with the other residents!”
Emma
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Robert Robert pictured
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Robert is 48 years old and has lived at Deafway for 25 years. He works part-time with the Deafway maintenance team. He gave us his permission to share his thoughts. “Before I came to Deafway I lived at home in Walsall with my mother. Then I lived at the John Denmark Psychiatric Unit in Prestwich Hospital. I used to come to Deafway for respite care visits quite regularly, and then I eventually moved here in 1990. I learned sign language when I was a teenager at school, but despite this I never accessed any Deaf services or went to Deaf clubs until I came here. I love my work with the maintenance team - I enjoy earning my own money. The best thing about Deafway is the friends I have made here over the years. We all chat to each other in sign language. If I were to live on my own I wouldn’t’ like it, I would be isolated and lonely. I would like my future to be at Deafway.”
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Janine is 52 years old and has lived at Deafway since 2004. She gave us her permission to share her thoughts. “I love living at Deafway, I met my boyfriend here and I want to get married. Staff here have helped me to learn new things like cooking and cleaning and how to wash my clothes. I have also learnt a lot of things about relationships and staying safe. I have improved so much that I moved into a flat at Deafway with my boyfriend (who is also a resident here). Staff help me to look after the flat but I do most of it myself. I am engaged to my boyfriend and we’re planning to get married.”
Janine picture
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e s u o H r e t s i n n a phen B
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This is currently the smaller of our two residential services, and provides a comfortable and homely living environment for up to six Deaf people who present with challenging behaviour. Our 1:1 staffing levels during the day and 1 member of staff per two residents at night enable us to provide a high level of individually tailored support to each resident whilst both minimising risk and maximizing independence. We provide all Stephen Bannister House residents with personalised activitY programmes both on and off site. Because of the particular needs of our residents, we work closely with our local learning disabilities team, community
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mental health team, local health professionals and specialist regional psychiatric services for Deaf people. Often people referred to Stephen Bannister House have spent significant periods of time in settings where their social, cultural and linguistic needs as Deaf people have neither been recognised nor provided for until they found Deafway. After a little time living in Stephen Bannister House we have seen significant positive progress in relation to behaviour, socialisation and language (both receptive and expressive use of BSL).
d n a k c o m m i D r u h t r A , n o s a M e v i l C s e s u o H y e n n i h W c M f f e J • The larger of our two residential services consists of three selfcontained houses which are staffed 24 hours a day and offer flexible levels of support depending on the needs of each resident. • Each house is self-contained with a communal lounge, kitchen and dining room. We also have an on-site restaurant for those residents who don’t wish to self-cater for evening meals. • Our activities co-ordinator works closely with our residents and staff to arrange an array of different therapeutic, social and educational activities, which match each resident’s personal interests and goals.
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• Included in the above we offer a range of daily activities in our sports hall, social club, sensory and chill-out rooms, and in our newly refurbished activities room. These range from arts and crafts to animal workshops. • We also offer an ‘Extreme Activities’ programme which is funded by grants and donations. In the past our residents have enjoyed indoor skydiving, Jeep Safaris and diving with sharks!
s e c i v r e S l a i t n e d i s e R y eafwa
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• At the heart of everything we do at Deafway is a deep understanding of and respect for Deaf culture, the Deaf community and BSL (British Sign Language). • Our specialist residential services are based in Preston, Lancashire and we accept referrals from all over the UK and sometimes beyond. • We have two distinct services, both of which focus on the needs of Deaf people with a range of additional needs who cannot currently live fully independently. These needs include Mental Health Challenges, Learning Disabilities, Personality Disorders, lack of appropriate previous access to BSL and the Deaf community, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Challenging Behaviour. • In addition to our existing services, we are happy to discuss the creation of additional services designed to
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meet specific needs – whether these be in Preston or elsewhere in the UK. We are also happy to offer free advice to any professional who is considering placing a Deaf person in residential care, to Deaf people themselves and, where appropriate, to family members. • We have a mix of Deaf and hearing staff, all of whom must complete an in-house, intensive, nationally recognised BSL Level 1 course as part of their paid induction (before beginning work with residents) and then an in-house, intensive, nationally recognised Level 2 course within 6 months. We also maintain a ‘BSL Policy’ which ensures that all hearing staff must use BSL whenever there is a Deaf person anywhere in sight – thus avoiding ‘spoken only’ conversations which are inaccessible to Deaf residents, staff or visitors.
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To place a Deaf person who is in need of residential care in a hearing establishment is abusive.
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s e c i v r e ential S
id s e R y a Deafw
Cartoonist Len Hodson
www.deafway.org.uk