SL First - Autumn 2013

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BSL Version Now Available Online! Visit ^^^ ZSĂ„YZ[ JV \R

Age Related Deafness Hearings Dogs for the Deaf

Celebrating Deaf Life

Parenting my Deaf daughter The Punk Chef, Comedian John Smith & Sean Midnight

Autumn 2013

Priceless

Autumn’13

Contents & Editor’s Letter Hello, Page Lifestyle . . . . . .

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Fashion. . . . . . . 14-19 Entertainment & Arts. . . . . . . . 22-29 Technology & Science . . . . . 30-35 Community . . . . . 36-53

I hope you have all enjoyed a great Summer. After a slow start weather wise, we did have a wonderful, if somewhat OV[ ZWLSS VM ^LH[OLY HUK 0 MVY VUL LUQV`LK [HRPUN HK]HU[HNL of that. The Summer has also been busy, and I am delighted to bring you the result of those endeavours with the new Autumn Magazine. Following the successful transition to a national publication in the Spring, we have been inundated with requests to run stories and we are already hard at ^VYR VU [OL JVU[LU[Z VM [OL >PU[LY ,KP[PVU >P[OPU [OPZ ,KP[PVU VM V\Y KLHM MYPLUKS` THNHaPUL ^L OH]L V\Y Z[HWSL KPL[ VM HY[PJSLZ MYVT [OL 7\UR *OLM 4VUL` :H]PUN ;PWZ ;LJOUVSVN` HUK >OH[»Z 6U I\[ ^L HSZV OH]L lots of new and interesting stories.

Sport . . . . . . . . 54-73 Regional Public Service Ads . . . . 74-79

In a busy year of sport you can read about the 4 Nations .VSM [OL +LHÅ`TWPJZ HUK ZVTL SV]LS` KH` [YPWZ 0 OHK H[ Bath Races and Castle Combe Racing Circuit to see how deaf friendly those activities are. >L HSZV OH]L V\Y \Z\HS MVJ\Z VU KLHM SP]LZ PUJS\KPUN interviews with Sean Midnight, our Deaf wrestler, and John :TP[O V\Y +LHM JVTLKPHU HUK WVSP[PJHS HJ[P]PZ[ ;OHUR `V\ everyone who continues to support us.

Sarah SL First editor

Contact SL First

Contributors

Email: ZHYHO'ZSÄYZ[ JV \R

Linda Day & Tessa Padden

Telephone: 07944 160766

Signworld

Pam Fletcher & Gemma Sills

Mobile: 07786 704223

Gloucester Deaf Centre & Assoc.

Text (SMS): 077 8670 4223 Please remember to include your name and organisation in the text.

Editor SL First

Front cover and 4 Nations photos

Sean Midnight UK

Address: Tredomen Business

Sarah Lawrence

Kate Evans Photography

& Technology Centre ;YLKVTLU )\ZPULZZ 7HYR Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, CF82 7FN

Deaf Wrestler

Magazine Designed by Little Birdie Studio

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Punk Chef by Scott Garthwaite

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9VHZ[ )\[[LYU\[ :X\HZO 9PZV[[V ^P[O ^H[LYJYLZZ :LY]LZ 2x Butternut squash (small ones) Sprig Thyme 50g Mascarpone 50g Parmesan 500g Vegetable stock LARDER: Risotto rice, Onion, butter, salt and pepper, olive oil 4

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Method Cut half of the 2 butternut squash and scoop V\[ [OL ÅLZO MYVT Q\Z[ OHS]LZ -YVT [OL V[OLY ZJVWL V\[ ZLLKZ VUS` HUK THRL H OHSSV^ SPRL H J\W >YHW [OLT PU MVPS HUK IHRL MVY TPU\[LZ VU KLNYLLZ 7\[ [OL ÅLZO PU H IHRPUN [YH` ^P[O H ZWYPN VM [O`TL HUK IHRL RLLW ZVTL KPJLK I\[[LYU\[ squash for later. 6UJL [OL ÅLZO PZ ZVM[ HUK LHZ` [V THZO [HRL V\[ VM [OL V]LU 2LLW HU L`L VU [OL half butternut squash, as once it starts to ZVM[LU [HRL V\[ HUK RLLW MVY SH[LY -VY [OL risotto, add the butter in a saucepan, add chopped onion and sweat till soft. Add the YPZV[[V YPJL PU[V [OL WHU I\[ THRL Z\YL `V\ coat every grain of rice, as that is what gives it creaminess. (KK H SHKSL VM ]LNL[HISL Z[VJR [V [OL YPZV[[V YPJL HUK RLLW Z[PYYPUN 9LWLH[ WYVJLZZ HZ risotto requires patience and care. Keep repeating ladle and stirring until it becomes creamy and the grain is slightly puffed up, then add the mashed butternut squash into the risotto and stir well. Add a dollop of mascarpone to the risotto MVY YPJOULZZ HUK ÄUPZO VMM ^P[O NYH[LK parmesan cheese, stir till it is mixed together. Season if needed with salt and pepper to your taste. Put a littler butter and oil in a fry pan and add butternut squash cubes, fry till soft and crispy then season with salt and pepper and HKK ÄUPZO [V\JO VM [O`TL )L JHYLM\S UV[ [V burn the thyme, so add that in the end to YLSLHZL [OL ÅH]V\Y MYVT [OL OLYI >OLU L]LY`[OPUN PZ YLHK` NL[ `V\Y OHSM VM I\[[LYU\[ ZX\HZO [OH[ OHZ ILLU IHRPUN PU the oven. Use the hallow scope and add YPZV[[V PU [OL TPKKSL VM [OL IHZL :WYPURSL the cubes on the top and garnish with watercress. Serve with garlic bread.

Action on hearing loss ‘Hear to Meet’ social and support groups for those over 50 with a hearing loss. (JYVZZ >HSLZ VM WLVWSL V]LY HUK VM WLVWSL V]LY [OL HNL VM OH]L ZVTL RPUK VM OLHYPUN SVZZ ;OPZ JHU IL ]LY` PZVSH[PUN HUK VM[LU SLHKZ [V VSKLY WLVWSL ^P[OKYH^PUN MYVT ZVJPHS HJ[P]P[PLZ HZ [OL` ILJVTL TVYL [PYPUN MY\Z[YH[PUN HUK KPMĂ„J\S[ ;OPZ PU [\YU JHU OH]L ULNH[P]L LMMLJ[Z VU H WLYZVUÂťZ OLHS[O HUK ^LSSILPUN ;OHURZ [V Ă„]L `LHY M\UKPUN MYVT [OL )PN Lottery Fund AdvantAGE programme, Action on Hearing Loss Cymru is helping to combat some of the issues experienced with age-related hearing loss through Hear to Meet, a social and support service aimed at people over 50 with a hearing loss. Established in close partnership with Audiology and Social Services, 13 Hear to Meet groups already meet monthly across >HSLZ ;OL` HSSV^ VSKLY WLVWSL ^P[O hearing loss the opportunity to meet with their peers and access both friendships and support within their local community. .YV\W TLTILYZ ZOHYL L_WLYPLUJLZ HUK YLI\PSK [OLPY JVUĂ„KLUJL V]LY H MYPLUKS` J\W VM JVMMLL ;OL` HSZV ILULĂ„[ MYVT ZWLHRLYZ MYVT YLSL]HU[ VYNHUPZH[PVUZ demonstrations of equipment and technology, taster sessions, such as in lip-reading and many other activities.

to have a chat and have something to do instead of just watching TV. 0U [OL ZP_ TVU[OZ [OH[ 0Âť]L ILLU JVTPUN [V T` NYV\W 0Âť]L SLHYU[ TVYL PUMVYTH[PVU about hearing aids and hearing loss than 0 KPK PU Ă„]L `LHYZ ^P[O [OL OVZWP[HS ILMVYL that.â€? Âş/LHY [V 4LL[Âť NYV\WZ PU 5VY[O >HSLZ currently meet monthly in Llanidloes, Llangefni, Porthmadog, Mold, Newtown HUK )HUNVY HUK PU :V\[O >HSLZ PU *HYKPMM Barry, Morriston, Swansea, Monmouth Margam and Caerphilly. Run with the help of volunteers, the groups are already proving to be a very positive social and Z\WWVY[ UL[^VYR ^P[O TVYL NYV\WZ ILPUN planned. (Z *HYKPMM NYV\W TLTILY .^`UL[O Z\TTHYPZLK ¸>L Z[PSS OH]L H SVUN ^H` [V go to get more understanding of what it PZ SPRL [V SP]L ^P[O H OLHYPUN SVZZ I\[ ^P[O TVYL NYV\WZ SPRL [OLZL [OLU OVWLM\SS` THU` TVYL WLVWSL ^PSS IL HISL [V ILULĂ„[ MYVT [OL Z\WWVY[ UL[^VYR [OH[ [OL` VMMLY ;V Ă„UK V\[ TVYL HIV\[ Âş/LHY [V 4LL[Âť NYV\WZ PU >HSLZ ]PZP[ www. HJ[PVUVUOLHYPUNSVZZ VYN \R Z\WWVY[PUN `V\

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Pinnocks - A Delightful Deaf Friendly Coffee House

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6U H YLJLU[ [YPW [V ]PZP[ HU VSK MYPLUK PU :\YYL` 0 OHK [OL WSLHZ\YL VM ILPUN [HRLU [V 7PUUVJR»Z *VMMLL /V\ZL VU [OL /PNO :[YLL[ PU 9PWSL` >V^ 9PNO[ MYVT [OL NL[ go, Russell the owner was thoughtful and made us feel welcome. The fact he could use BSL to communicate with us was a IVU\Z 9\ZZLSS ZHPK ¸( [YPW [V 7PUUVJR»Z PZ HSS HIV\[ [OL L_WLYPLUJL >L WYPKL V\YZLS]LZ VU THRPUN LHJO HUK L]LY` person feel welcome and relaxed, as well as providing good food and coffee.”

The big chains could learn a lot from the genuine warmth that greeted us. >OH[ 0 SPRLK TVZ[ PZ [OH[ ^L ^LYL [YLH[LK the same as everyone else, with the exception that BSL was the means to communicate. No fuss, just seamless, as though it was an every day occurrence, and certainly nothing to get excited about.

Russell had a passion for coffee, and that passion permeates into the running of the business. “All of our food is made fresh on the premises daily,” explained Russell, “and we roast our eight different organic coffees every couple of days [V LUZ\YL P[ PZ HZ MYLZO HZ WVZZPISL >L are passionate about what we produce for each customer.” The following day I returned and tried out one of the OVTLTHKL JHRLZ HUK [OH[ KPK UV[ disappoint at all. ([ 7PUUVJR»Z L]LY`[OPUN MLS[ ]LY` OVTLS` and very nice, and it was no surprise to see a group of 8 Deaf people sit down for a coffee and a pastry too. Attitudes count for a lot, and in this lovely coffee house, it counted for better business for the owners and a pleasurable experience for the customers. 4` VUS` YLNYL[ PZ [OH[ 7PUUVJR»Z PZ UV[ on my doorstep. If it was, I imagine I may pop in every day, much to the detriment of my weight loss intentions. >P[O TLL[PUN ZWHJL \WZ[HPYZ PU ^OH[ is described as an area resembling a .LU[SLTLU»Z *S\I 0 ^V\SK JLY[HPUS` IL having my team meetings there.

<USPRL THU` WYL]PV\Z L_WLYPLUJLZ I instantly felt relaxed and welcome, whereas in some of the bigger chains I have been treated as though I had horns growing out of my head, and made to MLLS [OH[ 0 ^HZ HU ºPUJVU]LUPLUJL» ;OL ^LSJVTL HUK OVZWP[HSP[` H[ 7PUUVJR»Z was excellent, but the rest of the café experience did not disappoint either.

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The freshly made food was excellent, presented well and it was delicious. The coffee was probably the best I have ever tasted, and I established that

Twitter #VOÀUVWOWG ZZZ VOÀUVW FR XN

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SL First Money Saving Tips 0M `V\»YL Z[HUKPUN PU ;LZJVZ [Y`PUN [V ^VYR V\[ ^OL[OLY I\`PUN NYHTTLZ VM ZWHNL[[P PZ JOLHWLY [OHU I\`PUN [^V NYHTTL WHJRZ `V\ TPNO[ IL HISL [V ZH]L `V\YZLSM H ML^ WLUUPLZ >OLU P[ JVTLZ [V TVY[NHNLZ HUK JYLKP[ cards, the difference between getting the right deal or the wrong deal, could be costing you hundreds and even thousands of pounds every year. >P[O [OL LJVUVT` OH]PUN ILLU PU [OL KVSKY\TZ MVY Ä]L `LHYZ UV^ ^L OH]L seen interest rates held at historic lows for a prolonged period of time. For the majority of us, this has seen our monthly mortgage payment go down, but how THU` VM \Z OH]L [HRLU [OL VWWVY[\UP[` to shop around, to see whether an even better deal is available. :OVY[S` HM[LY [OL YLJLZZPVU OP[ [OL IHURZ were in turmoil, and their level of lending ^HZ ZL]LYLS` YLK\JLK >P[O [OL OV\ZL THYRL[ HSZV Z\WWYLZZLK JVTWL[P[PVU PU [OL TVY[NHNL THYRL[ ^HZ ]PY[\HSS` UVU existent. However, with a full recovery now SVVTPUN [OL TVY[NHNL THYRL[ PZ OLH[PUN up and there are savings to be made. The RL` X\LZ[PVU PU YLJLU[ TVU[OZ OHZ ILLU HIV\[ [OL [PTPUN VM SVJRPUN PU H Ä_LK [LYT mortgage and whilst no-one can predict ^P[O HU` NYLH[ JVUÄKLUJL ^OLU PU[LYLZ[ rates might start to rise, you may be allowing money to pour away if you have UV[ HSYLHK` SVVRLK H[ ^OL[OLY [OLYL PZ H better deal out there, to the one you have now.

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If you currently have a mortgage with an interest rate above 3.5%, it might be ^VY[O `V\Y ^OPSL OH]PUN H SVVR HYV\UK [V see if you can get a better deal, regardless of the type of mortgage you prefer, there are some fantastic deals out there. 6UL VW[PVU PZ [V NV [V `V\Y V^U IHUR [V HZR ^OH[ [OL` JHU KV MVY `V\ ( ZLJVUK VW[PVU PZ [V \ZL H ÄUHUJPHS HK]PZVY ^OV ZOV\SK KV [OL SLN^VYR MVY `V\ HUK JVTL IHJR ^P[O H JV\WSL VM [OL ILZ[ VW[PVUZ >P[O [OL 0U[LYUL[ YPJO ^P[O PUMVYTH[PVU H [OPYK VW[PVU PZ [V KV `V\Y SLN^VYR VU SPUL and with many sites offering a mortgage repayment calculator, you will see instantly how much money you could be ZH]PUN If you hold debt on a credit card, then `V\ HYL TPZZPUN V\[ VU THRPUN ZH]PUNZ PM `V\ KVU»[ MYLX\LU[S` SVVR [V JOHUNL JHYKZ HUK [HRL HK]HU[HNL VM ZVTL VM [OL [YHUZMLY VMMLYZ [OH[ HYL HNHPU ÅVVKPUN [OL THYRL[ ;HRL H SVVR H[ OV^ T\JO TVU[OS` PU[LYLZ[ you pay, multiply by 12 or even 18, and then compare it against 0% interest offered on that transfer amount by some JYLKP[ JHYK WYV]PKLYZ :VTL ^PSS HZR MVY a transfer fee, but the chances are, that at the end of the 12 or 18-month interest MYLL WLYPVK `V\ ^PSS IL X\PK»Z PU HUK [OH[ will have helped you reduce your level of debt, so the savings continue even after that period, especially if you swap to a new 0% offer.

In relation to mortgages and credit cards, one thing is for sure, standing still and staying with the same provider, will cost you money in the long run, and in respect of credit cards and mortgages that could HTV\U[ [V ZPNUPÄJHU[ HTV\U[Z VM TVUL`

Ecoways Money Saving Tips @V\ KVUÂť[ OH]L [V I\` UL^ )LMVYL `V\ OP[ [OL ZOVWZ [V I\` `V\Y UL^ P[LT VM M\YUP[\YL OH]L H SVVR H[ ^LI ZP[LZ Z\JO HZ -YLLJ`JSL P[ÂťZ H NYLH[ ^H` [V Ă„UK Z[\MM `V\ÂťYL SVVRPUN MVY HZ ^LSS HZ [V NP]L H^H` [OL [OPUNZ `V\ KVUÂť[ ^HU[ HU` TVYL ^P[OV\[ ZLUKPUN [OLT [V SHUKĂ„SS ;OL -YLLJ`JSL 5L[^VYRÂ? PZ THKL \W VM NYV\WZ ^P[O TLTILYZ HYV\UK [OL ^VYSK 0[ÂťZ H NYHZZYVV[Z UVU WYVĂ„[ TV]LTLU[ VM WLVWSL ^OV HYL NP]PUN HUK NL[[PUN Z[\MM MVY MYLL PU [OLPY V^U [V^UZ 0[ÂťZ HSS HIV\[ YL \ZL HUK RLLWPUN NVVK Z[\MM V\[ VM SHUKĂ„SSZ 4LTILYZOPW PZ MYLL ;V Ă„UK V\[ TVYL ]PZP[ O[[W! ^^^ MYLLJ`JSL VYN Install a water butt for watering gardens HUK Ă…V^LYZ [OL` JHU IL \ZLK [V JHW[\YL the run off from conservatories, sheds, garages and outhouses as well as being Ă„[[LK [V [OL KV^UWPWLZ VU `V\Y OV\ZL Especially good if you are on a water meter, but it also helps during hosepipe bans. You can now get jet washers that Y\U MYVT ^H[LY I\[[Z HZ ^LSS

more power to cool the air down again, whereas the frozen food in a full freezer will help to maintain a cold temperature as it will not instantly defrost. >OLU `V\ NV MVVK ZOVWWPUN [HRL `V\Y V^U IHNZ ^P[O `V\ 0U >HSLZ H UL^ IHN H[ [OL Z\WLYTHYRL[ ^PSS JVZ[ `V\ W P[ HSS adds up and other countries are doing [OL ZHTL VY SVVRPUN [V PU[YVK\JL [OL ºJHYYPLY IHN [H_ ;OLYL HYL H NYLH[ YHUNL of re-useable bags available, from net to recycled juice cartons, or you can use biodegradable bags. Unwanted clothes? Donate them to a charity shop rather than throwing them away. Better still you can now sell them – there are plenty of businesses that will NP]L `V\ œ W WLY RN HUK [OL` [HRL ILS[Z HUK IHNZ [VV @V\SS IL Z\YWYPZLK OV^ [OL ^LPNO[ HKKZ \W 4HRL Z\YL `V\ HYL UV[ WH`PUN V]LY [OL odds for your utilities, with so many KPMMLYLU[ [HYPMMZ V\[ [OLYL P[Z OHYK [V RUV^ ^OV OHZ [OL ILZ[ KLHS MVY `V\ There are plenty of comparison sites online, but these do not always list all the small independent companies, so THRL Z\YL `V\ KV `V\Y OVTL^VYR [V ÄUK the best deal – visit my website for more information.

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The Wonderful Kingdom of Thailand by Heather Thomas ;OHPSHUK MVYTLYS` RUV^U HZ :PHT PZ H RPUNKVT MLH[\YPUN )\KKOPZ[ [LTWSLZ L_V[PJ ^PSKSPML HUK ZWLJ[HJ\SHY PZSHUKZ (SVUN ^P[O H MHZJPUH[PUN OPZ[VY` HUK H \UPX\L J\S[\YL [OH[ PUJS\KLZ KLSLJ[HISL ;OHP MVVK HUK THZZHNL ;OHPSHUK MLH[\YLZ H TVKLYU JHWP[HS JP[` H WHZ[VYHS JV\U[Y`ZPKL HUK MYPLUKS` WLVWSL ^OV LWP[VTPZL ;OHPSHUKÂťZ ÂşSHUK VM ZTPSLZÂť YLW\[H[PVU 0 ^LU[ ^P[O H MYPLUK ;HTT` [V )HUNRVR [OL JHWP[HS VM ;OHPSHUK )HUNRVR J\YYLU[S` OVSKZ [OL .\PUULZZ >VYSK 9LJVYK MVY having the longest name of a place. )HUNRVR PZ Q\Z[ [OL ZOVY[ ]LYZPVU `V\ ZLL ILJH\ZL [OL JP[`ÂťZ M\SS JLYLTVUPHS UHTL PZ 2Y\UN ;OLW 4HOHUHROVU (TVU 9H[[HUHRVZPU 4HOPU[OHYH @\[OH`H 4HOHKPSVR 7OVW 5VWWOHYH[ 9H[JOH[OHUP Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan (TVU 7PTHU (^H[HU :H[OP[ :HRRH[OH[[P`H >P[ZHU\RHT 7YHZP[ 0 IL[ [OH[ ^VU[ [HRL [VV SVUN [V TLTVYPZL >L Z[H`LK H[ [OL 3LI\H H[ :[H[L ;V^LY /V[LS ^OPJO ^HZ MHTV\ZS` RUV^U MVY ILPUN \ZLK PU [OL Ă„ ST /HUNV]LY 00 >L were so excited about staying there ILJH\ZL ^L SV]LK [OL Ă„ ST 0M `V\ ^HU[ [V Z[H` PU )HUNRVR [OPZ PZ [OL WSHJL [V Z[H` 0[ OHZ H YVVM[VW IHY VU [OL [O Ă… VVY ^P[O the most amazing views. It is no wonder they chose this location to shoot parts of

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[OL Ă„ ST HZ P[ PZ MHU[HZ[PJ HUK NP]LZ `V\ H great view of the vastness of the city. >L KLJPKLK [V IL [Y\L [V MVYT HUK ordered a “Hangovertiniâ€? at the Sirocco )HY ;OL WYPJLZ ^LYL ZR` OPNO OV^ PYVUPJ I\[ [OL ]PL^ PZ ^VY[O P[ >L ^LYL in the spacious roof top bar with a warm but slightly humid crispy breeze with a /HUNV]LY[PUP JVJR[HPS PU VUL OHUK HUK holding onto the rail for grim death with [OL V[OLY SVVRPUN V\[ H[ [OL IYLH[O[HRPUN KLNYLL ]PL^ VM )HUNRVR 0[ ZV\UKZ UPJL KVLZUÂť[ P[& ;OL OV[LSÂťZ TP_VSVNPZ[ JYLH[LK [OPZ JVJR[HPS LZWLJPHSS` MVY [OL cast and crew of Hangover II as the movie was shot extensively at the bars and restaurants of the Lebua at State Tower.

Lebua, Sirocco bar ;OHP MVVK PZ KLĂ„ UP[LS` [OL ILZ[ 0M [OLYL is one thing Thailand will not disappoint, P[ PZ `V\Y [HZ[L I\KZ -YVT Ă„ ]L Z[HY restaurants to colourful street food stalls, Thailand offers a unique culinary adventure for all types of travellers. You JHUÂť[ TPZZ [OLPY MYHNYHU[ QHZTPUL YPJL Âś that goes with just about anything, but TVZ[ WLYMLJ[S` ^P[O [OLPY ZWPJ` KPZOLZ ;OLYL ^LYL WSLU[` VM L_V[PJ RPJRZ VU VMMLY SPRL MYPLK JVJRYVHJOLZ HUK JH[LYWPSSHYZ ^OPJO ^L KPK UV[ [Y` PU [OL UPNO[ Ă… VH[PUN THYRL[Z HUK H\[OLU[PJ 7HK ;OHP JVVRLK YPNO[ ILMVYL V\Y L`LZ ;OL UPNO[ THYRL[Z HYL UV[ [V IL TPZZLK HZ [OL` HYL PUJYLKPIS` WVW\SHY >L ^LU[ [V [OL THYRL[Z VU H SVUN Âş[HPS IVH[Âť ^OPJO [OLU [VVR \Z KV^U [OL YP]LY ^OLYL ^L MV\UK Ă„ YLĂ… PLZ NSV^PUN PU [OL KHYR >OH[ PZ TVYL

THNPJHS [OHU H Ă„YLĂ…` SPNO[ ZOV^ PU [OL ^PSK on a warm summer night? :HKS` ^L KPKUÂť[ KV L]LY`[OPUN ^L ^HU[LK [V KV PU )HUNRVR ILJH\ZL ^L KPZJV]LYLK there are 72 provinces alone, which meant that some of the attractions we ^HU[LK [V ]PZP[ ^LYL [OYLL OV\YZÂť KYP]L H^H` >L OHK HJ[\HSS` [OV\NO[ P[ ^V\SK IL ULHYI` ILJH\ZL P[ ^HZ PU )HUNRVR >L \UKLYLZ[PTH[LK OV^ THZZP]L )HUNRVR is, so I recommend a 3 to 5 day stay if `V\ ^HU[ [V ZLL H SV[ VM [OPUNZ SPRL [OL ;PNLY ;LTWSL ^OLYL `V\ JHU JVU[HJ[ H [PNLY HUK [OL 9P]LY 2^HP )YPKNL RUV^U as the Death Railway) which became famous all over the world, when it was MLH[\YLK PU TV]PLZ HUK IVVRZ ;OL JSPMM O\NNPUN [YHJRZ HUK UH[\YHS ILH\[` VM [OL surrounding mountains and valleys were ]LY` ^LSS JHW[\YLK PU +H]PK 3LHUÂťZ Âş)YPKNL VU [OL 9P]LY 2^HPÂť >VYSK >HY 00 JSHZZPJ )L WYLWHYLK MVY ZVTL IHK [YHMĂ„J HZ [OL roads are designed for two million people, when there are ten million people living in )HUNRVR Âś P[ PZ THKULZZ

(M[LY )HUNRVR ^L Ă…L^ KV^U [V [OL ZV\[O VM ;OHPSHUK [V 7O\RL[ HUK JH\NO[ [OL [^V hour ferry to the middle of nowhere - the Phi Phi Islands. This has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. If you want peace, tranquillity or simply some me time, this is the place to be. The Phi Phi Islands have no motorised transport so when we got off the ferry we were greeted by a guy from the hotel with H ^OLLSIHYYV^ ^OPJO OL \ZLK [V [HRL V\Y luggage to our hotel room. This instantly put us in touch with the intimate nature of [OL PZSHUK +PUPUN HUK KYPURPUN ^HZ VUL VM the highlights of our stay on the Islands, with lively nightlife and fresh seafood restaurants at the front of the beach.

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(UV[OLY WSHJL ^L SPRLK ^HZ [OL 4H`H beach. Arguably, Maya Bay is Phi 7OP»Z TVZ[ MHU[HZ[PJ ILHJO HUK ^HZ the location for the movie, The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in 1998. The IH` OHK OHYK JVYHS HUK JVSV\YM\S YLLM ÄZO THRPUN P[ H MH]V\YP[L ZWV[ MVY ZUVYRLSLYZ HUK ÄYZ[ [PTL KP]LYZ 0[ ^HZ ILH\[PM\S

;OLYL ^LYL ZL]LYHS OPNOS` ZRPSSLK HUK LU[LY[HPUPUN ÄYL ZOV^Z OLSK UPNO[S` PU several venues on the island, including H[ *HYSP[V»Z (WHJOL )HY /PWWPLZ *HYWL +PLT HUK ;OL ;PH >L ^LU[ [V [OL Hippies bar at the beach where there were friendly staff and one of them PU]P[LK TL [V [Y` [OL ÄYL Z[PJRZ >L Z[H`LK \U[PS [OL JYHJR VM KH^U S`PUN KV^U VU the beach at the bar watching the sun rise, with crystal clear waters and birds ZPUNPUN >L HJ[\HSS` [OV\NO[ ^V^ [OPZ PZ [OL SPML

6UL UPNO[ ^L ^LU[ [V H IHY JHSSLK [OL Reggae Bar and bumped into Julia, an

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American deaf tourist travelling alone, so we invited her to hang out with us. The IHY VMMLYLK MVY I\JRL[ KYPURZ HSS UPNO[ long. They had a Muay Thai boxing ring in the middle of the bar that allowed anyone to get in the ring with someone to earn [OLTZLS]LZ H MYLL I\JRL[

Most people in the bar could barely stop themselves from falling over, HUK ^H[JOPUN [OLT ÄNO[ ^HZ WYL[[` OPSHYPV\Z >L KPK ÄUK [OH[ VUJL ^L OHK Z\UR H JV\WSL VM I\JRL[Z [OH[ ^L were contemplating getting in the ring ourselves for what we had considered “a SH\NO¹ I\[ S\JRPS` ^L JHTL [V V\Y ZLUZLZ after watching endless people regret KVPUN P[ >L KPKU»[ MHUJ` [\YUPUN \W MVY ^VYR HUK [Y`PUN [V L_WSHPU H ISHJR L`L

Julia told us about a Deaf man who V^ULK H YLZ[H\YHU[ PU 7O\RL[ HUK ^L made sure it was on our to-do-list to visit OPT ^OLU ^L NV[ [V 7O\RL[ >OLU ^L HYYP]LK [OLYL ^L PUZ[HU[S` JSPJRLK ^P[O

OPT ILJH\ZL VM V\Y KLHMULZZ /L RUL^ ZVTL VM V\Y MYPLUKZ IHJR OVTL PU [OL UK. It was awesome that the deaf world ^HZ [OH[ ZTHSS ;OL N\` ^HZ ]LY` MYPLUKS` and he offered to show us the nightlife near his restaurant. There were so many lady-boys around which caught our H[[LU[PVU ^P[O [OLPY H^L Z[YPRPUN ILH\[` Tammy interviewed him for BB Deaf News about his livelihood and the video can be found on her “BB Deaf News� fan WHNL VU -HJLIVVR

There are plenty of things to do in Thailand, which means we were spoilt for choice, but we did not have time for it all. )\[ VUL VM [OL OPNOSPNO[Z PU 7O\RL[ ^HZ doing the day trip on the boat tour to the James Bond Island. ;OPZ PUJS\KLK ]PZP[PUN [OL 4VURL` *H]L H[ :\^HUR\OH ;LTWSL ^OLYL ^L KPK canoeing and had a fresh coconut to RLLW \Z JVVS" 2VO 7HU`LL -PZOLYTHUÂťZ Village) where I tried a prawn for the Ă„YZ[ [PTL L]LY" HUK SHZ[S` 1HTLZ )VUK Island, which is famous from the 1974 James Bond movie, ‘The Man with the .VSKLU .\UÂť Z[HYYPUN 9VNLY 4VVYL and Christopher Lee. It was the scenic [VWVNYHWO` [OH[ OLSWLK THRL [OL Ă„ST into a Bond favourite, and it also turned [OL WYL]PV\ZS` \URUV^U 7OHUN 5NH Bay into a major tourist attraction for Thailand.

(WWHYLU[S` [OL Ă„ST ^HZ ULHYS` THKL PU Cambodia a few years earlier but had to be postponed due to the Vietnam >HY /HK [OH[ [LYYPISL JVUĂ…PJ[ UL]LY happened, it might have been an island PU *HTIVKPH [OH[ ^V\SK OH]L ILULĂ„[LK from the millions of pounds in extra [V\YPZT [OH[ 7O\RL[ UV^ NL[Z

;YH]LSSPUN [V ;OHPSHUK PZ H KYLHT" [OL food, the weather, the people, the PUMYHZ[Y\J[\YL P[ÂťZ HSS NYLH[ ;OL VUS` KYH^IHJR PZ [OH[ P[ PZ HSS H IP[ [VV LHZ` HZ P[ Ă„[Z V\Y ^LZ[LYU JVTMVY[ aVUL I\[ ^L JHUÂť[ MH\S[ P[

/LH[OLY ;OVTHZ PZ HU L_WLYPLUJLK [YH]LSSLY ^OV OHZ [YH]LSSLK [V THU` WSHJLZ PU (ZPH (TLYPJH :V\[O (TLYPJH ,\YVWL 4PKKSL ,HZ[ HUK (\Z[YHSPH :OL PZ Z[PSS HPTPUN [V KV TVYL PU [OL M\[\YL /LH[OLY PZ WSHUUPUN [V NV HYV\UK the world travelling in late MVY H JV\WSL VM TVU[OZ HUK PZ SVVRPUN MVY WLLYZ [V NV ^P[O .V[ [OL [YH]LS I\N HUK UV VUL [V NV ^P[O& 3VVR UV M\Y[OLY PM `V\ HYL \W MVY HU \UMVYNL[[HISL HK]LU[\YL WSLHZL JVU[HJ[ ZHYHO'ZSĂ„YZ[ JV \R

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Autumn Fashion by Charlotte Lawrence

Improved Communication Standards from Healthcare Services (TVUNZ[ +LHM HUK /HYK VM /LHYPUN WLVWSL VUL HZWLJ[ VM W\ISPJ ZLY]PJL [LUKZ [V JH\ZL TVYL HUNZ[ [OHU HU` V[OLY HUK [OH[ PZ V\Y /LHS[O :LY]PJL >OPSZ[ [OLYL HYL HS^H`Z ]LY` ^LSJVTL WVJRL[Z VM L_JLSSLU[ WYHJ[PJL 0 HSZV OLHY HIV\[ SLZZ [OHU HKLX\H[L ZLY]PJLZ H[ SLHZ[ L]LY` ^LLR Deaf and Hard of Hearing people tend to be frequent users of the various Health Services, and yet despite the provision VM MLLKIHJR THU` [PTLZ [OPUNZ OH]L ILLU ZSV^ [V PTWYV]L >OL[OLY P[ PZ [OL provision of an interpreter, good lines of communication, advice or information, the primary and secondary health care services too often fail to meet the needs of deaf people. 0U >HSLZ ^L OVWL [OH[ [OPUNZ HYL HIV\[ [V change. Following a lengthy consultation process, and the development of N\PKHUJL /LHS[O )VHYKZ HJYVZZ >HSLZ have been given a wonderful opportunity to lead the way in the provision of thoughtful and appropriate services towards people with sensory loss. Health Boards have been provided with H KVJ\TLU[ ZL[[PUN V\[ [OL º(SS >HSLZ Standards for Accessible Communication and Information for People with Sensory 3VZZ» ;OL W\YWVZL VM [OLZL Z[HUKHYKZ PZ to: ”LUZ\YL [OH[ [OL JVTT\UPJH[PVU HUK PUMVYTH[PVU ULLKZ VM WLVWSL ^P[O H ZLUZVY` SVZZ HYL TL[ ^OLU HJJLZZPUN

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V\Y OLHS[OJHYL ZLY]PJLZ 0[ ZL[Z V\[ [OL Z[HUKHYKZ VM ZLY]PJL KLSP]LY` [OH[ WLVWSL ^P[O ZLUZVY` SVZZ ZOV\SK L_WLJ[ [V YLJLP]L ^OLU [OL` HJJLZZ OLHS[OJHYL ;OLZL Z[HUKHYKZ HWWS` [V HK\S[Z `V\UN WLVWSL HUK JOPSKYLU.” >P[OV\[ NVPUN PU[V KL[HPS H[ [OPZ Z[HNL this simply means that people with sensory loss should be given information PU H MVYTH[ [OH[ Z\P[Z [OLT >OLU \ZPUN healthcare services, communication needs should be established, and those requirements should be met. If health care services live up to these standards, the improvements could represent a step change in delivery of service standards. )` ^H` VM ZWLJPÄJ PUMVYTH[PVU HTVUNZ[ the various standards, it is recommended that:

All frequently used information SLHÅL[Z HUK KVJ\TLU[Z PU[LUKLK MVY patients and the public should be H]HPSHISL PU HJJLZZPISL MVYTH[Z for WLVWSL ^P[O ZLUZVY` SVZZ"

Public and patient areas should be assessed to PKLU[PM` [OL ULLKZ VM WLVWSL ^P[O ZLUZVY` SVZZ"

People with sensory loss should IL HZRLK [V KLZJYPIL [OLPY JVTT\UPJH[PVU ULLKZ ^OLU [OL` register with a new GP or primary OLHS[OJHYL ZLY]PJL"

Arrangements should also be made to gather this information for existing WH[PLU[Z"

It is important that staff are patient and sensitive in their approach in

HZRPUN H WH[PLU[ [V KLZJYPIL [OLPY communication and information ULLKZ"

( ºÅHNNPUN» Z`Z[LT VU H WH[PLU[»Z computer or paper record should enable practice staff to \UKLYZ[HUK [OL ULLKZ VM [OL WH[PLU[ when they H[[LUK [OL WYHJ[PJL"

Good signage is important in ensuring that people with sensory loss are able to access the healthcare [OL` ULLK"

It is important to recognise that LU]PYVUTLU[HS MHJ[VYZ PUÅ\LUJL LMMLJ[P]L JVTT\UPJH[PVU ^P[O WLVWSL ^OV OH]L ZLUZVY` SVZs. It is PTWVY[HU[ [V JOLJR [OH[ [OL OLHS[OJHYL environment is accessible and that it encourages effective communication. This should include lighting, colour JVU[YHZ[PUN HUK IHJRNYV\UK UVPZL"

>OLU WH[PLU[Z HYL YLMLYYLK MYVT primary care for treatment in secondary care, their JVTT\UPJH[PVU ULLKZ ZOV\SK IL [YHUZMLYYLK \ZPUN [OL YLMLYYHS WYVJLZZ. Patients should UV[ OH]L [V RLLW YLWLH[PUN [OH[ they have a sensory loss and the JVTT\UPJH[PVU Z\WWVY[ [OL` YLX\PYL"

People with sensory loss should be able to THRL HU HWWVPU[TLU[ [OYV\NO H ]HYPL[` VM JVU[HJ[ methods as a telephone based appointment system may be inaccessible to them. This would include email, text messaging, [L_[WOVULZ HUK ^LIZP[LZ" All appropriate staff should be trained in any communication systems provided by the health board. This should include developing their awareness of the need for different MVYTZ VM JVTT\UPJH[PVU"

(SS Z[HMM ZOV\SK IL [YHPULK PU OV^ [V JVTT\UPJH[L LMMLJ[P]LS` ^P[O ZVTLVUL ^P[O H ZLUZVY` loss ;OPZ [YHPUPUN ZOV\SK YLÅLJ[ a person centred approach which encourages staff to use clear speech and respond appropriately to individual needs. This is particularly important for clinical staff as patients need to understand what is being communicated to them when they H[[LUK MVY H JVUZ\S[H[PVU"

Every patient or service user who requires communication support should have this need met, by for example, arranging a British Sign 3HUN\HNL 0U[LYWYL[LY VY 3PWZWLHRLY or providing a hearing loop PUK\J[PVU Z`Z[LT. It is important to have an awareness of other communication methods that may UV[ IL HZ ^LSS RUV^U MVY L_HTWSL ZWLLJO [V [L_[ VY SP]L JHW[PVUPUN"

(WWYVWYPH[L JVTT\UPJH[PVU Z\WWVY[ should also be provided to people with sensory loss who may be attending an appointment in the capacity of a carer or as the parent of H JOPSK"

Healthcare professionals have a YLZWVUZPIPSP[` [V THRL JLY[HPU [OH[ patients with sensory loss leave the healthcare setting having heard and understood everything they need to RUV^ HIV\[ [OLPY OLHS[OJHYL"

Appropriate procedures should be in place to ensure that information is conveyed clearly to patients during a consultation.

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Signed and Captioned Performance at the Theatre by Jeff Bratton-Wilson

Captioned performance of Hansel and Gretel, Northern Stage. Photo: Linda Borthwick

As a theatre goer, I have often enjoyed watching theatrical performances in 3VUKVUÂťZ >LZ[ ,UK HUK PU *HYKPMMÂťZ Âş>HSLZ 4PSSLUUP\T *LU[YLÂť (Z 0 HT +LHM ZVTL VM you may wonder how I have access to the full performance. For a good while, Deaf and Hard of Hearing people have enjoyed having a choice of going to see either an interpreted or a captioned performance. Both offer a very different experience for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. Sadly, the availability of captioned and signed performances seems to be changing. Increasingly, I have noticed that having a choice is no longer an option for many Deaf and Hard of Hearing people because more theatres are turning exclusively to captions. It seems that the primary factor behind this trend is cost. Many theatres in the 22

SL First ƒ $XWXPQ (GLWLRQ

UK are experiencing cuts in their revenue with less people going to the theatre. Consequently, there is less money to go around and that is bound to have an impact. Pleasingly, many theatres remain committed to ensuring that Deaf and Hard of Hearing people can enjoy a wide range of performances through captioning, but the reduced income does seem to have had an impact on Deaf British Sign Language users, many of whom would prefer to watch performances interpreted PU[V [OLPY Ă„YZ[ SHUN\HNL >OPSZ[ 0 \UKLYZ[HUK [OL Ă„UHUJPHS constraints, it is important for theatre management companies to understand that this is not simply an issue of being HISL [V ZOHYL [OL ZWVRLU ^VYK ^P[O H KLHM audience. An interpreted performance will translate the English text into British Sign Language, including all of the hidden TLHUPUN O\TV\Y ZLLTZ JOHSSLUNPUN 0 RUV^ ZVUNZ HUK HU` ZV\UKZ [OH[ happen on and off stage. Consequently, interpreting a theatre performance is a very demanding assignment for an PU[LYWYL[LY [V \UKLY[HRL HZ [OL` [YHUZSH[L all of the dialogue, using their body language to show the character and how they behave.

BSL signed performance of Avenue Q, Norwich Theatre

Using an experienced BSL interpreter, H +LHM H\KPLUJL YLJLP]L H ÂşJVTWSL[LÂť translation of the play, adding to the LUQV`TLU[ VM [OL ZOV^ 6M JV\YZL [OPZ PZUÂť[ L]LY`VULÂťZ JOVPJL HZ P[ JHU THRL P[ KPMĂ„J\S[ MVY [OL H\KPLUJL [V KYH^ [OLPY

own conclusions and meaning form the show. Some people prefer to observe a WLYMVYTHUJL PU P[Z ºYH^ MVYTH[» ^OPJO usually means accessing the performance in its original language. The most important issue is that the audience should have the choice. This would be the same if the WLYMVYTHUJL»Z VYPNPUHS MVYTH[ PZ PU )YP[PZO Sign Language and the hearing audience are listening to the translation from British Sign Language to English. It is possible that they might lose out on some of their own interpretation. Captioned performances offer Deaf and Hard of Hearing people access to performances via written English. This includes any music and on and off stage ZV\UKZ ;OPZ PZ ZPTPSHY [V YLHKPUN H IVVR and allows an audience to come up ^P[O [OLPY V^U ºVWPUPVUZ» I` YLZWVUKPUN to what is happening with any hidden TLHUPUNZ ºL_WVZLK»

>OH[ ^VYYPLZ TL TVZ[ PZ [OH[ [OLH[YLZ HYL now denying people the ability to choose between a captioned or interpreted performance. Even worse, it has been my experience that some theatres are allowing interpreters/caption operators to choose which performances they want [V ^VYR ^P[O KLU`PUN H +LHM [OLH[YL NVLY any choice about which performance they want to attend. I wonder whether theatres could JVUZPKLY ZJHSPUN IHJR VU [OL U\TILY VM performances they offer in one format only and concentrate more on the availability of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people having the choice about which format they would prefer. Even better, perhaps they could consult with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community about ^OH[ [OL` ^V\SK SPRL [V ^H[JO 0 HSZV [OPUR [OH[ [OLH[YLZ JV\SK KV MHY TVYL [V THYRL[ ^OH[ ZLY]PJLZ [OL` VMMLY people, and whether captions or signed performances are being shown. Currently, 0 OH]L [V ^VYR X\P[L OHYK [V ÄUK V\[ [OH[ information. For Deaf or Hard of Hearing people who are not yet regular theatre goers, they might be blissfully unaware that a really enjoyable family activity is in their neighbourhood, and has been tailored to their communication needs.

Captioned performance of The Wizard of Oz, The Lowry. Photo: Ben Blackall

However, as with BSL translation, captioned performances are not for everyone. Those who attend this type VM WLYMVYTHUJL HYL \Z\HSS` JVUÄKLU[ and comfortable with accessing the performance via written English. 3PRL^PZL WLVWSL ^OV H[[LUK PU[LYWYL[LK performances need to be comfortable accessing the whole performance in British Sign Language.

Captioned performance of Aladdin, The Wok ‘n’ Roll Panto, New Wolsey, Ipswich

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What’s On Events around the UK

4HZX\LYHKL 7HY[` Deaf Village Ireland +\ISPU [O 5V] WT ^^^ MHJLIVVR JVT +LHM:OHTYVJR-PSTZ ZOHYTYVJRKLHMĂ„ STZ' gmail.com

+LHM /PZ[VY` :JV[SHUKÂťZ (.4

;+.: [O +LHM .VSM Open Championship Saturday 21st September >`U`HYK .VSM *S\I >LSSPUN[VU +YP]L >`U`HYK Billingham, Cleveland, TS22 5QJ

:H[\YKH` [O 6J[VILY 2013 at 11.00am. Forth Valley Sensory Centre, *HTLSVU PU -HSRPYR

^^^ [LLZKLHMNVSMZVJPL[` JV \R THYR[VUNLVR'OV[THPS JV \R

,THPSPUN SPSHU'ZJVK VYN \R or fax 0141 248 2479

:LUZVY` (^HYLULZZ +H` +\KSL` AVV >LZ[ Midlands, DY1 4QF. BSL PU[LYWYL[LK HUPTHS [HSRZ Sat 21st September

+LHM (JJLZZ *`TY\ ,]LU[ The Village Hotel, Swansea, SA1 8QY. 2.30 – 5.30pm Sat 2nd November 2013

John Smith +LHM *VTLKPHU

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Romford – 30th November

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4HUVY /V\ZL >PSKSPML 7HYR :[ -SVYLUJL ;LUI` 7LTIYVRZOPYL :( 19 œ Sat 7th September – www. JOPHTP JV \R

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Sign Gigs Live

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Arches 31 & 32 Bristol Mews, Lower Station Approach Road, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QF – BSL & Interpreted Performances – Saturday September 28th 2013

Friday 27th September, 10am – 4pm, Southampton Guildhall. Evening event will IL H Z +PUULY +HUJL -VY more information please JVU[HJ[ S JVHR'ZVU\Z VYN \R VY ]PZP[ V\Y ^LIZP[L

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/LHYPUN +VNZ 3H[L :\TTLY :OV^ Sunday 15th Sept 11 -4pm. ;OL .YHUNL >`JVTIL 9VHK Sunderton, Risborough, )\JRPUNOHTZOPYL /7 9NS – more info events@ OLHYPUNKVNZ VYN \R

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John Smith Deaf and hilariously funny! by Sarah Lawrence

0[ PZ ]LY` LHZ` [V MHSS PU[V H [YHW VM ILSPL]PUN [OH[ +LHM WLVWSL Q\Z[ JHU»[ KV ZVTL QVIZ (Z ^L UL]LY ZLLT [V ZLL HU` KLHM JVTLKPHUZ VU [LSL]PZPVU THRPUN H SP]PUN V\[ VM ILPUN M\UU` PZ WYVIHIS` UV[ WVZZPISL YPNO[& >YVUN :3 -PYZ[ JH\NO[ \W ^P[O 1VOU :TP[O HSZV MVUKS` RUV^U PU +LHM JPYJSLZ HZ º;OL *VTLKPHU» VY º;OL ;LHZLY 1VRLY» HUK ^L [HSRLK HIV\[ OPZ SPML Vibrant and animated throughout, John was born in Newcastle but brought up in 4HUZÄLSK HUK OL PZ M\UU` L]LU ^OLU OL is not trying to be. In amongst my own I\YZ[Z VM SH\NO[LY 0 KPK THUHNL [V HZR OPT a few questions, and occasionally, I even NV[ H ZLYPV\Z YLWS` 6UL VM [OL PZZ\LZ 1VOU NL[Z HUPTH[LK HIV\[ PZ OPZ LK\JH[PVU 0[»Z fair to say he has achieved in spite of his education, not because of it. 26

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John went to the Ewing School for the Deaf, and despite being what he describes as, “completely and utterly stone Deaf”, John was taught orally, and OL ^HZ L_WLJ[LK [V SPW YLHK 3VVRPUN IHJR OL YLJVNUPZLZ [OH[ OL TPZZLK H lot of what the teacher was saying, and as such missed a lot of education. John recalls one particular day seeing a class of children using BSL. He remembers HZRPUN OPZ [LHJOLY HIV\[ [OH[ VUS` [V IL told that the BSL class was for children not as intelligent as him. Naively, John accepted what his teacher told him and HJ[\HSS` \ZLK ^OH[ ZOL ZHPK [V [HRL [OL TPJRL` V\[ VM JOPSKYLU PU [OH[ JSHZZ /L RUV^Z KPMMLYLU[S` UV^ 9LÅLJ[PUN VU OPZ V^U TPZZLK VWWVY[\UP[` PU ZJOVVS 1VOU VM[LU HZRZ V[OLY +LHM people about being let down by their education. He feels that a lot of Deaf people just seem grateful for what [OL` OH]L [VKH` HUK KVU»[ [OPUR [VV much about what might have been had they enjoyed better schooling. John is passionate about Deaf people being given the opportunity to do their best in life, and often uses his act to highlight important PZZ\LZ SPRL [OH[

Despite being born with a natural whit, P[ [VVR 1VOU THU` `LHYZ [V YLHSPZL [OL potential of becoming a comedian. >OPSZ[ OL ^HZ HS^H`Z ºILPUN M\UU`» whenever someone suggested he should IL VU [OL Z[HNL OL \ZLK [V [OPUR P[ ^HZ PTWVZZPISL ILJH\ZL OL KPKU»[ SPRL ILPUN

in the limelight. Nowadays, the bigger the audience the better, and a mere eight `LHYZ HM[LY [HRPUN \W OPZ UL^ JHYLLY 1VOU has performed on stages in America, France and Ireland as well as throughout [OL <2 >P[O H I\YNLVUPUN YLW\[H[PVU SL First predicts there are a lot more international performances to come.

3PRL THU` +LHM JOPSKYLU 1VOUÂťZ VYHS LK\JH[PVU OHZ SLM[ OPT ^P[O H RUV^SLKNL and understanding of English that restricts him. As one of the founders of the ‘Spit [OL +\TT` 6\[Âť JHTWHPNU ^OPJO JHU IL MV\UK VU MHJLIVVR 1VOU YLJVNUPZLZ that he misses some of the nuances in the written communication used by the other committee members. Having decided to study BSL linguistics in support of his ambition to become a comedian, John is now a strong advocate for BSL. He believes there is great advantage in all children learning the language and Deaf children in particular being given a choice. Brought up in a family who did not sign, John also believes that parents of Deaf children should learn, so that they can communicate effectively with their own children. In addition to his comedy act, John has been teaching BSL for some time now. Sadly, that is about to come to an end following redundancy, but it does mean that we might see far more of John and his unique brand of comedy in the coming years. I had the pleasure of watching one

VM OPZ ZOV^Z YLJLU[S` HUK OPZ YLĂ…LJ[PVU on life is hilarious, despite me laughing at OPZ VIZLY]H[PVU VM ZVTL VM [OL [OPUNZ 0 KV John explained that in the early days of his comedy career he used his VIZLY]H[PVU VM OLHYPUN WLVWSL [V [LSS QVRLZ and funny anecdotes. He then started using his observation of Deaf people, but recalls that there were some misgivings around that. These days, his observations on Deaf culture, mannerisms, politics - indeed all things Deaf - are readily accepted and usually have the audience in stitches, even though they are often laughing at themselves and the things they do. 3PRL HSS JVTLKPHUZ 1VOU HKTP[Z [OH[ OL KVLZ THRL TPZ[HRLZ VU Z[HNL I\[ [OL [YPJR PZ [V \ZL [OLT HUK NV ^P[O P[ YH[OLY [OHU [Y` HUK Ă„NO[ P[ 0[ÂťZ ZVTL[OPUN [OH[ ^VYRLK MVY ;VTT` *VVWLY HUK P[ ^VYRZ well for John.

6UL VM 1VOUÂťZ NYLH[LZ[ QV`Z PZ [OL VWWVY[\UP[` OL OHZ [V IL H YVSL TVKLS HUK [V PUĂ…\LUJL [OL M\[\YL MVY +LHM WLVWSL ¸/H]PUN H NYLH[ YVSL TVKLS ^HZ ZVTL[OPUN 0 TPZZLK š OL L_WSHPULK 0UĂ…\LUJPUN [OL +LHM agenda is something that he has done MVY TVZ[ VM OPZ SPML HUK OL MLLSZ [OH[ TVTLU[\T HUK VWWVY[\UP[` PZ NYV^PUN :VTL VM OPZ WYV\KLZ[ TVTLU[Z OH]L JVTL [OYV\NO MLLKIHJR HIV\[ OPT LTWV^LYPUN KLHM WLVWSL HUK JVU]PUJPUN [OLT HUK WHYLU[Z VM +LHM JOPSKYLU [OH[ HU`[OPUN PZ WVZZPISL Twitter #VOĂ€UVWOWG ƒ ZZZ VOĂ€UVW FR XN

27

Phoneography by Dafydd Eveleigh

-VY [OL W\YWVZLZ VM [OPZ HY[PJSL 0 HT NVPUN [V JHSS [OL HY[ VM [HRPUN WOV[VZ ^P[O H TVIPSL WOVUL œ WOVULVNYHWO` 0[ PZ [OL MHZ[LZ[ NYV^PUN HYLH VM WOV[VNYHWO` PU [OL ^VYSK >P[O IL[[LY X\HSP[` SLUZLZ HUK OPNO YLZVS\[PVU ZLUZVYZ THRPUN TVIPSL WOVULZ Q\Z[ HZ NVVK PM UV[ IL[[LY [OHU [YHKP[PVUHS JVTWHJ[ JHTLYHZ WLVWSL HYL ILJVTPUN WYVMLZZPVUHS phoneographers. ;OL IPNNLZ[ ILULÄ[ VM \ZPUN `V\Y WOVUL MVY [HRPUN WOV[VNYHWOZ PZ [OL HIPSP[` [V share the picture with your family, friends and the world in an instant. There are many ways of sharing photographs, with a few of the most common listed below: ‹

-HJLIVVR

‹

Twitter

‹

Google+

‹

-SPJRY

There are many camera apps available to support phoneography. The camera HWW [OH[ JHTL ^P[O `V\Y WOVUL PZ Ă„UL MVY basic photographs, however, there are better apps available for download in the app or play store that can add richness. For this article, I will focus on the camera 360 app because of the following reasons: 1) It is available for iPhone, Android and >PUKV^ KL]PJLZ HUK JHU IL MV\UK I` ZLHYJOPUN MVY *HTLYH " 0[ PZ MYLL" HUK 30

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3) It has visible grid lines for using the rule of thirds to help improve your JVTWVZP[PVU WSLHZL ZLL :\TTLY LKP[PVU of the magazine for more information). This is a short introduction to using some of the capabilities of Camera 360. If you KVUÂť[ SPRL [OL *HTLYH HWW HUK ^HU[ [V \ZL H KPMMLYLU[ VUL [Y` HUK Ă„UK HU HWW that displays the rule of third gridlines for improving your composition. There are hundreds of apps available, you just have [V Ă„UK [OL VULZ `V\ SPRL ;OL WOV[VNYHWOZ PU [OPZ HY[PJSL ^LYL [HRLU with the LG Nexus 4, which is an Android phone. The instructions are similar for [OL P7OVUL HUK >PUKV^Z 7OVUL 0 HT assuming that you will already have installed the Camera 360 app. Step one is to enable the gridlines. For this we need to enable the composition function. This is found within the settings, the following screenshots show how. 3L[ \Z OH]L H SVVR H[ ZVTL VM [OL IHZPJ functions. Along the top we have:

>L ^VU[ NV [OYV\NO LHJO VUL OV^L]LY some settings I would recommend: ‹

=PIYH[PVU 9LK\J[PVU is switched on as it helps to steady the photo and YLK\JL JHTLYH ZOHRL

‹

,UHISL ;V\JO :OV[, rather than using the shutter button at the bottom. I just point at what I want [V [HRL H WPJ[\YL VM HUK [OL HWW does the focusing on what I want to capture.

Along the side, we have a zoom control function as shown by the red rectangle in the next image.

/LYL PZ H JVSSLJ[PVU VM WOV[VZ 0 OH]L [HRLU using Camera 360 with brief information of the options I used.

Across the bottom we have some tools [OH[ THRL [OPZ HWW IYPSSPHU[ ;V [OL SLM[ PZ H short cut to the gallery that allows:

Saving on to the internet as a IHJR\W"

Photo splice to combine photos in ZWLJPÄJ VYKLY" HUK

7\aaSL ^OPJO PZ SPRL ZWSPJL I\[ contains different options.

Magic Colour

To the right there is a button that opens a menu to 7 different shooting modes:

Effects

Self Shoot

Tilt-shift

Fast-shoot

Funny

Color-shift

Audio

As you may notice with the effects shooting mode, the shutter button has further options. If you slide the button to the left, you get a list of special effects you can choose from. My favourite is magic color. If you slide to the right, you get a list of scenes to create something different. Please be aware there is an extra download to use scenes and I YLJVTTLUK \ZPUN >P-P

Tilt and Shift

HDR

HDR allows you to capture colours that would otherwise be exposed wrongly. In the above picture, without using HDR the [YLLZ ^V\SK IL ISHJR OV^L]LY I` \ZPUN HDR I was able to capture the greenery. Twitter #VOÀUVWOWG ZZZ VOÀUVW FR XN

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Will Computers Soon Understand Sign Language? by Karl Jenkins BSc (Hons)

0M `V\Âť]L L]LY \ZLK [OL 2PULJ[ Z`Z[LT ^P[O HU ?IV_ NHTLZ JVUZVSL `V\ ^PSS RUV^ that system is able to detect body shapes and movements made by people playing games in their living rooms.

-VY [OPZ LKP[PVU 0 [OV\NO[ 0 ^V\SK [HRL H IYPLM SVVR H[ H IYHUK UL^ WYVK\J[ [OH[ OHZ Q\Z[ SH\UJOLK L]LU [OV\NO 0 WSHJLK T` VYKLY MVY [OPZ WYVK\J[ HSTVZ[ H `LHY HNV ;OL WYVK\J[ 0 HT [HSRPUN HIV\[ PZ H ZTHSS KL]PJL [OH[ H[[HJOLZ [V `V\Y JVTW\[LY 7* 4HJ JHSSLK H Leap Motion. The Leap Motion offers an entirely new way of interacting with your JVTW\[LY" P[ÂťZ H + TV[PVU JVU[YVS KL]PJL HUK [OL WLVWSL ^OV THKL P[ OVWL [OH[ P[ÂťZ going to change the way people control [OLPY SHW[VWZ HUK KLZR[VW JVTW\[LYZ

The Leap Motion is different because it is 200 times more sensitive to movement than other available technologies. This means it can follow the movement of H WLU VY Ă„UNLY TV]PUN HZ SP[[SL HZ VUL O\UKYLK[O VM H TPSSPTL[YL 0[ KVLZUÂť[ Z[VW [OLYL LP[OLY UV[ VUS` JHU P[ [YHJR VUL Ă„UNLY ^P[O [OH[ HJJ\YHJ` P[ JHU [YHJR HSS 10 of them. 0M `V\ ^V\SK SPRL [V see a demonstration of the Leap Motion in action, you can use the MVSSV^PUN SPUR VY ZJHU this code with your mobile phone. O[[W! `V\[\ IL I ^ ;\K There are videos on the internet of developers using the Leap Motion to control games, play virtual musical

32

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instruments, and navigate maps, but YLHKPUN HIV\[ [OPZ NV[ TL [OPURPUN 0M P[ JHU [YHJR HSS Ă„UNLYZ HUK [OL` ZH` it will bring a more natural interaction with your computer, then what is more UH[\YHS [OHU \ZPUN YLHS UH[\YHS ZPNULK language to interact with it. Now, just to IL JSLHY Âś 0 RUV^ [OH[ H SHYNL WVY[PVU VM ):3 PZUÂť[ WYVK\JLK VU [OL OHUKZ I\[ this system could surely allow for some basic interaction with computer systems. Imagine being able to sit in front of your JVTW\[LY KV [OL ZPNU MVY Âş0U[LYUL[Âť HUK `V\Y ^LI IYV^ZLY VWLUZ VY ZPNU ÂşLTHPSÂť and your email application pops up.

screen. Being such a new product, at this stage it is hard to tell whether this is K\L [V T` Z\YYV\UKPUNZ L N P[ KVLZUÂť[ SPRL IYPNO[ SPNO[Z ULHY P[ VY Q\Z[ TL ILPUN Y\IIPZO H[ \ZPUN P[ The Leap Motion comes with its own app store called Airspace. At this app store `V\ÂťSS Ă„UK H YHUNL VM KV^USVHKHISL HWWZ MVY >PUKV^Z HUK 4HJ UV 3PU\_ Z\WWVY[ `L[ I\[ P[ PZ JVTPUN :V MHY 0Âť]L \ZLK P[ [V play Cut the Rope and a few other games, Ă…V^U HYV\UK [OL NSVIL PU .VVNSL ,HY[O ^OPJO PZ H SV[ VM M\U HUK KPK H [LYYPISL drawing with Corel Painter.

;OPZ ZVY[ VM PU[LYHJ[PVU JV\SK THRL \ZPUN computers much easier for sign language users without much experience of using JVTW\[LYZ 0[ PZ SPRLS` [V THRL JVTW\[LY PU[LYHJ[PVU LHZPLY [OHU MVY OLHYPUN UVU signing) people too. People naturally use gestures when communicating, so this ZLLTZ SPRL H NYLH[ \ZL VM [OLT (M[LY ZVTL X\PJR research online, it seems that other people have thought about this too and in this video clip: O[[W! `V\[\ IL 1Y2S[] ;6I^ you can see some American students \ZPUN (:3 (TLYPJHU :PNU 3HUN\HNL Ă„UNLYZWLSSPUN [V PUW\[ [L_[ [V H JVTW\[LY Leap have even setup a forum dedicated to discussions around using the Leap Motion controller with signed languages, you can read more about that by following [OPZ SPUR! O[[W! PZ NK 3LHW:PNU, although [OLYLÂťZ UV[ ILLU T\JO KPZJ\ZZPVU `L[ >OPSL ^YP[PUN [OPZ 0 OH]L OHK T` 3LHW JVU[YVSSLY MVY Q\Z[ \UKLY H ^LLR HUK T` experience has been varied. Sometimes P[ ZLLTZ [V ^VYR IYPSSPHU[S` HUK KL[LJ[Z every tiny movement of my hands, but other times my cursor jumps all over the

0UP[PHSS` `V\ YLHSS` KV MLLS H IP[ SPRL `V\ÂťYL in the Minority Report movie, moving things around the screen with a swoosh of your hand, but after trying several apps 0ÂťT Q\Z[ UV[ JVU]PUJLK P[ÂťZ X\P[L YLHK` MVY full blown sign language yet. In that respect it is similar to Speech-to;L_[ JVTW\[LY ZVM[^HYL ^OPJO ^VYRZ VRH` I\[ UV[ IYPSSPHU[S` ;OPZ ^VYRZ Ă„UL but now I have to wait for the amazing software to come along and allow me to \ZL ):3 [V [HSR [V T` 7* 0M `V\ ^V\SK SPRL [V I\` `V\Y V^U 3LHW 4V[PVU JVU[YVSSLY P[ÂťZ H]HPSHISL [V purchase online for ÂŁ70.

Placing your technology Ad here? For more information email: ZHYHO'ZSĂ„YZ[ JV \R Twitter #VOĂ€UVWOWG ƒ ZZZ VOĂ€UVW FR XN

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Summer 2013 Deaf Events across the UK 5H[PVUZ +LHM .VSM I` 2H[L ,]HUZ 7OV[VNYHWO` ^^^ JSPLU[Z RL]HUZWOV[VNYHWO` JV \R

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Signcircle – by Katrina Gwynne-Jones & Christopher King

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Signcircle – by Katrina Gwynne-Jones & Christopher King

Twitter #VOÀUVWOWG ZZZ VOÀUVW FR XN

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Hearing Dogs for the Deaf Improving Lives and Providing Companionship Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, the charity that provides life changing services to the lives of deaf people, launched a nationwide JHTWHPNU MYVT 1\UL ¶ º+LHM MVY [OL +H`» Fronting the campaign was ex-Eastenders HJ[YLZZ 7HT :[ *SLTLU[ >P[O OLHYPUN SVZZ on the rise and one in six people in the UK suffering from some form of deafness, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People hope the campaign will highlight the wide range of issues often involved with hearing loss. Pam wanted to learn and appreciate ^OH[ P[ ^V\SK IL SPRL [V OH]L [V JVWL ^P[O [OL KPMÄJ\S[PLZ VM KH` [V KH` SP]PUN ^OLU suffering from deafness. She described L]LY`KH` HJ[P]P[PLZ Z\JO HZ ^HSRPUN HSVUN [OL Z[YLL[ HZ THRPUN OLY MLLS ¸PZVSH[LK¹ HUK as if she was “in a bubble”. Conversations with other people in public places were just as daunting for Pam, “That actually ^HZ ]LY` KPMÄJ\S[ ILJH\ZL Z\KKLUS` 0 was thrown into a situation where I was relating to more than one person”, she explained, “that sort of concentration is very exhausting.” Pam spent a morning wearing a specially simulated hearing device provided by Specsavers Hearing Centres. This allowed her to experience being deaf and gain some ÄYZ[ OHUK \UKLYZ[HUKPUN VM [OL MLLSPUNZ of loneliness, isolation and the inability to interact socially, that often occurs through deafness. In the afternoon, Pam was partnered with Steven Taylor, and his hearing dog Echo, to appreciate the KPMMLYLUJL H OLHYPUN KVN JHU THRL PU H KLHM WLYZVU»Z SPML" UV[ VUS` [OYV\NO [OL KH` [V day assistance of alerting Steven to sounds, but also bringing visibility to his disability and providing life time companionship. 36

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5V[ VUS` KPK [OL L_WLYPLUJL THRL KLHMULZZ HUK [OL L]LY`KH` KPMÄJ\S[PLZ P[ brings, a reality for Pam for one day, but she witnessed how valuable a hearing dog PZ [V ZVTLVUL SPRL :[L]LU ¸¯0 YLHSPZLK just how many challenges deaf people face, but I can also see the comfort and support that Steven gets from his hearing dog Echo.” Since its launch at the world famous dog show Crufts in 1982, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has created over 1,600 life-changing partnerships between deaf people and hearing dogs in the UK, with J\YYLU[S` V]LY ^VYRPUN WHY[ULYZOPWZ

The dogs are trained to alert deaf people to sounds and danger signals, things [OH[ HYL [HRLU MVY NYHU[LK I` H OLHYPUN WLYZVU Z\JO HZ [OL HSHYT JSVJR KVVYILSS [LSLWOVUL HUK [OL ZTVRL HSHYT ;OPZ not only provides independence and JVUĂ„KLUJL MVY KLHM WLVWSL I\[ HSZV companionship. David Greed is a recipient who also fully values how a hearing dog can change lives. He is married to Pippa, and has two JOPSKYLU 1LTPTH HUK 0ZHHJ +H]PK has had hearing loss since birth and been a hearing dog recipient for 14 years. His Ă„YZ[ KVN ^HZ +HUU` ^OV OL ^HZ WHY[ULYLK ^P[O PU 6SSPL MVSSV^LK PU HUK Sunny recently joined the Greed family.

They were aware of me waiting anxiously for the next dog.â€? However, good things came when the wait ^HZ V]LY HUK ^L HZRLK +H]PK ^OH[ PZ [OL biggest difference Sunny has made to MHTPS` SPML /L YLWSPLK ¸/L Ă„SSZ [OL OV\ZL ^P[O OPZ JOLLR` WLYZVUH HUK IYPUNZ JHST when the children become upset. As a MHTPS` ^L LUQV` ^VYRPUN ^P[O :\UU` HUK [LHJOPUN OPT KVNN` [YPJRZ š Hearing dogs are trained to alert deaf people to a range of sounds at home and in public. But they also go above and beyond their training and bring huge comfort to their recipients and their surrounding loved ones. David explains what could have been a dangerous ZP[\H[PVU ^OLYL 6SSPL OLSWLK THZZP]LS` ¸>OLU [OL JOPSKYLU ^LYL `V\UNLY 1LTPTH was in her buggy and Isaac was a toddler. >OPSZ[ ^L ^LYL V\[ 0ZHHJ KLJPKLK [V KV H Y\UULY 0 OHK [V IYPLĂ…` SLH]L 6SSPL UL_[ [V Jemima in her buggy while I ran to retrieve 0ZHHJ 6SSPL ZH[ WH[PLU[S` SVVRPUN HM[LY [OL buggy for us to return.â€? It is clear that all [OYLL VM +H]PKÂťZ OLHYPUN KVNZ OH]L OHK H massively positive impact on family life.

Sunny has been a great help to David and OPZ MHTPS` I\[ P[ OHZUÂť[ HS^H`Z ILLU LHZ` ;OLYL ^HZ H WLYPVK IL[^LLU 6SSPL HUK Sunny and the family had to cope without the help of a hearing dog. >OLU HZRLK OV^ [OPZ [PTL HMMLJ[LK OPT and the children, David replied, “It was KPMĂ„J\S[ Âś 0 SVZ[ T` JVUĂ„KLUJL HUK ZLJ\YP[` To be honest, the children are more resilient than me but there were occasions where they missed having a dog around.

If you want to get involved with the charity, then why not volunteer? In order to continue funding more life-changing partnerships, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People need fundraising volunteers, whose Z\WWVY[ HUK KLKPJH[PVU OHZ ILLU [OL RL` [V [OL JOHYP[`ÂťZ Z\JJLZZ ZV MHY @V\ JHU become a fundraiser in a range of different areas, from starting your own informal fundraising group, to holding your own events and activities, to joining an existing branch in your area. 0M `V\ÂťK SPRL [V IL H ]VS\U[LLY WSLHZL contact our Volunteering Department on 01844 348100 or email us at volunteer@ OLHYPUNKVNZ VYN \R @V\ JHU HSZV Ă„UK V\[ more about Hearing Dogs for the Deaf on our website at ^^^ OLHYPUNKVNZ VYN \R Twitter #VOĂ€UVWOWG ƒ ZZZ VOĂ€UVW FR XN

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Interpreters South Wales Area 4Y :[LWOLU )YH[[HU >PSZVU 9:30 4(:30 Mobile: 07595 844133 Twitter: @stephenbw Email: stephen_bw@me.com

4YZ 1\SPL +V`SL 9:30 4(:30 Mobile: 07787 126431 Twitter: @juliebsl E: Q\SPLKV`SL IZSPU[LYWYL[LY'`HOVV JV \R

4Z *H[OY`U 4J:OHUL 9:30 4(:30

4Y 2HYS 1LURPUZ 9:30 4(:30

Mobile: 07806 771275 Email: JH[OY`U'IZS[LYW JV \R ^^^ IZS[LYW JV \R

Mobile: 07918 640914 Twitter: 'RHYSQPU_ Email: RHYS'RHYSQLURPUZ JV \R

3`UU +LSMVZZL 9:30 4(:30

6SP]PH 9L[[LY 9:30 4(:30 7.+PW

7. +PW Mobile: 07702177038 Email: lynndelfosse@hotmail.com

Mobile: 07747 064449 Twitter: '6SP]PH9L[[LY):3 Email: olivia.retter@bsl-communication.com >LI! www.bsl-communication.com

:HT /VWRPUZ 9:30 4(:30

*V\SK ;OPZ )L @V\&

Mobile: 07983476037 Email: ZHTOVWRPUZIZS'NTHPS JVT >LI! ^^^ ZHTOVWRPUZIZS JVT

For more information email

sarah@slfirst.co.uk

Dorset, Somerset & Devon :[L]L )YV^U ):3 ::, ;* 98:30 59*+7 9LN 4=37 :V\[O >LZ[ (YLH

4HUK` )YV^U ):3 ::, ;* 98:30 59*+7 9LN 4=37 :V\[O >LZ[ (YLH

Telephone: 01743 891885 Mobile: 07939 600126 Email: steve.brown7@btinternet.com

Telephone: 01743 891885 Mobile: 07939 600126 Email: brightlady@btinternet.com

Interpreters and Translators

Health

/,(3;/*(9, 5PRRP /HYYPZ ;LHT /H+V 3[K *SHPYL +VKKZ HUK 1LU +VKKZ 6USPUL ):3 ,UNSPZO [YHUZSH[PVU HUK TVYL UK wide. ^^^ [LHTOHKV JVT Mobile: Email: [LHT'[LHTOHKV JVT

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BSL World A regular column about issues relating to British Sign Language

by Linda Day and Tessa Padden (Signworld) -PUNLYZWLSSPUN œ HU PTWVY[HU[ WHY[ VM ):3 I\[ VUS` WHY[ Fingerspelling is a wonderful tool for opening up new worlds of information. >OLYL [OLYL PZ UV[ `L[ H ZPNU MVY H UL^ concept, or a new piece of equipment, P[ PZ LZZLU[PHS [V RUV^ OV^ [V ÄUNLYZWLSS it. It is also invaluable for spelling new or unfamiliar names, such as those of people we have never met, or places. At the moment, there is a trend to use )HI` :PNUZ ^P[O OLHYPUN JOPSKYLU >L [OPUR [OPZ PZ NYLH[ [OV\NO ^L ^V\SK SPRL to see Baby Sign systems more closely based on BSL). A natural extension of this ^V\SK IL [V \ZL ÄUNLYZWLSSPUN HZ ^LSS as another way to introduce infants to English words and names. That is what ÄUNLYZWLSSPUN PZ œ H ^H` VM ZWLSSPUN V\[ ,UNSPZO ^VYKZ HUK UHTLZ VU [OL ÄUNLYZ ;OL ÄUNLYZWLSSPUN SL[[LYZ HYL VUS` [OH[ œ HU alphabet – and should not be confused with British Sign Language. 0[ PZ H IP[ SPRL ^OLU ^L NV VU OVSPKH` [V Greece. In tourist restaurants, the menu PZ \Z\HSS` WYPU[LK PU .YLLR MVSSV^LK I` translations into other languages, using [OL 3H[PU HSWOHIL[ [OL VUL \ZLK I` English and most European languages). But these are translations, not just the VYPNPUHS .YLLR UHTLZ MVY [OL MVVK WYPU[LK in the Latin alphabet. If it was, we still ^V\SKU[ \UKLYZ[HUK TVZ[ VM ^OH[ ^L could order – and that could lead to some YH[OLY LTIHYYHZZPUN TP_ \WZ

:V Ă„UNLYZWLSSPUN HU ,UNSPZO ^VYK KVLZUÂť[ THRL P[ H ZPNU PU ):3 ;OPZ PZ SPURLK [V H TPZ[HRLU ^H` VM [OPURPUN [OH[ \ZLK [V IL JVTTVU HUK JHU Z[PSS IL MV\UK ;OH[ PZ that British Sign Language is just a signed version of English. If that were the case, American Sign Language should be very similar to BSL. But in fact, for historical reasons, it is completely different, HUK L]LU OHZ H KPMMLYLU[ Ă„UNLYZWLSSPUN HSWOHIL[ 6UL V[OLY PTWVY[HU[ WVPU[ PZ [OH[ TVZ[ VM `V\ OH]L WYVIHIS` ZLLU Ă„UNLYZWLSSPUN cards, with 26 pictures of the letters in the alphabet. These may be useful as a ^H` VM ZOV^PUN [OL IHZPJ Ă„UNLY WVZP[PVUZ but they are not a perfect guide to how Ă„UNLYZWLSSPUN PZ HJ[\HSS` JYLH[LK HUK \ZLK I` WLVWSL 5V TVYL [OHU H WYPU[LK alphabet is a perfect guide to how every individual writes these letters with a pen, and even less, to how they are pronounced in speech. 3PRL L]LY` WHY[ VM [OL YPJO ]PZ\HS NLZ[\YHS language that is BSL, you have to see how Ă„UNLYZWLSSPUN PZ \ZLK I` UH[P]L ):3 \ZLYZ PU VYKLY [V ILJVTL Ă…\LU[ PU \UKLYZ[HUKPUN it and using it yourself. 6U V\Y :PNU^VYSK ^LIZP[L ^L THRL it easy for people to learn to read and Âş^YP[LÂť Ă„UNLYZWLSSPUN 6\Y )LNPUULY 3L]LS WHJRHNL ‰ OHZ ULHYS` UHTLZ containing between 2 and 4 letters, including names, UK place names, etc. 0U[LYTLKPH[L 3L]LS ‰ OHZ TVYL [OHU UHTLZ" HUK (K]HUJLK 3L]LS ‰ has nearly 1500 names, including place names, all the states of the USA and a list VM )YP[PZO 7YPTL 4PUPZ[LYZ >LÂť]L HSZV W\[ ZVTL ZHTWSL Ă„UNLY ZWLSSPUN UHTLZ VU @V\;\IL )HYHJR 6IHTH 4HV ;ZL ;\UN HUK 5LSZVU 4HUKLSH >L OH]L HSZV W\[ [OL MVYLUHTLZ of the new Royal baby, George Alexander 3V\PZ VU V\Y -HJLIVVR WHNL www. MHJLIVVR JVT SPRLZPNU^VYSK Twitter #VOĂ€UVWOWG ƒ ZZZ VOĂ€UVW FR XN

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Hard of Hearing – Isolating and Lonely by E.W. James

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It is strange in this civilization of ours, that people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing receive almost no concern at all. In fact, since I have become Hard of Hearing, I have found that because I do not immediately comprehend what has been said, I am often considered dull, stupid or even mentally unsound and until the situation is explained that opinion persists. 0 OHK T` ÄYZ[ ZL[ VM OLHYPUN HPKZ PU 3PRL THU` T` VUZL[ VM KLHMULZZ ^HZ ]LY` NYHK\HS HUK P[ [VVR V[OLYZ THPUS` MHTPS` members, to convince me that I was not hearing as I should. It started with me not catching everything that was being said in groups, starting to add something to the conversation, only to be told that [OH[ OHK HSYLHK` ILLU ZHPK )\[ VM JV\YZL the ultimate test was the old enemy, the television. My wife started to complain that I had the sound up far too high and it was only when she reduced the volume to a standard that she could tolerate that I had to admit that I did need some help. I went through the usual tests and was Ä[[LK ^P[O [OLZL \NS` \UJVTMVY[HISL National Health Hearing Aids. They increase the volume but not always the clarity that is required, and sometimes because of the quality of the sound, I just OH]L [V [\YU [OLT VMM ([ H YLJLU[ JOLJR \W 0 HZRLK ^OL[OLY 0 JV\SK IL JVUZPKLYLK for a set of the new digital units which I had heard of. The technician seeing to me stated that I was a very long way down the list and it would be at least two years before I would be considered. However, if I H[[LUKLK OPZ WYP]H[L JSPUPJ 0 JV\SK IL Ä[[LK with these new digital items immediately MVY ‰ V\JO Here I should explain that next month I shall be 83 and a two-year wait seems a very long way off, even assuming I am still around then. I have been a pensioner for some time now and £500 is an awful SV[ VM TVUL` [V ÄUK :V ^OH[ HT 0 [V KV& >LSS 0 HT UV[ NP]PUN \W HUK MHKPUN H^H`

and becoming one of the thousands who become a recluse, not entirely through [OLPY V^U THRPUN As I said earlier, I shall soon be 83 but I am far from the armchair and slippers brigade. At 6.30 a.m. every morning I am one of [OL ÄYZ[ PU [OL SVJHS Z^PTTPUN WVVS ^OLYL I have a fairly vigorous swim of up to half a TPSL ILMVYL NVPUN OVTL [V NL[ IYLHRMHZ[ MVY IV[O T` ^PML HUK T`ZLSM (M[LY H X\PJR SVVR at the newspaper I start or continue with some project or other. I went to Art School for 5 years before teaching and lecturing the subject before retiring as a college Principal. Drawing, painting or other design WYVQLJ[Z RLLW TL I\Z` I\[ 0 NV[ PU[LYLZ[LK in photography as a 13 year old, served as a photographer in the R.A.F. and with the advent of digital photos and the computer I OH]L SV[Z [V RLLW TL VJJ\WPLK I am not trying to suggest that I am some superman for my age, I am merely trying [V PUKPJH[L [OH[ ¸V\[ZPKLYZ»¹ ]PL^Z VM [OL KLHM HYL PYYP[H[PUN HUK \ULJJLZHY` >P[O T` deafness, I have realised how badly people ZWLHR ,]LU V\Y L_HS[LK UL^ZYLHKLYZ HYL VM[LU KPMÄJ\S[ [V \UKLYZ[HUK -VY L_HTWSL one of our very attractive and popular lady news readers gradually drops her voice as she gets to the end of the sentence and her last word is often lost. As a schoolboy I was given a small part in a school play and I well remember the Drama Teacher shouting, “James, you are dropping your voice at the end of the sentence and we cannot hear the most important part. Raise your voice at the LUK KVU»[ KYVW P[¹ /L ^HZ 0 KPZJV]LYLK absolutely right , the last word in a ZLU[LUJL PZ \Z\HSS` [OL RL` ^VYK 7LVWSL ^OV ^VYR ^P[O [OL W\ISPJ L]LY` day can become very sloppy in their speech, because they repeat the same phrases over and over, until a sentence comes out as almost one word such as, “willtherebeanythingelseyoullbewanting”. Not the best example, but those who

struggle to hear at the best of times, ^PSS RUV^ ^OH[ 0 TLHU ;OLU ^OLU 0 HZR them to repeat what they have said, I get HUUV`LK ^OLU 0 NL[ [OVZL SVVRZ ^OPJO indicate disgust, or “pity for the old guy”. Last month I went to the USA to visit our youngest daughter and their family. My grandson was graduating and we were thrilled to attend. As you might imagine for America, it was a very grand affair. Fortunately for me, it was very visual, because even with my NHS hearing aids, I did not hear a single speech or HUUV\UJLTLU[ >L VUS` ZLL V\Y <:( based grandchildren every 3 or 4 years so communication is important, but they are not used to my deafness. Together with their accent, I scarcely understood 50% of what they said to me, and although we parted amicably, I am sure I was still a stranger to them. ( ML^ ^LLRZ HNV T` ^PML HUK 0 ^LU[ VU an organised train trip to Germany with a group of about 40 people. Everything was NYLH[ ^L OHK H NVVK OV[LS ÄUL ^LH[OLY and it was a friendly group, but, yet again, whilst I was a member of the party I missed about 80% of the conversation. After dinner each night we would retire [V [OL [LYYHJL JOH[ HUK [LSS QVRLZ 0 HT ILJVTPUN MHPYS` NVVK H[ ºUVKKPUN» H[ [OL YPNO[ [PTL HUK SH\NOPUN ^OLU H QVRL OHZ been told, but whilst it was pleasant, it was HSZV OHYK ^VYR 4` ^PML [YPLK OLY ILZ[ [V RLLW TL PUMVYTLK HZ [V [OL [VWPJZ ILPUN discussed so I was not completely left in the cold. (SS 0 HZR PZ [OH[ OH]PUN NP]LU H SPML [V OLSWPUN V[OLYZ 0 HT NP]LU [OL NYLH[LZ[ VWWVY[\UP[` [V TH_PTPZL [OL ZTHSS JY\TIZ VM LUQV`TLU[ [OH[ HYL Z[PSS H]HPSHISL [V TL 0 ^V\SK SPRL [V H[[YHJ[ YLZWLJ[ HUK KPNUP[` UV[ [OL WP[` [OH[ PZ VM[LU ZOV^U TL UV^ HUK HJJLZZPUN TVYL \W [V KH[L OLHYPUN HPKZ HUK H IL[[LY H[[P[\KL TPNO[ Q\Z[ HSSV^ me to do that!

Twitter #VOÀUVWOWG ZZZ VOÀUVW FR XN

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Leading the Way – Gloucester Deaf Association by Gemma Sills

developments. Commenting on the way MVY^HYK 1LUU` ZHPK ¸>L OH]L HS^H`Z OHK a very clear vision of where we are going, HUK HKKYLZZPUN [OL WLUZPVUZ KLĂ„JP[ UV^ is not going to prevent or slow down our progressâ€?.

.SV\JLZ[LYZOPYL +LHM (ZZVJPH[PVU .+( is a local Deaf charity. Under Chief ,_LJ\[P]L 1LUU` /VWRPUZ [OL .+( OHZ KL]LSVWLK V]LY [OL WHZ[ Ä]L `LHYZ PU[V an award-winning organisation. Even H WLUZPVUZ JYPZPZ [OPZ WHZ[ `LHY OHZU[ slowed the innovation and creativity that OHZ ILJVTL H KLÄUPUN MLH[\YL VM [OL ^H` the organisation deals with the challenges Deaf people face. At the start of 2013, GDA found itself at crunch time in what had been a year-long crisis. It was faced with having to sell off its much loved community building in Barnwood, Gloucester, to have any hope of saving itself from a £481,000 pensions ISHJR OVSL /V^L]LY HM[LY JVUZ\S[H[PVU with its local Deaf community, the organisation changed its plan and instead managed to negotiate a settlement that involved selling just half the site, thereby retaining its building – the heart of .SV\JLZ[LYZOPYLZ +LHM JVTT\UP[` GDA and its local Deaf community, which share the Community Centre building, HYL UV^ ^VYRPUN [VNL[OLY [V \ZL [OL sale as a springboard for exciting future

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.+(ÂťZ ^LSS LZ[HISPZOLK ZLY]PJLZ PUJS\KL a communications support department, provision of listening aid equipment, hearing aid maintenance and deaf awareness training. It also provides regular social activities through its Deaf *S\I 3\UJO *S\I *OPSKYLUÂťZ HUK @V\[O Clubs, Lip reading classes and Hard of Hearing Clubs. Earlier this year, following a successful fundraising programme, GDA was able to open an Education and Training Room within its Centre for Deaf People, complete with eight brand new laptop computers and projector. Courses are fully under way, with around 20 people H[[LUKPUN ^LLRS` ^VYRZOVWZ VU Z\IQLJ[Z PUJS\KPUN Âş:LLRPUN ,TWSV`TLU[ ;OYV\NO 0UMVYTH[PVU ;LJOUVSVN`Âť Âş4VUL` 4H[[LYZÂť and basic English and Maths. Three WLVWSL OH]L HSYLHK` NVUL VU [V Ă„UK LTWSV`TLU[ HUK HUV[OLY OLY Ă„YZ[ L]LY ^VYR L_WLYPLUJL YVSL GDA recognises that being ready for LTWSV`TLU[ PZUÂť[ Q\Z[ HIV\[ HJX\PYPUN JVTW\[LY ZRPSSZ I\[ I\PSKPUN ZLSM JVUĂ„KLUJL HZ ^LSS ;OPZ (\[\TU [^V `V\UN KLHM ^VTLU ^OV OH]L ILULĂ„[[LK MYVT .+(ÂťZ @V\[O *S\I ZLY]PJLZ ^PSS [HRL VU H ;OYLL 7LHRZ *OHSSLUNL HZ WHY[ VM a fund raising activity. Having started

out so nervously, it has been wonderful to watch their self-esteem grow. After a presentation to a local business IYLHRMHZ[ NYV\W [OL` ^LYL KLSPNO[LK [V see their sponsorship money soar as the businesses got behind their challenge – this only happened because they stood up and told their story. In doing this challenge they are not only proving to themselves they can do anything, but to the entire Deaf community – young and old. Their determination to succeed has been inspiring, and we wish them every success.

Six months ago, GDA was delighted [V YLJLP]L [^V º.36ZJHY» H^HYKZ MVY outstanding achievement, including VUL MVY º)LZ[ <ZL VM :VJPHS 4LKPH» ;OPZ recognised, in particular, the success of .+(»Z -HJLIVVR JVTT\UP[` WHNL HUK the 4-5 minute BSL video newsletter JYLH[LK L]LY` ^LLR [V RLLW TLTILYZ up to date with news. This initiative has proved so popular, it is perhaps one that V[OLY +LHM JOHYP[PLZ TH` ^HU[ [V SVVR at as a way of increasing interactivity, improving communication, and also driving people to their website from -HJLIVVR

Monday mornings see people arriving ^P[O LU[O\ZPHZT MVY [OLPY UL_[ ^VYRZOVW" and everywhere staff, volunteers, Deaf club members and visitors, enjoy a community spirit and sense of purpose that has never been stronger. If the last year has proved testing at times, as the JOHYP[` OHZ ^VYRLK [OYV\NO P[Z WLUZPVU problem, it has learned above all else that achievements are often only limited by a SHJR VM KL[LYTPUH[PVU HUK HTIP[PVU

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Visit GDA today and there is a buzz HIV\[ [OL WSHJL (YJOP[LJ[Z HYL ^VYRPUN on drawings that will transform the *VTT\UP[` *LU[YL [V THRL IL[[LY \ZL VM [OL ZWHJL ^P[OPU HUK HYV\UK [OL I\PSKPUN" Twitter #VOÀUVWOWG ZZZ VOÀUVW FR XN

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Gloucester Deaf Centre by Kim Fletcher

2PT -SL[JOLY PZ H RL` WLYZVU PU .SV\JLZ[LYZ SVJHS +LHM *VTT\UP[` :OL PZ *OHPYWLYZVU VM .SV\JLZ[LY +LHM :WVY[Z HUK :VJPHS *S\I .+::* MVY ZOVY[ ^OPJO J\YYLU[S` OHZ HYV\UK HJ[P]L TLTILYZ 0[ PZ H JS\I VU [OL \W 2PT HSZV ^VYRZ HZ H ]VS\U[LLY MVY .SV\JLZ[LYZOPYL +LHM (ZZVJPH[PVU .+( ^OPJO V^UZ HUK ZOHYLZ [OL I\PSKPUN ^OLYL .+::* TLL[Z HUK ZOL PZ 7SH` 3LHKLY :LJYL[HY` MVY .+(Z +LHM JOPSKYLUZ JS\I PU *PYLUJLZ[LY (Z 2PT ZH`Z! ¸PT RLLWPUN T`ZLSM I\Z` HUK 0 SV]L P[ š

NV V\[ HUK RUVJR VU WLVWSLÂťZ KVVYZ or visit pubs to collect donations. For many years GDAD ran a charity for the Deaf Community from a building at St. Mary Square, quite close to Gloucester *H[OLKYHS 0 YLTLTILY Ă„YZ[ ]PZP[PUN :[ Mary Square myself when I was 17 years old and joining the Youth Club for the Deaf, before later becoming a Youth Leader for 6 years.

/LYL 2PT [HSRZ HIV\[ [OL OPZ[VY` VM [OL Community Centre building that GDA and GDSSC share in Barnwood, Gloucester. Let me tell you a bit of history about GDSSC. Just under 100 years ago there was the Deaf Centre run by the Gloucester Diocesan Association for the +LHM .+(+ PU [OL TPKKSL VM .SV\JLZ[LY 6UL VM .+::*ÂťZ VSKLZ[ TLTILYZ [VSK me recently how Deaf People used to 44

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In 1992, GDAD evolved into the registered JOHYP[` ^L RUV^ [VKH` HZ .SV\JLZ[LYZOPYL

+LHM (ZZVJPH[PVU .+( MVY ZOVY[ HUK continues to provide services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. It is a great community facility.

0U .+( HUK .+::* ZVSK :[ 4HY`ÂťZ Square and moved into what used to be Barnwood Primary School in a nice residential area on the edge of the City Centre. The building is large enough [V LUZ\YL L]LY`[OPUN ^L ULLK JHU [HRL WSHJL \UKLY VUL YVVM >L OH]L .+::* 3\UJOLVU *S\I MVY V]LY ÂťZ H +LHM youth club for 9 to 25 year olds, a Deaf *OPSKYLUÂťZ *S\I MVY KLHM JOPSKYLU MYVT birth up to 8 years of age, and hearing children of the same age with a deaf parent, Hard of Hearing Clubs, Lip reading Classes, and a Church Group. Earlier this year, the charity raised funds to create a brand new Education Centre, complete with 9 laptop computers and a projector. I strongly believe we are very S\JR` [V OH]L L]LY`[OPUN \UKLY VUL YVVM

children all arriving in fancy dress to LUQV` H ILH\[PM\S 7\TWRPU *HY]LY` Another popular event was a Pampered *OLM L]LUPUN H IP[ SPRL 9LHK` :[LHK` *VVR ;OL NYV\W ^HZ ZWSP[ PU[V [^V teams to create a recipe from cards, and interestingly, both teams overdid the amount of rum, which meant we all got YH[OLY [PWZ` Regular events are just as important of course, and GDSSC members seem [V LUQV` :JYHIISL HUK >OPZ[ +YP]LZ PU particular, with a lovely two-course hot TLHS HM[LY^HYKZ

3VVRPUN HOLHK ^L HYL WSHUUPUN H 1VOU Smith Comedy Show, Halloween Party, Quiz Night, Scrabble and Dominoes/Uno TH[JO *OYPZ[THZ >OPZ[ KYP]L .YHUK *OYPZ[THZ )PUNV HUK UL^ @LHYÂťZ ,]L 7HY[` ^P[O H ÂťZ ;OLTL .+::* ^V\SKUÂť[ IL [OL NYV^PUN Z\JJLZZ it is today without a strong team. I would SPRL [V ZH` [OHUR `V\ [V T` O\ZIHUK Richard who is Treasurer of GDSSC and to all my lovely committee and members who have been supporting me since I [VVR V]LY HZ *OHPYWLYZVU MVY .+::*

6UL VM [OL OPNOSPNO[Z MVY TL ZPUJL [HRPUN over as Chair of GDSSC, was organising a Halloween Party, with parents and

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Accepting, coping and supporting our Deaf girl by Jennie Finlayson

0THNPUL H ILH\[PM\S PU[LSSPNLU[ V\[NVPUN SP[[SL `LHY VSK JOPSK Z[HUKPUN VU H JOHPY HUK ZPUNPUN ZVUN HM[LY ZVUN 0THNPUL OLY JOH[[LYPUN H^H` HUK YLJP[PUN L]LY` U\YZLY` YO`TL \UKLY [OL Z\U ;OPZ ^HZ T` KLSPNO[M\S OHWW` SP[[SL KH\NO[LY ILMVYL T\TWZ Z[Y\JR HUK SLM[ OLY WYVMV\UKS` +LHM PU IV[O LHYZ :OL JV\SKU»[ YLHK HUK ZOL JV\SKU»[ ^YP[L HUK UV^ ZOL JV\SKU»[ OLHY :\KKLUS` all communication was gone. It was ZV Z\KKLU HUK .VK VUS` RUV^Z ^OH[ ZOVJR HUK [YH\TH ZOL ^LU[ [OYV\NO 0 VUS` RUV^ [OH[ [OL UL_[ JV\WSL VM `LHYZ

were a nightmare for the whole family. :JYLHTPUN RPJRPUN IP[PUN `LSSPUN [OL frustration showed. It seemed to go on and on and on. Her frustration was beyond our understanding. The thought of what the future held for her was quite terrifying. As a parent, that caused us much torment. Understandably, we were also concerned HIV\[ V\Y `LHY VSK ZVU >HZ OL MLLSPUN ULNSLJ[LK& >HZ OL MLLSPUN QLHSV\Z HIV\[ the attention we gave her? How can we NL[ OPT PU]VS]LK& >L PUMVYTLK OPZ ZJOVVS all about it, but he was so deep it was KPMÄJ\S[ [V RUV^ ^OH[ OL ^HZ [OPURPUN

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He was always very helpful though, and came up with some good ideas to help her understand things. He must also have gone through a hard time, but he never complained. Schooling was a worry, but, the Education Authority at that time, were ]LY` Z\WWVY[P]L >OLU ZOL ^HZ HIV\[ they arranged for me to go on courses to London on, “how to deal with a deaf childâ€?. This was good and when there, I was very impressed with a lady who came [V [HSR [V \Z :OL ^HZ [OL TV[OLY VM H ÂşUV^ NYV^U \WÂť +LHM NPYS HUK OLY WOPSVZVWO` ^HZ [OH[ ^OH[L]LY P[ [HRLZ [V THRL `V\Y child understand you, then do it, even if it TLHUZ Z[HUKPUN VU `V\Y OLHK ;OPZ SHK`ÂťZ [HSR KLĂ„UP[LS` PUĂ…\LUJLK T` KLHSPUNZ ^P[O my daughter, but I must stress here that ):3 ^HZ 56; LUJV\YHNLK HUK WHYLU[Z SPRL T` O\ZIHUK HUK 0 [VVR HK]PJL MYVT the Education Authority and sent her to a Partial Hearing Unit at a local mainstream school.

The school rang one day to say that she and a Deaf friend had been playing with a IHSS PU [OL `HYK @HYKZ ^LYLUÂť[ SVJRLK [OLU as they are now). The ball had gone over the railings and into the road and both girls YHU V\[ [V NL[ P[ IHJR ;OL ZJOVVS HZRLK PM ^L JV\SK OLSW [V L_WSHPU [OL KHUNLY >L I\PS[ H ^HSS ^P[O ISVJRZ HUK Z[\JR ZVTL hair clips on for railings. She had some very small dolls which for illustration purposes we said were her and her friend. >L \ZLK H THYISL MVY H IHSS HUK VUL VM [OL ÂşKVSSZÂť [OYL^ P[ V]LY [OL ^HSS ;OL KVSSZ YHU V\[ I\[ KPKUÂť[ ZLL [OL JHY [OH[ ^HZ JVTPUN H [V` =VSRZ^HNLU ;OL JHY OP[ [OLT V]LY HUK [OL` ^LYL S`PUN ÂşKLHKÂť VU the road. She watched all this with interest and certainly understood a message ^OPJO ^V\SK OH]L [HRLU MVYL]LY [V L_WSHPU verbally.

Battle lines were drawn each day:Shall we give in and have a meal in peace VY PUZPZ[ [OH[ ZOL \ZL H RUPML HUK MVYR HZ ZOL \ZLK [V& .L[ YLHK` MVY [OL Ă…`PUN cutlery or overturned dinner, everybody. 1\Z[ ZP[ VU [OL RLYI ^OPSL ^L ^HP[ MVY H I\Z :[PJR `V\Y SLNZ V\[ [V^HYKZ [OL [YHMĂ„J Scream, scream, scream. .L[ YLHK` [OL [H_P PZ OLYL 6O Q\Z[ [OYV^ `V\Y ZOVLZ V\[ VM [OL ^PUKV^ ^O` KVUÂť[ you? She wants to go out to play. Too dangerous. So, just jump out of the front ^PUKV^ 62 ^LÂťSS SVJR [OL MYVU[ ^PUKV^ ;OLU Q\Z[ Q\TW V\[ VM [OL IHJR ^PUKV^ HUK V]LY UL_[ KVVYZÂť MLUJL .L[ VU HU `LHY VSKÂťZ IPRL HUK YPKL SPRL M\Y` KV^U [OL hill. :OL ^HZ Z\JO H OHUKM\S Âś 0 JV\SK NV VU

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)` [OL [PTL ZOL ^HZ HIV\[ ZOL Z\KKLUS` NV[ PU[LYLZ[LK PU OLY ZJOVVS Z[VY` IVVRZ HUK [OL ]VJHI\SHY` ZOLÂťK RUV^U HZ H ZTHSS JOPSK started to help her. She was ready to learn. Now, we had a different problem. Questions were LUKSLZZ HUK ZOL SVZ[ OLY YHN PM ^L KPKUÂť[ have an immediate answer. The trouble ^HZ [Y`PUN [V [OPUR VM ^H`Z [V L_WSHPU PU H ]PZ\HS ^H` 6UL :\TTLY ^L OHK [HU[Y\TZ L]LY` UPNO[ ILJH\ZL ZOL >(: 56; NVPUN to bed when it was daylight. Eventually, we decided that we would try to explain why P[ ^HZ KHYR LHYSPLY VU >PU[LY L]LUPUNZ HUK SPNO[LY PU [OL :\TTLY ;OPZ ^HZ H [YPJR` one, to say the least. It ended up with my O\ZIHUK ZVU HUK 0 OVSKPUN H IPN [VYJO [OL Z\U H IHSS [OL LHY[O HUK HU VYHUNL [OL

TVVU >L ^LYL Y\UUPUN HYV\UK SPRL THK things for ages but she got the message in the end. It was an education for me [VV ;OHUR NVVKULZZ MVY HU VSK *OPSKYLUÂťZ ,UJ`JSVWHLKPH UV PU[LYUL[ PU [OVZL KH`Z About this time she joined the Brownies and as we lived on a new estate, there were plenty of children to play with. In that YLZWLJ[ ZOL ^HZ ]LY` S\JR` >L ^PSS HS^H`Z IL NYH[LM\S [V [OVZL RPKZ 0M [OLYL ^LYL HU` ^LLRZ H^H` MYVT ZJOVVS SPRL V\[^HYK IV\UK JV\YZLZ ZOL ^HZ Ă„YZ[ VU [OL SPZ[ She was extremely popular, in spite of everything. She was a bit of a dare-devil and a good sport, so this helped her a lot.

In primary school, she spent almost all day in the Partial Hearing Unit. They did some ]LY` NVVK [OPUNZ [OLYL SPRL [HRPUN [OL Deaf children, by arrangement, to a small ZOVW SPRL H UL^ZHNLU[ ;OL RPKZ HSS OHK H small amount of money to spend and were shown how to do their own shopping. It taught them a little bit about budgeting as ^LSS HZ NP]PUN [OLT H IP[ VM JVUĂ„KLUJL 6U a personal level, I found it worth explaining the situation to the managers in shops we used regularly. You would be surprised at how co-operative they were. It turned a UPNO[THYL PU[V ZVTL[OPUN [V SVVR MVY^HYK to, as she loved all the attention she was getting. Similarly, when she was a bit older, we would let her deal with shop

assistants herself, so if she wanted a top in a different size or colour, then she tried to get this over by herself. I remember her marching one assistant to the shop window so that the light was on her face. Someone was always on hand, in case of WYVISLTZ I\[ P[ OLSWLK [V THRL OLY H IP[ TVYL PUKLWLUKLU[ +PMĂ„J\S[ H[ Ă„YZ[ I\[ P[ was worth it. Going to Comprehensive was a whole UL^ IHSS NHTL 6[OLY [OHU ILPUN L_LTW[ from languages, she went to all other classes, and had extra tuition in English and Arithmetic when the others were doing -YLUJO VY >LSZO ;OPZ NH]L OLY H JOHUJL [V ZLL ^OH[ ZOL SPRLK :OL X\P[L SPRLK ZJOVVS HUK THKL SVHKZ VM MYPLUKZ I\[ I` HIV\[ ZOL ^HZ ILJVTPUN ]LY` KPMĂ„J\S[ HNHPU >LÂť]L all been teenagers, when a spot on your nose is the end of the world, but she blamed everything on her being Deaf and seemed to be in a permanent strop. At OVTL HU`^H` +YHZ[PJ HJ[PVU ^HZ ULLKLK My own mother had a deaf neighbour. She was older than our children and had been away to school and used Sign Language. My daughter was fascinated by her and always wanted to go and see OLY 0 YLTLTILYLK [OL SHK`ÂťZ [HSR PU 3VUKVU 11 years previous, on the importance of communication, so, much against [OL ZJOVVSÂťZ HK]PJL 0 [VVR OLY [V ):3 JSHZZLZ ;OPZ HJ[PVU ^HZ ():63<;,3@ 30-, */(5.05. MVY OLY She was soon off to Deaf Clubs all over the place and really enjoyed the relaxation. In addition, she got a part-time job in the local shop, which was great for her JVUĂ„KLUJL HUK NH]L OLY H IP[ VM TVUL` VM her own. >L HSZV WLYZ\HKLK OLY [V OH]L H NV H[ NVSM :OL [VVR [V P[ SPRL H K\JR [V ^H[LY, became quite good and even had time off ZJOVVS [V WSH` MVY [OL 3HKPLZÂť [LHT ;OPZ was also life-changing in a way because

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P[ THKL OLY YLHSPZL [OH[ ZOL KPKUÂť[ HS^H`Z need to hear to be good at something. She still loves her golf. In fact, a few years ago, ZOL ^LU[ [V (\Z[YHSPH [V WSH` H[ [OL >VYSK Deaf Championships.

>OLU P[ JHTL [V JOVPJLZ MVY 6 3L]LS subjects, other than Maths and English, we decided to let her do what she wanted to. She chose all non-academic things and did ]LY` ^LSS PU [OLT >L MLS[ P[ ^HZ PTWVY[HU[ MVY OLY JVUĂ„KLUJL [V OH]L YLZ\S[Z PU HU` subject she wanted. She could always improve later. This proved to be exactly the case.

At 17, she had had enough of school. She ^HZ KVPUN ( SL]LS (Y[ HUK Ă„UKPUN P[ MHY [VV KPMĂ„J\S[ :V ZOL NV[ VU HU HY[ÂśIHZLK @V\[O Training Scheme to train in Graphic Design. Even though her wages were terrible, ZOL LUQV`LK [OL ^VYR HUK T\Z[ OH]L been good at it, as they gave her a lot of responsibility and she even visited clients on behalf of the company. Her intelligence was now showing and she was absolutely determined to do well, but became very angry when she was left out of meetings HUK KLJPZPVU THRPUN [V KV ^P[O OLY ^VYR 50

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This was a shame. At around this time ZOL ^HZ ]LY` T\JO PU]VS]LK ^P[O KVPUN OLY +\RL VM ,KPUI\YNO (^HYK HUK ZOL ^HZ Z\JJLZZM\S H[ HJOPL]PUN [OPZ H[ .VSK Level. Part of the course involved having H ^VYRPUN OVSPKH` PU ;YPUPKHK HUK ;VIHNV which she really enjoyed. As miserable as ZPU ^OLU ZOL JHTL OVTL TPUK ;OL WHY[` that went included a partial hearing boy ^OV ZOL RUL^ MYVT ZJOVVS I\[ V[OLY^PZL L]LY`VUL ^HZ OLHYPUN WS\Z ZOLÂťK UL]LY seen them before in her life. This was a huge experience. The locals out there loved OLY HUK [YLH[LK OLY ZV ^LSS 0 [OPUR [OL` admired her efforts.

:OL NV[ THYYPLK HUK OHZ OLHYPUN JOPSKYLU ^OV HYL UV^ [LLUHNLYZ. They HYL NYLH[ RPKZ >OLU VU TH[LYUP[` SLH]L with her 2nd child she decided that she wanted a lot more from life, with regard [V OLY ^VYR :OL ^LU[ [V L]LUPUN ZJOVVS ^P[O HU PU[LYWYL[LY [V X\HSPM` HZ HU (K\S[ Education teacher. In conjunction with this, she sat all the necessary BSL exams. Since 1998 , she has taught BSL and for the last 10 years or so, she has been self-employed. She still teaches BSL. In addition, she goes all over the place teaching Deaf Awareness. She even went

to Qatar doing this. You may have seen her signing on TV or appearing on the news from time to time. She also does a lot of other things that are way over my head, including her own web-site. As ever, she becomes totally self-absorbed when doing something new, and she is totally JVTTP[[LK [V THRPUN H Z\JJLZZ VM OLY life. She says it is important for people to RUV^ [OPZ X\V[L ¹[OL KLHM JHU KV P[¹ ;OPZ girl, this woman, is passionate about equal status for Deaf people and she will always THRL [PTL [V OLSW [OVZL +LHM ^OV HYL SLZZ fortunate than her. 6UL O\NL HZZL[ [OH[ ZOL OHZ PZ OLY HIPSP[` [V IL H[ LHZL ^P[O HSS ZVY[Z VM people. Time permitting, she still visits her local Deaf Club and has a chat with the people there, who are, generally, from HU VSKLY NLULYH[PVU HUK OH]LU»[ LUQV`LK some of the privileges that she has had. 6U [OL V[OLY LUK VM [OL ZJHSL ZOL OHZ TL[ a few members of the Royal Family and she was perfectly at ease with all of them. She is never self-conscious because of her

deafness and is not afraid to persist if she ÄUKZ P[ KPMÄJ\S[ [V \UKLYZ[HUK ZVTLVUL This ability to communicate with people, MYVT HSS ^HSRZ VM SPML PZ ZV ]LY` PTWVY[HU[ to anyone, never mind a Deaf person, and it has certainly helped her in life. /LY [OPYZ[ MVY RUV^SLKNL OLY ^PSM\SULZZ HUK her determination to prove that she can do everything as well as, if not better than, everyone else is what made her such hard ^VYR HZ H JOPSK I\[ P[»Z HSZV ^OH[ OHZ THKL her into the successful person that she is today.

Her mantra has always been that “the deaf can do it”. She certainly JHU HUK 0 RUV^ [OH[ ZOL OHZ OLSWLK others to feel more positive about themselves or their deaf children. She has made me very proud. Jennie Finlayson Photos provided by Karen Parker and Rachel Wilks Twitter #VOÀUVWOWG ZZZ VOÀUVW FR XN

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SL First World Deaf Photos >L PU]P[LK V\Y YLHKLYZ MYVT HYV\UK [OL ^VYSK [V ZOHYL H WOV[VNYHWO [HRLU SVJHSS` ^P[O \Z ;OLZL HYL ZVTL VM [OL LU[YPLZ ^L OHK ZLU[ [V \Z 0M `V\ ^V\SK SPRL [V [HRL H WPJ[\YL VM `V\Y OVTL[V^U SVJH[PVU HUK OH]L P[ W\ISPZOLK PU [OL UL_[ LKP[PVU VM :3 -PYZ[ WSLHZL ZLUK `V\Y WOV[VNYHWOZ [V ZHYHO'ZSÄYZ[ JV \R

Argentina. Photo by Richard Wienbaum

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Photo by Susan J. Zupnik

Buenos Aires Zoo

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Wheelchair Dancing Deaf Teaching ;OL >OLLSJOHPY +HUJL :WVY[ (ZZVJPH[PVU <2 PZ H UH[PVUHS JOHYP[` HUK [OL NV]LYUPUN IVK` MVY >OLLSJOHPY +HUJL :WVY[ HUK YLJYLH[PVUHS ^OLLSJOHPY KHUJPUN ^P[OPU [OL <2

;OL >+:( <2 JYLH[L PUUV]H[P]L HUK exciting ways to engage and inspire everyone, regardless of their age or HIPSP[` ZV [OL` OH]L [OL JOHUJL [V [HRL part in high quality wheelchair dancing or wheelchair dance sport within the UK. 6]LY H U\TILY VM `LHYZ [OL` OH]L ^VYRLK ^P[O H ^PKL YHUNL VM WLVWSL including wheelchair users, the elderly, and people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The people who have been PU]VS]LK PU >OLLSJOHPY +HUJL :WVY[ PU]HYPHIS` [HSR HIV\[ [OL ILULĂ„JPHS impact on their lives. It is a fun source of exercise and activity as well opening up new social activities, friendships and companionship.

>L HPT [V WYVTV[L HUK KL]LSVW wheelchair dancing as a sport and leisure HJ[P]P[` HJYVZZ [OL JV\U[Y` >L HSZV HPT [V THRL KHUJPUN M\U HUK L_JP[PUN MVY V\Y TLTILYZ HUK ^VYRZOVW WHY[PJPWHU[Z ZV that people who do wheelchair dance are proud to say ¸0 JHU KV [OH[ š

6UL VM V\Y Z\JJLZZ Z[VYPLZ PZ 3PZH 3PZH H[[LUKLK H ^VYRZOVW HIV\[ ^OLLSJOHPY dance and appeared to be treating it HZ H IP[ VM H QVRL :OL ^HZ UV[ Z[HY[PUN the dances when requested to do so by the instructor, and then laughed as she dashed to catch up with the other dancers. The instructor went over to her K\YPUN H ZOVY[ IYLHR [V HZR OLY [V SPZ[LU better to the instructions given, only for Lisa to apologise to the instructor and 54

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explaining that she had forgotten to put on her hearing aids. You can imagine the Z\YWYPZL VM [OL PUZ[Y\J[VY >P[O L_WLYPLUJL VM ^VYRPUN ^P[O Deaf people, the instructor was able to sign to Lisa apologising for the misunderstanding and giving her a OHYK [PTL 6UJL [OL IYLHR ^HZ V]LY [OL dancing recommenced, this time with the instructor signing the direction and number of steps, and the session proved to be a great success.

[OL ILULÄ[Z VM WHY[PJPWH[PUN PU V\Y activities. >L HYL HS^H`Z SVVRPUN MVY WLVWSL HYV\UK [OL <2 [V Z\WWVY[ [OL ^VYR VM our local groups and our national team. 0M `V\ ^V\SK SPRL [V KVUH[L WSLHZL [L_[ >+:( ‰ [V VY KVUH[L ]PH V\Y website. You can also support us by giving your time or by supporting our events.

At the end of the session Lisa told the instructor how much she had enjoyed [OL KHUJPUN HUK HZRLK HIV\[ ILJVTPUN an instructor. The instructor told Lisa that they ran instructor training courses if she was interested. However, whilst Lisa wanted to do the course, she felt she would not be able to do it because she would not be able to follow the discussion. The instructor told her that they would interpret the entire course for her if she really wanted to do it. Lisa was Z[\UULK [OH[ [OPZ X\HSPĂ„JH[PVU JV\SK IL VWLU [V OLY HUK PTTLKPH[LS` JVUĂ„YTLK her attendance on the course. Lisa has since completed the instructor course and started running her own dance classes. She also enrolled on a university degree course in nursing, something that she had always wanted to do, but had never had the courage [V [Y` ILJH\ZL ZOL ^HZ KLHM ;HRPUN and passing the instructors course has NP]LU OLY [OL JVUĂ„KLUJL [OH[ ZOL JHU KV anything, if she believes in herself and her ability. Her group is still going strong and increasing in numbers, with several of the dancers going on to do well in dance competitions. ;V Ă„UK V\[ TVYL HIV\[ [OL >+:( HUK your nearest group go to ^^^ ^KZH\R JV \R ^OLYL `V\ ^PSS Ă„UK ]PKLVZ VM V\Y ^VYR HSVUN ^P[O JHZL Z[\KPLZ ZOV^PUN

@V\ JHU JHSS [OL >+:( <2 VU VY LTHPS PUMV'^KZH\R JV \R Please also see \Z VU -HJLIVVR ^^^ MHJLIVVR JVT ^KZH\R VY ;^P[[LY '^KZH\R

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'HDà \PSLFV 2013 A quick look at Team GB’s performance

;OL UK :\TTLY +LHĂ…`TWPJZ NHTLZ OH]L Q\Z[ JVTL [V H JSVZL PU :VĂ„H ;OL +LHĂ…`TWPJZ PZ VUL VM [OL SVUNLZ[ Y\UUPUN T\S[P ZWVY[ L]LU[Z PU OPZ[VY` VUS` ILH[LU I` [OL 6S`TWPJZ 0[ Z[HY[LK PU PU 7HYPZ ^P[O [OL Âş:PSLU[ .HTLZÂť OLSK K\YPUN [OL ZHTL :\TTLY HZ [OL 6S`TWPJZ

6YPNPUHSS` [OL NHTLZ ^LYL [V IL OLSK PU ([OLUZ .YLLJL I\[ K\L [V Ă„UHUJPHS problems, they had to withdraw from OVZ[PUN [OPZ `LHYÂťZ NHTLZ :VĂ„H OHK already hosted the games previously in I\[ Z[LWWLK PU HUK VMMLYLK [V [HRL V]LY [OPZ `LHYÂťZ WYVJLLKPUNZ >OPSL V\Y .) [LHT VM WLVWSL KPK really well and came away with 5 medals, the undeniable winner this year was Russia winning a staggering 177 medals PUJS\KPUN .VSK 0U ZLJVUK WSHJL ^HZ <RYHPUL ^P[O TLKHSZ HUK :V\[O 2VYLH came in third with 42 medals.

Team GB were awarded 2 medals for the ([OSL[PJZ [LHT" 3H\YLU 7LMMLYZ ^HZ ^VU H :PS]LY TLKHS MVY [OL >VTLUÂťZ T HUK Mel Jewett won a Bronze medal in the >VTLUÂťZ 4HYH[OVU ;OLYL ^LYL TLKHSZ for Cycling, both won by Tom Smith 0UKP]PK\HS 9VHK 9HJL Âś :PS]LY HUK 7VPU[Z 9HJL Âś )YVUaL HUK [OL >VTLUÂťZ -VV[IHSS team also won a Bronze medal. (M[LY SHZ[ `LHYÂťZ Z\JJLZZ H[ [OL 6S`TWPJ and Paralympic games where both GB ZX\HKZ Ă„UPZOLK PU [OPYK WSHJL PU [OL V]LYHSS TLKHS [HISLZ P[ÂťZ H O\NL ZOHTL [OH[ [OL .) +LHĂ…`TWPJZ [LHT JV\SKUÂť[ X\P[L RLLW \W [OH[ WLYMVYTHUJL Ă„UPZOPUN in 33rd place.

;OPZ `LHYÂťZ NHTLZ YHU IL[^LLU 1\S` 25th and August 4th and were held in :VĂ„H )\SNHYPH HM[LY HU PUP[PHS OPJJ\W

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6UL YLHZVU MVY [OPZ JV\SK IL [OH[ \USPRL [OL 6S`TWPJZ HUK 7HYHS`TWPJZ [OL UK Government does not provide any M\UKPUN ZWVUZVYZOPW MVY [OL +LHĂ…`TWPJ

athletes, so they are forced to pay for L]LY`[OPUN [OLTZLS]LZ 6U H]LYHNL LHJO athlete attending was required to pay more than ÂŁ2,000 of their own money [V H[[LUK [OL NHTLZ VY \UKLY[HRL SHYNL fundraising activities to try and subsidise the cost. As a result of this, most of the British athletes need to have full time QVIZ [V THRL LUKZ TLL[ HUK [OLU \ZL any money left over to fund their own ZWVY[Z HJ[P]P[PLZ :VTL VM [OL +LHĂ…`TWPJ ZX\HKZ MYVT V[OLY JV\U[YPLZ HUK V\Y V^U 6S`TWPJ 7HYHS`TWPJ ZX\HKZ HYL M\SS` funded to attend the events and also for the training. This allows them to train at a WYVMLZZPVUHS SL]LS HUK TLHUZ [OL` KVUÂť[ need to also have a full time job.

SL First caught up with Dominic Caswell, one of the Team GB Badminton players [V Ă„UK V\[ ^OH[ P[ ^HZ SPRL ILPUN H WHY[ VM [OPZ `LHYÂťZ +LHĂ…`TWPJZ OL ZHPK ¸1\Z[ ILPUN H WHY[ VM [OL +LHĂ…`TWPJZ PZ H MHU[HZ[PJ L_WLYPLUJL HUK P[ÂťZ HSZV H chance to meet with athletes from other sports, to support each other, have a great time and still be able to focus on HJOPL]PUN V\Y V^U NVHSZ š >L HSZV HZRLK him about the differences in the number VM TLKHSZ IL[^LLU +LHĂ…`TWPJZ HUK [OL 7HYHS`TWPJZ +VTPUPJ ZHPK ¸0 [OPUR P[ÂťZ K\L [V H JVTIPUH[PVU VM MHJ[VYZ" [OLYL PZ H SHJR VM WLVWSL ^PSSPUN [V [YHPU H[ Z\JO a high level, most other countries offer state sponsorship covering years worth of training and also some countries were offering large cash prizes for those ^PUUPUN TLKHSZ 0M 0ÂťT OVULZ[ 0 ^HZ hoping for maybe another medal or two for us, but it is a fantastic achievement to get as many as we did.â€? SL First wholeheartedly agrees with this and ^V\SK SPRL [V JVUNYH[\SH[L HSS VM [OL .) H[OSL[LZ ^OV [VVR WHY[ PU [OPZ `LHYÂťZ +LHĂ…`TWPJZ ^LSS KVUL [Photos by Chris Caswell] Twitter #VOĂ€UVWOWG ƒ ZZZ VOĂ€UVW FR XN

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4 Nations Golf Championship :L[ PU [OL ^VUKLYM\SS` JVSV\YM\S ZL[[PUN VM [OL =HSL /V[LS HUK .VSM 9LZVY[ PU :V\[O >HSLZ [OL ZLJVUK 5H[PVUZ +LHM .VSM *OHTWPVUZOPWZ [VVR WSHJL IL[^LLU [OL HUK (\N\Z[

Keenly contested, the Championships pull together teams from Ireland, Scotland, ,UNSHUK HUK >HSLZ 9LPNUPUN JOHTWPVUZ England turned up with another strong ZX\HK RUV^PUN [OH[ PM [OL` WSH`LK ^LSS [OL` ^V\SK [HRL HSS [OL ILH[PUN /V^L]LY in typical 4 Nations style, the other teams ^LYL KL[LYTPULK [V W\[ \W H NYLH[ Ă„NO[ ;HRPUN WHY[ HUK Z\WWVY[PUN [OL Championships is not just about the golf, however, the evening get together and LUQV`TLU[ VM [OL Z[H` HYL HSZV ZPNUPĂ„JHU[S` important. So, as part of the preparations, SL First through the helpful and supportive .VSM +L]LSVWTLU[ >HSLZ 7YVNYHTTL contacted The Vale and offered some deaf awareness training and introductory BSL classes.

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with an introductory BSL input that had been designed around their interaction with golfers and supporters, they threw themselves energetically into the programme. In addition to teaching some BSL and deaf H^HYLULZZ 0 HSZV HZRLK Z[HMM [V JVUZPKLY some of the issues about accommodating KLHM WLVWSL ZPTWSL [OPUNZ SPRL [OL Ă„YL HSHYT ^OH[ OHWWLUZ PM `V\ SVZL `V\Y RL` card, how to use room service, that sort of thing. The outcome is that people felt it made a difference in respect of the consideration that the Vale Hotel and Golf Resort gave to all the teams, families and their supporters. >L ^LYL NP]LU ZWLJPĂ„J PUMVYTH[PVU \WVU arrival, text numbers to contact the YLJLW[PVU KLZR HUK Z[HMM ^LYL MHY TVYL deaf aware. It made a real difference.

Under the auspices of our favourite THU[YH Âş([[P[\KL PZ ,]LY`[OPUNÂť 0 ^HZ invited to run a couple of classes with staff from the hotel, golf shop and the on-site restaurants, bars and leisure facilities.

;OL JVTWL[P[PVU [VVR WSHJL VU [OL WPJ[\YLZX\L 5H[PVUHS *V\YZL" H JV\YZL that provides a considerable challenge with tight wooded holes on the opening holes, and a series of water hazards on the IHJR ( [Y\L *OHTWPVUZOPW NVSM JV\YZL golfers can go through the whole range VM NVSĂ„UN LTV[PVUZ K\YPUN VUL YV\UK 0 JLY[HPUS` KPK

The staff who attended the sessions ^LYL LU[O\ZPHZ[PJ HUK RLLU [V SLHYU HUK

>P[O [OYLL KH`Z VM JVTWL[P[PVU LHJO nation plays the others, and points are awarded

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for the result on each hole. Using a different ZJVYPUN Z`Z[LT [V [OL Ă„YZ[ *OHTWPVUZOPWZ two points were awarded for a win, one point if the teams had the same score, and no points if the hole was lost.

In 2011, England ran out fairly easy ^PUULYZ PU [OL TLUÂťZ JVTWL[P[PVU ^P[O H point victory over Ireland. This year was considerably tougher, with Ireland putting PU H Ă„UL WLYMVYTHUJL [V JOHSSLUNL [OLT HSS the way.

WVPU[Z HNHPUZ[ ,UNSHUKÂťZ The ladies competition was contested between only two of the nations due to PSSULZZ HUK [OL SHJR VM MLTHSL JVTWL[P[VYZ After some close games, the English team ran out worthy winners.

The planned evening activities were enjoyed by all the teams, and we had the HKKP[PVUHS ILULĂ„[ VM ZOHYPUN [OL OV[LSÂťZ HJJVTTVKH[PVU ^P[O ZVTL OPNO WYVĂ„SL Z[HYZ ^OV ^LYL [HRPUN WHY[ PU SVJHS JOHYP[` L]LU[Z (Z L]LY 0 ^HZ RLLU [V [HRL ZVTL WOV[VZ [V JHW[\YL OV^ S\JR` ^L ^LYL [V enjoy their company.

6]LYHSS [OL 5H[PVUZ ^LYL H O\NL Z\JJLZZ HUK 0 SVVR MVY^HYK [V [OL UL_[ VUL PU [^V `LHYÂťZ [PTL ^OPJO PZ ILPUN OVZ[LK I` [OL English Deaf Golf Association.

>OPSZ[ [OL ,UNSHUK :LUPVYÂťZ ;LHT WYV]LK too strong for the other nations, the Irish 4LUÂťZ ;LHT ZJVYLK ^LSS [OYV\NOV\[ [OL competition, and ultimately that proved to be the deciding factor, with Ireland accruing

www.englishdeafgolfassociation.com www.walesdeafgolf.com www.scottishdeafgolf.com www.irishdeafgolfunion.com Photos by Kate Evans Photography and Jason Albutt. Twitter #VOĂ€UVWOWG ƒ ZZZ VOĂ€UVW FR XN

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Fast, Furious & Frolicking Good Fun at Castle Combe Car Racing

(Z H ^LL SHZZ 0 YLTLTILY ILPUN PU when a Ferrari wins the race, but it is a very visual sport, and there is much in 4VU[L *HYSV HUK ^HSRPUN HYV\UK WHY[ VM [OL - [YHJR 0 YLTLTILY [OL that, that I do enjoy. ]PIYHU[ JVSV\YZ [OL ÅHZO JHYZ [OL OLH[ HUK [OL Z^PZO HZ JHYZ ZWLK I` I\[ 0 ^HZ [VV `V\UN [V YLHSS` HWWYLJPH[L [OL YHJL [YHJR -VY `LHYZ ZPUJL HUK SPRL TPSSPVUZ VM WL[YVS heads around the world, I have enjoyed watching Formula 1 on the television. I love the class and wealth behind the ^OVSL [OPUN 0 ÄUK P[ PUJYLKPIS` ÅHTIV`HU[ on one hand, and then a sport reliant on minute precision and care on the other. 0 KVU»[ NL[ [OL YVHY VM [OL LUNPULZ HUK [OL audible excitement of an Italian crowd

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As the points on my licence testify, and not having the Top Gear circuit readily available to me, I also enjoy fast cars. I

love the feel of the car hugging a tight JVYULY ÄNO[PUN [OL NYH]P[H[PVUHS W\SS [OL [YLHK Z\JRPUN H[ [OL [HYTHJ ^P[O L]LY` ounce of design effort that has gone into it. I smile every time I accelerate at pace, ripping through the gears, feeling rather than hearing the power of those horses as [OL ]PIYH[PVUZ MLLK [OYV\NO T` [VLZ SPRL electricity pulses into the rest of my body.

:VTL[OPUN 0 PUZ[HU[S` SPRLK ^HZ [OL ZWHJL *HY WHYRPUN PZ H]HPSHISL YPNO[ [OL ^H` HYV\UK [OL [YHJR HUK [OLYL HYL WSLU[` VM NYLLU ÄLSK ZWHJLZ MVY RPKZ [V WSH` VY OH]L H ))8 P[ ^HZU»[ Q\Z[ JHY YHJPUN VY nothing. Toilets were plentiful and well signposted and there was good signage about the course.

For my 50th Birthday, I want someone [V [YLH[ TL [V H KYP]L PU H YHJPUN JHY VR ¶ NV[ P[ My love of speed and fast cars got me [OPURPUN >O` KVU»[ 0 HUK V[OLY +LHM VY /HYK VM /LHYPUN WLVWSL 0 RUV^ NV [V ZLL JHY YHJPUN ;OLYL HYL [YHJRZ HSS V]LY the UK, nearly all of us drive and enjoy V\Y JHYZ I\[ ^L Q\Z[ KVU»[ NV YHJPUN 0 thought it was about time I explored, so on a glorious, hot, and sunny Saturday, I set off to the Castle Combe Circuit that is just off the M4 between Bath and Cirencester.

>L WHYRLK ILOPUK H OPNO MLUJL I\[ ^P[OPU TL[YLZ VM [OL [YHJR HUK ^L JV\SK ZP[ PU the car to watch if we wanted to. As soon as the engine in our car was turned off, I MLS[ [OL ]PIYH[PVUZ VM JHYZ VU [YHJR HZ [OL` raced by, reaching speeds I could only dream about. Labours of love, some of these ‘retro ^LLRLUK» JHYZ SVVRLK SPRL VYKPUHY` YVHK using saloons on the outside, but turned PU[V WVJRL[ YVJRL[Z VU [OL YHJL[YHJR Even a little Smart car had me screeching with delight as it hurled itself around JVYULYZ H[ ZWLLKZ `V\ ^V\SK [OPUR ^LYL impossible. And this was just part of the morning warm up.

0 OHK JOLJRLK [OL ^LIZP[L HUK ^OPSZ[ the information is very basic, it had what I needed. I chose to attend what they JHSSLK [OL 9L[YV >LLRLUK ;PJRL[PUN information was straightforward and I was WSLHZLK [OH[ 0 JV\SK I\` [PJRL[Z VU SPUL and have them delivered, so that entry [V [OL JV\YZL ^HZ H X\PJR ÅHZO HUK we were in. No fuss, no hassle, and no communication barrier.

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Leaving the picnic in the car to start with, we set out to have a stroll around the WHKKVJR [V NL[ \W JSVZL HUK WLYZVUHS with some of the drivers, racing teams HUK [OLPY MYLHRPZOS` X\PJR THJOPULZ >P[O ^LSS V]LY JHYZ PU [OL WHKKVJR it was busy to say the least. Not being able to hear a car approaching certainly KPK UV[ WYLZLU[ H YPZR ILJH\ZL 0 JV\SK feel the vibrations of the grunting engine as soon as any car got within 50 metres of me.

It was interesting to see the contrast between the smaller budget teams and the big sponsored setups with their Z\WWVY[ TLJOHUPJZ >L ^LYL HSZV HISL [V enjoy a wide variety of cars, from small single seater racing cars to huge Jaguars that are usually coasting along our motorways. I got to chat to a few drivers who were HSS OHWW` [V [HSR HIV\[ [OLPY JHY [OL YHJL meet, the costs involved, and why they SV]L YHJPUN ZV T\JO 0M 0 OHK [HRLU T` JOLX\LIVVR 0 JV\SK L]LU OH]L IV\NO[ a car or two, with several on sale. I was so tempted and would have loved to [HRL [V [OL [YHJR @V\ ULLK H YHJL SPJLUJL HWWHYLU[S`

;OPZ ^HZ UV 4VU[L *HYSV HUK P[ SHJRLK NSP[a HUK NSHTV\Y I\[ YLZ[ HZZ\YLK [OLYL PZ WSLU[` VM ^LHS[O PU]VS]LK PU YHJPUN [OLZL JHYZ

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[OYV\NO >LZ[^H` HUK HSVUN +LHU :[YHPNO[ before screeching around Camp Corner onto the starting straight.

(M[LY H X\PJR IP[L K\YPUN [OL HSSV[[LK S\UJO IYLHR ^L ZL[[SLK KV^U VU [OL ]PL^PUN IHUR H[ )VIIPLZ [V LUQV` LPNO[ YHJLZ PU [OL HM[LYUVVU >L OHK H MHU[HZ[PJ ]PL^ of well over 50% of the course and I could feel when each race started by the vibrations it caused, even though the start was half a mile away.

+LZWP[L [OPZ ILPUN H SV^ RL` L]LU[ VU [OL international racing circuit, these drivers ^LYL ZVTL[OPUN ZWLJPHS HUK [OLPY ZRPSSZ OPNOS` [\ULK >OL[OLY ^L ^LYL ^H[JOPUN the Formula Ford single seaters or the 6.2 litre TVR Tuscan, racing was fast and furious, with the cars being driven to test the extreme capabilities of man and machine.

>P[O ZV THU` JHYZ PU LHJO YHJL HUK ^P[OV\[ [OL ILULÄ[ VM [OL VU JV\YZL [HUUV` Z`Z[LT 0 OH]L [V HKTP[ RLLWPUN [YHJR VM [OL SLHKLYZ PU ZVTL YHJLZ ^HZ problematic. However, despite poor communication with me when trying to HYYHUNL T` ]PZP[ [V [OL [YHJR ILMVYL YHJL day, the course management do at least use twitter effectively to let followers RUV^ ^P[OPU ZLJVUKZ [OL YLZ\S[ VM LHJO race.

Be warned, the bang of the turbo on ZVTL VM [OL IPNNLY 7VYZJOL»Z ^PSS THRL `V\ Q\TW L]LU PM `V\ HYL +LHM SPRL TL 6UL JHY OHK ZV T\JO NY\U[ [OH[ V\[ VM JHYZ VU [OL [YHJR 0 JV\SK [\YU T` IHJR VU the course and identify every time that car went past me. It was exhilarating, and it ^HZ H ^VUKLYM\S KH`»Z LU[LY[HPUTLU[ At MVY HK\S[ LU[Y` P[ ^HZ HSZV VUL VM [OL TVZ[ ]HS\L MVY TVUL` L]LU[Z 0 OH]L ILLU [VV HUK 0 JHU[ ^HP[ [V NV IHJR

My favourite race was the Jaguar Classics and not just because this provided the most off road entertainment of the day. These were huge machines and with the near 100,000 combined horse power being used by the 25 cars in the race, I can honestly say I felt every one as it accelerated away from Bobbies Chicane,

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YouMeSign was established by Segun Babatunde in 2009. Since then the business has never looked back.

YouMeSign now produces a range of ĐŽŵŵƵŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ĂŝŵĞĚ Ăƚ ŚĞůƉŝŶŐ hearing people to communicate with Deaf people using basic sign language. dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƌ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ŝƐ Ă ďĂƌ ƌƵŶŶĞƌ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ďĂƌ Žƌ ƌĞƐƚĂƵƌĂŶƚ ƐƚĂī͘ /ƚ ƵƐĞƐ ďĂƐŝĐ ^> ƐŝŐŶƐ ĨŽƌ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨ ĚƌŝŶŬƐ ƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŚĞůƉƐ ƐƚĂī ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ŽƌĚĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĞĂĨ ĐůŝĞŶƚƐ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ ĞĂƐŝůLJ͘ Picture: Lord Andrew Adonis and Segun babatude (Northern Lights, UcLan, 26th April 2013) Lord Adonis was intrigued and very interested in this ŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ůĞĂƌŶĞĚ Ă ŶĞǁ ƐŝŐŶ ĨƌŽŵ Mr Babatunde! &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ supply please visit www.youmesign.co.uk

Websites Logo Design Leaflets & more...

Web www.littlebirdiestudio.co.uk Email chirp@littlebirdiestudio.co.uk

Bath Races by Sarah Lawrence

to follow signs to get there. I had preHYYHUNLK [PJRL[Z [V THRL LU[Y` [OH[ SP[[SL bit easier, but I need not have worried. The staff were warm, welcoming and patient, recognising that I was Deaf HUK ^VYRPUN ^P[O TL [V LUZ\YL NVVK communication. As I entered the main areas of the course, 0 ^HZ Z[Y\JR I` [OL ]P]PK JVSV\YZ S\ZO green grass and the cleanliness. Horse racing is the Sport of Kings and I felt Bath Races were upholding that tradition excellently. The facilities are family friendly, and whether you are a seasoned race goer, here to enjoy the gambling, or a ÄYZ[ [PTLY SVVRPUN [V LUQV` [OL ZWLJ[HJSL this race meeting suits your needs.

0U H ZLHYJO MVY KLHM MYPLUKS` HJ[P]P[PLZ :3 -PYZ[ ^HZ KLSPNO[LK [V [LHT \W ^P[O )H[O 9HJLZ [V L_WSVYL [OL :WVY[ VM 2PUNZ OVYZL YHJPUN 6\Y JOVPJL ^HZ H -YPKH` L]LUPUN TLL[PUN VU [OL Z[ (\N\Z[ Communication between us and representatives of the course, could UV[ OH]L ILLU IL[[LY <USPRL ZVTL businesses, email was welcomed, and I ^HZ HISL [V ÄUK V\[ PUMVYTH[PVU 0 ULLKLK X\PJRS` HUK LHZPS` Bath races lies above the picturesque and historic city, and is easily accessed I` YVHK .VVK ZPNUWVZ[PUN [VVR \Z LHZPS` [V JHY WHYRPUN HYLHZ ;OL Z\YYV\UKPUN area has some lovely country pubs, so if you fancy catching a meal before getting to the course, there are plenty of good places to choose from. >L WHYRLK LHZPS` HUK 0 ^HZ PUZ[HU[S` Z[Y\JR I` [OL X\HSP[` VM [OL ZPNUWVZ[PUN It was clear and plentiful, and wherever I wanted to go on course, I was able

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/H]PUN IV\NO[ H ºZTHSS» Q\N VM 7PTTZ and freshened up after our journey to the course, I made my way to the saddling enclosure to see if my highly amateur L`L TPNO[ ÄUK HU VI]PV\Z ^PUULY 0 OHK ILLU HK]PZLK [V SVVR ^OL[OLY V^ULYZ were present, as that can indicate the trainer has advised them to come along, because their horse has a good chance. I enjoyed watching these wonderful SVVRPUN HUPTHSZ ILPUN WYLWHYLK MVY [OL races. Some seemed highly experienced, and stood there patiently whilst their saddle was applied, mouth washed and

[OL [HJR PUZWLJ[LK 6[OLYZ ZLLTLK H little more on their toes, tapping away ULY]V\ZS` VU [OL Z[HISL Ă…VVY HZ [OL` were prepared for the race ahead. I SV]LK OV^ ^LSS [OLZL HUPTHSZ SVVRLK coats gleaming, mane platted, ears pointing upwards and moving furtively to the sounds around them. Every horse SVVRLK THNUPĂ„JLU[ HUK [V T` NHTISPUN KPZHWWVPU[TLU[ L]LY` VUL SVVRLK ^VY[O` of winning a race.

>L MVSSV^LK [OL OVYZLZ PU[V [OL WHYHKL WHKKVJR ^OLYL [OLPY JVUULJ[PVUZ ^HP[LK L_WLJ[HU[S` ;OL OVYZLZ ^HSRLK NYHJLM\SS` in front of us, long legs effortlessly covering the ground. It sounds daft, but [OL OVYZLZ SVVRLK OHWW` HUK 0 ^HP[LK HU_PV\ZS` MVY VUL VM [OLT [V SVVR TL PU [OL L`L HUK NP]L TL [OL RUV^PUN 0ÂťT NVPUN [V ^PU ^PUR >P[O UV Z\JO indication I was forced to wait for the QVJRL`Z [V HYYP]L PU [OL YPUN HUK THRL T` JOVPJL IHZLK VU [OL JVSV\Y VM [OL ZPSRZ ;OL QVJRL`Z Ă„SLK PU[V [OL WHYHKL YPUN HUK ^HSRLK KL[LYTPULKS` [V^HYKZ [OLPY trainer and owners. Adorned in an array VM IYPNO[ JVSV\YZ [OL` OHK H X\PJR JOH[ with the trainer before the stable hand brought their horse to them. Despite [OLPY KPTPU\[P]L Z[H[\YL VUL X\PJR SLN \W HUK [OL QVJRL` ^HZ HIVHYK MLL[ PU PYVUZ and immediately gaining control of their charge. The tension amongst the crowd seemed to change, and I felt nervousness

rising in me too. I have no idea why, but I ^HZ Z[HY[PUN [V MLLS L_JP[LK I dashed down to the betting ring and for a moment stood and watched the tic tac men in operation, silently passing information from one end of the betting ring to the other. That bit all seemed a bit familiar, and I smiled at how important silent communication is to the horse racing world.

The betting ring is highly visible these days, with lots of digital displays so that the names and prices of horses are easy [V Ă„UK 0 THKL T` PU]LZ[TLU[ ^P[O H ZPTWSL WVPU[ [V T` OVYZLÂťZ UHTL HUK [OL offer of a couple of coins, and now things were getting really serious. The timing of [OL UL^ -LYYHYP YLSPLK VU [OPZ I could feel the tension in the crowd rise as the horses got to the starting gate, and NV[ YLHK` [V LU[LY [OL Z[HSSZ 0 RUV^ [OL public announcement system was blurting something out, but I was able to see the horses going into the stalls on the course televisions.

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Suddenly, the gates opened and the pent up horse power in the stalls released in one huge wave of power. Urgently, I was SVVRPUN MVY T` JVSV\YZ RUV^PUN [OH[ [OL JVTIPUH[PVU VM OVYZL HUK QVJRL` ^V\SK do their best for me.

hosed. Just as I was forging ahead of the SVUN [PTL SLHKLY H X\PJR ÄUPZOPUN U\TILY 9 came on the scene, and with a welltimed run, beat my horse by a short head. The highs of triumph turned to disappointment in the matter of seconds, but my heart was pounding with excitement. The rest of the race meet was equally exciting and entertaining. In between YHJLZ ^L ^LYL HISL [V SVVR H[ [OL KPMMLYLU[ food options, which ranged from sit down TLHSZ [V ZUHJRZ HUK ^L WS\TWLK MVY H KLSPJPV\Z WVYR HUK Z[\MÄUN YVSS

,_JP[LTLU[ YPZPUN 0 [YHJRLK T` OVYZL PU TPK ÄLSK HUK HZ [OL` Z[HY[LK [V JVTL YV\UK [OL ÄUHS [\YU PU[V [OL Z[YHPNO[ 0 ^HZ well placed on the outside, and I turned my attention from the TV screen to the horses themselves as they accelerated [V^HYKZ [OL ÄUPZOPUN SPUL

My horse started to mount a serious challenge and drew level with the leader ^P[O H M\YSVUN [V NV <URUV^PUNS` 0 MV\UK myself aboard my horse, pushing and pulling it towards the line. Less than a furlong to go, my investment was still SVVRPUN NVVK I\[ MHY MYVT OVTL HUK

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All in all, this was great entertainment, and a great family day out. Highly visual, I found the course and staff catered well for my needs and apart from public HUUV\UJLTLU[Z 0 KVU»[ [OPUR 0 TPZZLK out on anything else. I had a wonderful time, as did my family, and it wont be long before I return. @V\ JHU ÄUK V\[ HIV\[ HSS VM )H[O YHJL TLL[Z H[ ^^^ IH[O YHJLJV\YZL JV \R

Sean Midnight Wrestling for his future >P[O :LHU JVU[PU\PUN [OPZ [YLUK ^L thought it was about time SL First caught \W ^P[O OPT ILMVYL OL ÅL^ V\[ [V OPZ UL_[ international competition. Sean was born in Sandwell, but his family moved to Birmingham so that the family home was closer to Longwill School for the Deaf where he attended school. Aged 9, Sean was transferred to a mainstream ZJOVVS MVY H `LHY ILMVYL [HRPUN \W a position at his secondary school, Braidwood School for the Deaf. Sean enjoyed the social side of school along with Design Technology, Art and :JPLUJL I\[ JOLLRPS` OL ZH`Z OL ^HZ MHY from being the best Mathematician.

Sean Noone was born and IYV\NO[ \W PU [OL 4PKSHUKZ :LHU PZ +LHM HUK \ZLZ )YP[PZO :PNU 3HUN\HNL ([ `LHYZ VM HNL :LHU PZ ^PKLS` RUV^U HZ H WYVMLZZPVUHS ^YLZ[SLY H sport that has a long and WYV\K KLHM OPZ[VY` 70

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0 HZRLK :LHU OV^ OL NV[ PU[V ^YLZ[SPUN “I remember watching wrestling on TV every Saturday morning with my brother, Anthony,” he explained. “I was inspired by it, so I told my parents I was going to be H ^YLZ[SLY ;OLPY YLHJ[PVU ^HZ SPRL ¸@LHO YPNO[ ¹ 0 Z[HY[LK NVPUN [V 2 :[HY >YLZ[SPUN a wrestling school based in Birmingham and then switched to Ultimate *OHTWPVUZOPW >YLZ[SPUN HZ [OLYL ^LYL two Deaf wrestlers there.”

>OLU :LHU ÄUPZOLK ZJOVVS OL ^LU[ to study a BTEC Diploma in Media at Bourneville College but soon realised that was not exactly what he wanted to do. He ^LU[ VU [V [YHPU [V ILJVTL H `V\[O ^VYRLY

ULJR NV[ IHKS` ZX\HZOLK HUK OL RUV^Z OL ^HZ S\JR` UV[ [V IL ZLYPV\ZS` PUQ\YLK VY paralysed.

Despite being only 25, Sean has been wrestling professionally for nearly a KLJHKL HS[OV\NO OL ZH`Z P[ VUS` MLLSZ SPRL yesterday when he started.

Sean has wrestled extensively throughout [OL <2 HUK [OL <:( HUK PZ SVVRPUN MVY^HYK to appearing in Japan and the Phillipines next year, as well as the USA.

Sean describes his greatest achievement as meeting Alan Kilby in person, as he is the person who inspired him to get in to wrestling. A seasoned wrestler on the British Circuit, Sean is also proud to have had the opportunity to wrestle at the MATA Expo in California. During the event, Sean wrestled in front of 6,500 people, and he was such a success, he has been invited to return later this year. .P]LU [OL WYVMLZZPVUHS ÄNO[LY UHTL :LHU 4PKUPNO[ :LHU YLJHSSZ VUL VM [OL WYHURZ played on him and other competitors during a competition in Luton. Sean told me that all of the wrestlers noticed there ^HZ ZVTL[OPUN ^YVUN ^P[O [OL JSVJRZ ;OL` ^LYL HZRPUN OPT ^O` HSS [OL JSVJRZ PU the building had been set at 00:00. They all thought Sean was responsible, until his ºQVRPUN» JVHJO HKTP[[LK OL OHK KVUL P[ HZ a “Cute Sean Midnight story”. :LHU PZ HS^H`Z RLLU [V WVPU[ V\[ [OH[ wrestling is a dangerous sport and should UV[ IL [HRLU SPNO[S` /L YLJHSSZ H IV\[ ^OLU a pile driver move went badly wrong. His

:LHU Z[PSS OHYIVYZ HTIP[PVUZ [V ÄNO[ PU some of the biggest wresting shows in the world, but he worries that being Deaf is a IHYYPLY [V ÄNO[PUN H[ [OH[ SL]LS :LHU PZ RLLU to prove that Deaf people have exactly the same talent as hearing people, the one L_JLW[PVU ILPUN [OH[ OL JHU»[ OLHY Sean hopes to see more Deaf people become professional wrestlers in the future. Through his wrestling, Sean has been able to travel extensively and meet some inspirational people. ;Y\L [V OPZ @V\[O >VYRLY [YHPUPUN :LHU encourages all deaf children to pursue their dreams. He said, “There may be challenges to face, but with determination and dedication you can overcome them. Ultimately, there is nothing to stop you achieving what you want to do”. Many WLVWSL [VSK :LHU OL JV\SK UV[ THRL H success of wrestling, and he remains intent on proving them wrong. @V\ JHU MVSSV^ :LHU VU -HJLIVVR at: ^^^ MHJLIVVR JVT :LHU4PKUPNO[(UK;YHJL`2PSI` Credit to Zoe Louise Brown Photography Twitter #VOÀUVWOWG ZZZ VOÀUVW FR XN

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Sporting Inspiration – An Interview with Karen Lewis-Archer by Simon Deacy OBE 0M `V\ MHUJ` H NVVK SH\NO MVSSV^ 2HYLU 3L^PZ (YJOLY VU MHJLIVVR /LY KHPS` YLÅLJ[PVUZ VU SPML HUK motherhood ^PSS JVUZ[HU[S` LU[LY[HPU `V\ Karen is a veteran Paralympian, wife, mother and volunteer. She is also an PUZWPYH[PVUHS ZWLHRLY HUK [OYV\NO OLY IYHPU JOPSK WYVNYHTTL º.VSK 9\ZO» 2HYLU ^VYRZ L_[LUZP]LS` [V KL]LSVW TVYL HTIP[PV\Z KL[LYTPULK HUK JVUÄKLU[ young people. 2HYLU ^HZ IVYU ^P[O ZWPUH IPÄKH and with two sporty parents, she was LUJV\YHNLK [V NL[ PU[V ZWVY[ 6YPNPUHSS` HU accomplished swimmer and heading for a promising international career, a turn of fate re-directed Karen to an athletic career that went on to change her life.

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“Today I am a happy and contented mother, with a wonderful husband and son,” she explains. “But without my athletic career, I fear I would have become H ZOYPURPUN ]PVSL[ Z[PSS IL ZPUNSL HUK WYVIHIS` MLLSPUN ZVYY` MVY T`ZLSM ¹ As a junior swimmer, Karen excelled as a member of the Scottish junior swim team. From an early age and despite being paralysed from the chest down, 2HYLU QVRLZ HIV\[ OLY \UPX\L ZRPSSZ VU poolside in getting in and out of the pool independently. These were undoubtedly early signs of the determination and need for dependency that would go on to KLÄUL 2HYLU HZ H WLYZVU A swimmer with Clyde Valley Beavers, the ºMH[L» VJJ\YYLK MVSSV^PUN ZLSLJ[PVU MVY [OL >VYSK @V\[O .HTLZ PU 4PHTP PU ¸0 ^VU NVSK PU [OL T IYLHZ[Z[YVRL ¹ 2HYLU describes, “but whilst there, athletics ^LYL HSZV [HRPUN WSHJL HUK [OL ^OLLSJOHPY [YHJR YLSH` [LHT ^HZ SVVRPUN MVY ZVTLVUL [V ÄSS PU ;OL` HZRLK PM 0 ^V\SK KV P[

>P[OV\[ [OL PUKP]PK\HS [HPSVYPUN VM wheelchairs that exists today, I was able to jump in, and just pushed hard in the YHJL 0[ [\YULK V\[ 0 ^HZ X\PJRLY [OHU [OL other three girls and we won the relay. I came home with two gold medals and a UL^ ZWVY[ [V JVUJLU[YH[L VU ¹ ;OLYL PZ SP[[SL [PTL MVY SVVRPUN IHJR PU 2HYLU»Z SPML P[ PZ HSS HIV\[ [OL UL_[ challenge or the next good deed, but it is disappointing that a wrist injury prevented her from winning Gold in the Sydney Paralympics. Despite that set IHJR 2HYLU ^LU[ VU [V ^PU T\S[PWSL international competitions, over 100m, 200m and 400m.

Karen faces adversity and challenge every day, but she thrives on it and turns overcoming it, into something incredibly positive. In 2009, even her YLTHYRHISL [LUHJP[` ^HZ [LZ[LK [V [OL full when Karen endured a series of JVTWSL_ OLHS[O PZZ\LZ 6]LY `LHYZ she endured a blood clot on the brain, a brain collapse, a subdural haematoma, 2 shunt replacements, as well as a further 5 neurosurgical operations. It was a KPMÄJ\S[ [PTL

This is a lady passionate about disability sport and ensuring disabled people are given the platform ‘to be the best you can IL» :OL PZ PU[VSLYHU[ VM HSS VM [OL ULNH[P]L stereotyping that still exists around any KPZHIPSP[` HUK PM P[»Z H ÄNO[ `V\ HYL HM[LY Q\Z[ W\[ [OH[ [V [OL [LZ[ )LJH\ZL 0»T PU H ^OLLSJOHPY people often assume that I am UV[ T` ZVU»Z UH[\YHS TV[OLY ¹ Karen says with some sadness. “People see my disability and they place limitations on my intelligence and my worth in life. They could not have me more ^YVUN PM [OL` [YPLK Karen Lewis-Archer

>P[O JVTWL[P[PVU UV^ ILOPUK OLY 2HYLU»Z ambitions lay in helping and inspiring others. People who have the privilege of listening to her, or being part of one of her inspirational programmes, all testify to her considerable attributes and abilities. ;V IVVR 2HYLU MVY HU L]LU[ Q\Z[ NV [V ^^^ WQZ ZWLHRLYZ JV \R or contact ZPTVU'WQZ ZWLHRLYZ JV \R

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New British Sign Language videos from South Wales Police :V\[O >HSLZ 7VSPJL OHZ SH\UJOLK )YP[PZO :PNU 3HUN\HNL ]PKLVZ [OH[ L_WSHPU OV^ KLHM VY OHYK VM OLHYPUN WLVWSL JHU JVU[HJ[ WVSPJL PU HU LTLYNLUJ` VY UVU LTLYNLUJ` Produced by the Corporate Communications department, the videos feature Mr Glyn Rosser, the *OHPY VM )YPKNLUK +LHM *S\I ^OV RPUKS` volunteered his time to help the force. Public Service Centre Superintendent :[\HY[ 7HYĂ„[[ ZHPK! “It is important that our communities have equal access to our services, and that [OL` MLLS JVUĂ„KLU[ HIV\[ OV^ [V JVU[HJ[ us when they need to.â€? “The videos reinforce that the Public Service Centre is equipped to deal with the needs of the public 24 hours a day, ZL]LU KH`Z H ^LLR š 0M `V\ ULLK [V JVU[HJ[ :V\[O >HSLZ 7VSPJL PU HU LTLYNLUJ` `V\ JHU KPHS [OL MVYJLÂťZ minicom system or use an emergency SMS service. The minicom number is: 01656 656980. Please save this number in your machine, HUK ^YP[L P[ KV^U HUK RLLW P[ PU H ZHML WSHJL ZV [OH[ `V\ JHU Ă„UK P[ X\PJRS` PM `V\ need to. If you want to use the emergency SMS service, simply type the recipient of the message into your handset as 999. To use this service you must pre-register, so please consider registering now.

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You can register by visiting www. LTLYNLUJ`ZTZ VYN \R VY I` [L_[PUN [OL word “registerâ€? to 999 and then follow the instructions. To report a non-emergency, you can textphone 18001 101 or contact the :V\[O >HSLZ 7VSPJL TPUPJVT ZLY]PJL ;OLYL PZ HSZV [OL VW[PVU [V ZWLHR [V `V\Y SVJHS ULPNOIV\YOVVK WVSPJPUN VMĂ„JLY HIV\[ issues in your area. -VY TVYL PUMVYTH[PVU HIV\[ :V\[O >HSLZ 7VSPJL ]PZP[ ^^^ ZV\[O ^HSLZ WVSPJL \R VY MVSSV^ [OL MVYJL VU ;^P[[LY 'Z^WVSPJL HUK -HJLIVVR Z^WVSPJL

Fideos Iaith Arwyddion Prydain newydd gan Heddlu De Cymru IVK `U [LPTSVÂťU O`KLY\Z `UNO`SJO Z\[ P gysylltu â ni pan fo angen. ¸4HLÂťY Ă„KLVZ `U H[N`MULY[O\ ` NHSS *HUVSMHU .^HZHUHL[OH\ÂťY *`OVLKK KKLSPV ag anghenion y cyhoedd 24 awr y dydd, saith diwrnod yr wythnos.â€? 6Z I`KK HUNLU P JOP N`Z`SS[\ o /LKKS\ De Cymru mewn argyfwng, gallwch ffonio system minicom yr heddlu neu KKLMU`KKPVÂťY N^HZHUHL[O :4: IY`Z Rhif y minicom yw: 01656 656980. Dylech NHK^ÂťY YOPM O^U `U LPJO WLPYPHU[ H N^UL\K nodyn ohono mewn man diogel fel y NHSS^JO KKVK V O`K PKKVÂťU N`Ă…`T VZ I`KK angen. 6Z I`KK^JO HT KKLMU`KKPVÂťY N^HZHUHL[O SMS brys, nodwch dderbynnydd y neges yn eich ffĂ´n fel 999. ,Y T^`U KLMU`KKPVÂťY N^HZHUHL[O O^U THLÂťU YOHPK P JOP NVMYLZ[Y\ `TSHLU SSH^ felly dylech ystyried cofrestru nawr. 4HL /LKKS\ +L *`TY\ ^LKP SHUZPV Ă„KLVZ 0HP[O (Y^`KKPVU 7Y`KHPU Z`ÂťU LNS\YV Z\[ ` NHSS WVIS M`KKHY UL\ Z`ÂťU KY^T L\ JS`^ N`Z`SS[\ oÂťY OLKKS\ TL^U HYN`M^UN UL\ WHU UHK `^ÂťU HYN`M^UN >LKPÂť\ J`UO`YJO\ NHU `Y HKYHU *`MH[OYLI\ *VYMMVYHL[OVS THLÂťY Ă„KLVZ `U J`UU^`Z 4Y Glyn Rosser, Cadeirydd Clwb Byddar Pen` IVU[ HY 6N^Y H ^PYMVKKVSVKK LP HTZLY P OLSW\ÂťY OLKKS\ Dywedodd Uwcharolygydd Canolfan .^HZHUHL[OH\ÂťY *`OVLKK :[\HY[ 7HYĂ„[[! ¸4HLÂťU I^`ZPN MVK NHU LPU J`T\ULKH\ M`ULKPHK J`MHY[HS PÂťU N^HZHUHL[OH\ HÂť\

Gallwch gofrestru drwy fynd i www. LTLYNLUJ`ZTZ VYN \R UL\ KY^` HUMVU ULNLZ [LZ[\U N`KHÂťY NHPY ¸YLNPZ[LYš P HJ yna dilyn y cyfarwyddiadau. 0 YVP N^`IVK HT HJOVZ UHK `^ÂťU \U IY`Z NHSS^JO KKLMU`KKPVÂťY MM U [LZ[\U HY 101 neu gysylltu â gwasanaeth minicom Heddlu De Cymru. /LM`K JLPY `Y VWZP^U P ZPHYHK oÂťJO swyddog lleol plismona yn y gymdogaeth ynghylch materion yn eich ardal. I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am Heddlu De Cymru, ewch i www.south-wales.police. \R UL\ KPS`U^JO `Y OLKKS\ HY ;^P[[LY ' Z^WVSPJL H -HJLIVVR Z^WVSPJL Twitter #VOĂ€UVWOWG ƒ ZZZ VOĂ€UVW FR XN

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Do you offer KLHM MYPLUKS` ZLY]PJLZ or products? >V\SK SPRL [V ZLL `V\Y HK]LY[ OLYL& >L HYL RLLU [V WYVTV[L `V\ Please contact ZHYHO'ZSÄYZ[ JV \R

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