Tay Equality Tay Equality
Issue 3 July 2011
Making a Difference in Partnership
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR BSL USERS - DVD Launch, Deaf Action On Monday 13 June, over 50 people gathered at Tayside Police Headquarters in Dundee to celebrate the launch of a British Sign Language (BSL) DVD produced by Deaf Action, titled Tayside Police: Making a Difference for BSL Users. The DVD was produced to provide contact information and to enhance accessibility for Deaf BSL users. BSL is the preferred language of over 70,000 deaf people in the UK, for whom English may be a second or third language. BSL is a visual language, which is governed by its own grammatical rules using hand shapes, hand movements and facial expressions to convey meaning. Deaf people who use BSL are part of a recognised cultural and linguistic minority. DCC Scobbie & Liz Scott Gibson with delegates at launch
Throughout Tayside there are over 4,000 people with a profound or severe hearing loss and almost 58,000 people with some degree of hearing loss. Tayside Police: Making A Difference for BSL Users aims to tackle the communication barriers that significant numbers of Tayside residents face.
DCC Scobbie said: ‘‘We are always looking at new and better ways of making our information available and communicating with our diverse communities. As such, we recognised that the quality of service for BSL users needed to be improved. This resource is intended to remove barriers to access and promote equality for BSL users by giving them information about key services in a format they can make best use of. I would like to extend our thanks to Deaf Action (Tayside) for producing the DVD on our behalf and appreciation also to the Scottish Government for funding the project.’’ The DVD, introduced at the launch by George McGowan, Development Officer at Deaf Action, includes guides on how to contact Tayside Police and Crimestoppers, how to access BSL interpreters and other communication support, the Disability Hate Crime & Remote Reporting Scheme, the role of community officers, how to make a complaint and other general details about Tayside Police.
Continued on page 2… ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CONTENTS
One to One with Elizabeth Adam
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Making a Difference for BSL Users Force Control Room Update
1&2 3
Safe Taysiders Bicycle Presentation BSL - Rewarding in More ways than one!
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Fostering Good Relations with….Gypsy Travellers One in Seven
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A “Fuss About Nothing” Zahra’s Golden Moments
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Welcome to Dundee Blind Society
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Congratulations and Celebrations
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Tay Equality EDITOR’S TOUGHTS
Continued from Page 1…. 1….
Recently, I have found myself thinking more and more about my senses – no I haven’t lost them…. although my daughter may beg to differ given her experience of my “tidy up” days! Why ponder? You might well ask….
Liz Scott Gibson, Chief Executive of Deaf Action, said: “Deaf Action is delighted to be offering this information resource to Deaf BSL users in Tayside. Having access to public services is absolutely crucial to being part of the wider community. With this DVD we hope to encourage and strengthen participation with Tayside Police and the Deaf Community.” “We are pleased Tayside Police have recognised the need for improving services for BSL users and look forward to future projects that will enhance the lives of deaf people throughout the area”
During the past year or so I have been working closely with a number of people with different kinds of sensory impairments; gaining a new perspective on life without some of the human senses most of us take for granted made me wonder which of my six senses might I miss least if I no longer had it. This required placing a “value” on each sense to decide which loss would have least impact on quality of my life. Not as easy as it seemed!!
BSL users can request a copy of the BSL DVD by contacting:
After much changing of my mind; not really wanting to lose any, I posed the same question to some colleagues. The ability to taste or smell was reluctantly chosen by some as an acceptable loss but not a single person wanted to lose their hearing or sight.
Tayside Police Tel: 0300 111 2222 Text Relay/Type Talk: 18001 0300 111 2222
Reality, however, shows that one in seven people don’t have a choice but to accept and learn to live with a hearing impairment. Despite this, generally deaf and hard of hearing people lead very productive and happy lives; the issues and barriers they face are not due to their disability but to the way organisations treat them and provide their information and services - see Katherine’s interview with the inspirational Elizabeth Adam on page 6.
Email: mail@tayside.pnn.police.uk. Deaf Action (Tayside) Tel: 01382 221 124 Text: 01382 227 052
We know that British Sign Language (BSL) users face particular difficulties when communicating with Tayside Police or trying to use its services. In order to address some of these inequalities we have been working with local deaf people to develop useful resources that will help to give them equal access – as you can see in our FCC Update on page 3.
Fax: 01382 200 025. SMS: 07795 338 231 Email: taysideadmin@deafaction.org
Therefore, it gives us great pleasure to dedicate this, the 3rd edition of Tay Equality, to our friends, colleagues, and family and community members who may have a hearing or visual impairment, but will not be disabled by it. As you enjoy the read, I would ask you to consider which of your senses is the most valuable to you….and tell us why. We will publish some of the most interesting reasons in the next edition. Just in case you need a reminder….hearing; sight; taste; smell; speech; and touch. Look forward to your responses!
Mohammed,, Editor Nasreen Mohammed
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Tay Equality FORCE CONTROL ROOM UPDATE – Susie Mitchell, Tayside Police Telephone Interpreters – A system now exists to enable the FCC to communicate with community members who may not speak English and require the use of telephone interpreters. We now have 24/7 access to interpreters via Language Line, who provide interpreting services in over 100 community languages and dialects. A guidance document has been produced and is available for all control room staff. Mental Health Awareness – A further taster session was held at Baluniefield, on 26th May 2011- which was open to all staff. This session was very well attended, and included staff from the FCC. There is also an ongoing poster campaign within the FCC to raise awareness of various disabilities and mental health issues. I called ……and you were out. A recent review of the Information Calling Cards left by officers following unsuccessful visits concluded that they were no longer fit for purpose. A new card has been devised, after consultation with our community advisory groups. This card has been sent to the printers and a limited number will be available soon for testing. It is hoped that these improvements will aid efficiency and allow FCC staff to deal more effectively with members of the public who call in, having received one of these cards. Non Emergency SMS SMS Text Messaging Service for Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Speech Impaired People. Tayside Police has established a SMS text messaging service for deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired people. The service is only available to those who register their mobiles with Tayside Police. Please note that this service is for non emergency calls only – for emergency there is another service and mobiles should be registered separately via RNID. For our service, registration forms can be requested from Tayside Police, Call Handling Team Leaders, Force Communication Centre, West Bell Street, Dundee, DD1 9JU. You can also get the forms and help to fill them in from Deaf Links and Deaf Action (Tayside). DropDrop-in– in–Clinic: The Hub, 13 Session Street, Dundee. Central Division are being encouraged to consider allocating an officer to The Hub, once a month, to provide advice and assistance to the public. This is sitting with Chief Inspector Mertes and Inspector Watson. Text Users Users contacting Tayside Police Non-emergency number 0300 111 2222 need to prefix with 18001 to communicate with FCC hearing staff using Type Talk/Text Relay service. Text users contacting staff via any direct dial extensions should dial 18001 plus full extension number including area code. For our staff to contact a text user, dial 18002 plus the full telephone number (including area code even if calling locally) For emergency calls from a Textphone dial 18000 Non Emergency Calls can also be sent on an E-mail to mail@tayside.pnn.police.uk.
FOSTERING GOOD RELATIONS WITH….Gypsy Travellers, PC Sheena Bell, Bell, Monifieth As part of my role, I have a regular contact with the local Gypsy Traveller Site staff and make visits to the residents who are on site. Some residents come and go whilst others have been there since the site was built. The Site staff and I inform and encourage those who may need help to engage with support services so that they get appropriate health and welfare care. I also deliver inputs at local schools where the Traveller children attend and aim to build up a good rapport with them. We see engagement with Gypsy Traveller communities as an important way of ensuring that good relations are maintained across different communities.
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Tay Equality “ONE IN SEVEN”
causes and degrees of both deafness and sight loss. Sometimes a hearing aid may be beneficial, and while Sign Language might be used it is often inappropriate for those with severe sight loss. Another form of language is using a manual alphabet, where letters and words are tapped out on the hand. People who are deafblind may also use Braille, large print or amplified audio to aid communication.
Katherine Katherine Burrows
Did you know that one in seven people – that’s nine million in the UK - have a hearing impairment and that there are many different types of hearing impairments and their causes? To learn more, I decided to attend one of the 2 day Deaf and Deafblind Awareness Training courses offered by the new Tayside Deaf Hub in Brown Street, Dundee. The course ends with an exam and a certificate if you pass. Most of the other participants were people working in Care Homes or Social Services, where an understanding of the types of deafness and how to aid communication is vital. At first I did think that perhaps two days was a bit too long for awareness raising, but quickly understood why once the course started. It was certainly interesting, informative and fun! I learned that deafness can take many different forms. For example: • Deaf - deafness can be from birth or early childhood. Most deaf children are apparently educated in mainstream schools now. Some struggle to communicate with hearing teachers and other children. A poor education, no qualifications and difficulties in understanding written English is often the result. They are unlikely to use speech, but use Sign Language as their first language. • HardHard-ofof-hearing - older people are more likely to be hard of hearing and may benefit from a hearing aid, and are likely to use normal speech, lip reading or written text to communicate; • Deafened - people can be deafened suddenly or over a short period with either total or partial hearing loss. They may use some speech, lip reading and written text, but are unlikely to benefit from a hearing aid; • Deafblind – deafblind people have differing
Many of the deaf people in the UK use British Sign Language (BSL) and rarely consider themselves as disabled. BSL can be learned by hearing people some hearing people become professional BSL interpreters and work to enable deaf people to fully participate in meetings and other events. It is important to remember that for most deaf people BSL is their main and only language and their knowledge of spoken and written English will be a second language so written communication should be presented in simple, straightforward terms. There are many vital aids to help deaf people such as Loop systems in public places to enable those with a hearing aid to have improved hearing. Telephones and doorbells can be fitted with flashing lights to alert a deaf person, and to enable telephone conversation there is the free Typetalk/ Text Relay system. See Susie Mitchell’s FCC Update on page 3. However, the mobile phone, in particular the use of text messages has made life so much easier for communicating with some deaf people, and that was a big factor when Tayside Police set up its SMS Text Messaging Service in 2008. Note: To use this service you must register your mobile first. Again, see Susie’s update. Highly recommend this kind of learning!! Similar courses are also available from Deaf Action (Tayside). For more information go to the Deaflinks web site: http://www.deaflinks.org.uk/ Or telephone Alana Trusty on 01382 201077. Or contact Deaf Action (Tayside), 36 Roseangle, Dundee DD1 4LY, Tel. (01382) 221124/225627, Fax (01382) 200025, Textphone (01382) 227052.
NOTE TO ALL READERS Tayside Police: Police We know that most of you do some exceptional work, but often no one knows about it! WE WANT TO KNOW – so please send us any articles about how you have made a positive difference by overcoming a challenge and/or tailoring your response to a person’s individual needs. Or is there an issue we or the community can help with? Community: ommunity: Equally, as a member of the community who has received a service you feel was beyond your expectations and you would like to highlight or praise - or perhaps the service was lacking, please tell us – Help us get it right every time!
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Tay Equality WELCOME TO DUNDEE BLIND & PARTIALLY SIGHTED SOCIETY - Sandra Gollan, Manager
would indicate that those who come to this find it great fun. Reminiscence Reminiscence Group lets members have a trip down memory lane as well as finding out more about the past that they did not know. Lots of interesting details are there to be discovered and doing this helps to jog memories even more. Stimulating and fun. Ladies' Ladies' Club is an autonomous group of women with a wide variety of interesting talks and activities. They run their own club, fundraise for their needs and are generally very independent and positive. Craft Group seem to have a lot of fun as well as producing a wide selection of different craft items. At one session there can be clay modelling, beadwork, card making, knitting and drawing. Although they have the occasional sale to raise funds for materials, their main pleasure is in making and chatting and not necessarily in raising money. Deal or No Deal recreates the TV game show and is great fun. Star characters are the notorious banker and our own version of Noel Edmonds. The top prize is £25 but the session is worth its weight in gold for enjoyment value. Young Adult Group is for the under twenty-fives and meets in the evening for a variety of activities and outings. Tea and Chat and the Tea Dances are popular monthly sessions which allow people to come together for a bit of a blether and a glide around the floor.
Dundee Blind and Partially Sighted Society was founded in 1879 and is a local independent charity providing services to the citizens of Dundee and has1200 clients - to be our client you need to have uncorrectable sight loss in both eyes. Please have a look at our web site and get to know us. As well as providing services through charitable donations, the Society is funded by Dundee City Council who work with us and pay us to provide the statutory services required for people with a visual disability. We are integrated with Dundee City Social Work Department and liaise with them regularly about the welfare of our workers and clients and hold the register of visually impaired people on behalf of Dundee City Council.
If you need assistance with a visually impaired person we can help, advise or provide training or equipment. Open Mon to Fri 9:00am – 4:45pm. Phone: 01382 227101 Fax - 01382 203553, Email: office@dbpss.org.uk Website: www.dundeeblindsociety.org.uk Or drop in: 10 Ward Rd., Dundee, DD1 1LX
Our Social Groups Bingo Club allows partially sighted and blind people to play this popular game in a friendly and supportive setting. The amount of noise and laughter that emanates from the clubroom during these sessions Worth Knowing! •
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The Westminster Government is consulting on the future remit of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). This is a UK wide debate about what should be EHRC’s core objectives and what it should no longer do. The outcomes of the consultation will have implications for EHRC in Scotland although its core enforcement role is unlikely to be affected. Hope lots of people responded. The Specific Equality Duties to help deliver the new General Equality Duty have still to be decided. We will keep you updated! The Commission on the Delivery of Public Services has just published its report – worth a read. Copies can be downloaded from the commission’s website:: www.publicservicescommission.org
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Tay Equality ONE TO ONE WITH ELIZABETH ADAM – a British Sign Language User, User, Katherine Burrows
taught to type even though it was very difficult to get work in an office as there were no adjustments made for deaf people.
This is my personal recount of an emotional and interesting “talk”, via an interpreter, I had with Elizabeth, one of Tayside Police’s Community Advisers and a key member of Tayside Deaf Forum, who was born deaf, a fact unknown to her family until she was five. They thought she was just a bit slow, but her deafness meant that she didn’t speak and never learned English in the way most children do. Like most kids, Elizabeth was sent to school at the age of five, where her ‘invisible disability’ meant that she was treated as “dumb”. However, a year later three different doctors subjected Elizabeth to a number of tests, some rather strange and primitive – to check why she couldn’t speak. The first doctor tested her intellect and found nothing wrong! The second took the brooch from her coat and pricked her with it just to find out if she had a voice…and if her lungs were good! The third used a rattle to see if she responded to the noise. After six years of being treated as abnormal and stupid, Elizabeth was found to be deaf! Despite her disability, Elizabeth is quite ‘normal’ – perhaps in many ways an extraordinary person who has not allowed her deafness to get in the way of leading a full and happy life.
Eventually at 16 years of age she found work in a factory and the office of a garage, only to be sacked soon after because it was hard for her to understand speaking people (no training was given to staff at the time) and no one there had any knowledge of sign language. She did a number of other jobs after that, including printing works and at the old Smedleys’ food factory where she worked a twilight night shift. Elizabeth confessed to having a secret wish - wanting to join the Police Force!
Elizabeth Adam Now Elizabeth is making a massive contribution to the care and education of deaf people and has worked for over sixteen years at a local school teaching young people, from the age of three year old, who are deaf. She is also a volunteer at the newly opened café at Tayside Deaf Hub in the Old Mill in Brown Street and with the other volunteers makes a visit there a most happy and memorable experience.
After Elizabeth’s deafness was confirmed, she attended a deaf school in Dundee where somewhat surprisingly she was never taught sign language. She picked it up from the other children, many of whom became like her adopted family. Amongst the first things she learned to sign were nicknames for some of the teachers, one of whom they called “Mother Fat” because she had a huge bust!
In the future Elizabeth plans to do some research into the history of deafness in Scotland and we wish her well - Elizabeth may be deaf, but she is certainly not disabled!
Generally, Elizabeth enjoyed her schooldays, but without any system for career advice she was
TARGETED VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT related to a person’s age, disability, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation or gender identity/transgender status are unlawful and probably violates one of the most important human rights – to live life in safety and security. Yet many people continue to be denied this right – for some, its absence has led to the loss of life. Tayside Police takes these issues very seriously and is actively working with key partners from the local business, community and statutory sector to develop anti Hate Crime strategies in order to prevent and eliminate targeted violence and harassment. It is one of our Equality Outcome Objectives – public protected and served appropriately. Look out for a fuller update in the next edition. Nasreen Mohammed
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Tay Equality SAFETAYSIDERS BICYCLE PRESENTATION – Western Division (P&K) The annual Safetaysiders event was recently held at Perth Race Course in the grounds of Scone Palace Park. Nearly 1500 pupils took part from schools and educational establishments throughout Perth and Kinross, all learning to become a 'Safetaysider' during a series of special scenarios set up the emergency services, public utilities and other partner agencies and volunteers. The venue was chosen as it was accessible for disabled people and a number of students with special needs were incorporated into the learning experience. During the two weeks of the event the winners names of each session and categories were entered into a competition and two lucky winners are now the proud owners of a brand new bicycle and helmet kindly donated by Halfords. Divisional Commander Tayside Police Perth, Chief Superintendent Ross said: "This event has grown from strength to strength over the years. It's astonishing how many adults tell me how they remember going to 'Safetaysiders' when they were in Primary 7 and how what they learned stuck with them. That's the true measure of its success.” Councillor Elspeth Maclachlan, Vice- Convenor of the Community Safety Partnership said: "Safetaysiders is a visual, interactive scenario event which is very realistic, fun and making the children think on the choices they make when they are out and about in the community. It is a true reflection of partnership working with volunteers and over 30 organisations.” British Sign Language (BSL) – rewarding in more ways than one! Katherine Katherine Burrows When I interviewed Elizabeth Adam it was thanks to Jennifer Ramsay, a BSL interpreter that I could ‘talk’ to my subject. I was interested to find out what made a hearing person want to learn to sign when their own family members were not BSL users. I discovered that like most hearing people who can converse in BSL, Jennifer learned to sign so she could communicate with someone dear to her who was deaf. She first met her friend in 1986 and was amazed that her friend’s hearing son actually taught deaf children at the local school and used sign language to communicate with his mother. Fascinated with this silent language and wanting desperately to “speak” to her friend Jennifer decided to learn BSL but could not find a suitable course. After much searching she gained a place on a course at a local school and qualified up to level three. However, the course included weekend residential training every three months and was very expensive. Undeterred Jennifer finally passed her full interpreter’s qualification and is presently one of a very small number of fully qualified BSL interpreters in Scotland. Determination rewarded by well deserved success! As a nation we tend to be lazy about learning foreign languages – we expect others to speak English. But BSL IS NOT A FOREIGN LANGUAGE – it is BRITISH! So why is it that so few bother to learn it? Now with Deaf Links and Deaf Action (Tayside) offering a range of courses virtually at your doorstep, it’s the best time to learn BSL – and the course is lots of fun! For more info on BSL courses contact Deaf Links or Deaf Action (Tayside).
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Tay Equality A “FUSS ABOUT NOTHING”? – Chief Inspector
Thornton, Jennifer Thornto n, Crime Intelligence Division The murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in Soham by Ian Huntley, along with an enquiry into the tragic circumstances, carried out by Lord Bichard, made the Police and their partners more determined to better protect the public by • Enhancing the understanding of collaborative working amongst all partners; and • Continuing to improve information sharing amongst partners.
day event involving actors and designed to provoke multi-agency thinking about how organisations ‘talk’ to each other when protecting the vulnerable. The event helped to raise awareness of the benefits of Information Sharing in the area of public protection and challenged the decision making process. As a result, Tayside Data Sharing Partnership (TDSP) and Tayside Police brought ‘Fuss About Nothing’ to Tayside in May 2011.
Approximately 100 delegates across Tayside, who normally share information attended, i.e. Tayside Police, NHS Tayside, Education, Social Work, Tayside Fire and Rescue and voluntary agencies. Members of Lord Bichard highlighted the following areas of concerns the Violence Reduction Unit from Glasgow also attended and gave an input regarding an individual case in his report: • Poor communication between agencies, resulting in which highlighted the dangers of not sharing information. the loss of relevant information; • Failure to manage and share intelligence; and • Authorities pledging to learn from previous mistakes This event was very successful and is seen as a stepping stone for more partnership work to improve as far back as 1973, which had not been learned. information sharing so that Tayside Police can better protect its people. To find out more, contact CI These failures, along with a number of other similar events between 2004 and 2010, led to shocking events. Thornton via mail@Tayside.pnn.police.uk
Across Scotland, each Police Force pledged to work hard at ensuring that such failures in partnership working would not happen in their area. Information sharing amongst partners in Tayside has always been good, with well established relationships, organisations sharing offices and the introduction of Public Protection Units in Tayside Police. However it is important each partner continues to learn. To that end, research was carried out and ‘Fuss About Nothing’, a project piloted by Dorset Police in 2009 was discovered. This is a unique, interactive one
ZAHRA’S GOLDEN MOMENTS – Nasreen Mohammed Despite the onon-going economic and other doom and gloom news, every so often you hear something that lifts the spirits; this is definitely one of those stories! Zahra Kazmi, the 26 year old daughter of one of our Community Advisers, achieved a fantastic triple medal success at the recently held Special Olympics 2011, in Athens, Greece. She won two gold medals and a bronze in horse riding events against competitors from around the globe. This achievement is the result of six years of hard work. In her very first competition in Glasgow Great British Special Olympics back in 2005, Zahra won three silver medals. The success continued with two golds and a silver in Great British Special Olympics in Leicester in 2009, which led to her selection for the World Special Olympics in Athens. Zahra hopes to keep on taking part in future competitions and represent Great Britain.
We offer Zahra our congratulations and best wishes wishes for future success.
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Tay Equality CONGRATULATIONS & CELEBRATIONS! As a bit of a break from our normal focus on work related matters, I asked my Editorial Team to share something newsworthy in their lives, and found that their very different celebrations actually had an unexpected link – one is just starting out on the journey that may one day in the future lead to being what the other has just become. Read on and you will see what I mean! On another note, although sad to lose her services, we are delighted to hear that Claire has become a police officer; she will start her training at the Scottish Police College very soon. We wish her well Chief Constable Claire McLaren – or Phillip as she has become - certainly has a nice ring to it!!! Congratulations to both Claire and Katherine on their good news.
Nasreen
Marriage and Moto – Picture Perfect! I was recently married and have to say am enjoying married life to the full! New home, 2 new kittens and great memories from Sri Lanka; back down to reality and settling in. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and I learned a great deal about their culture. I also rode a lovely Elephant named Moto!
Claire
Malacai’s Grand Entrance!
Was it June I was delighted to learn that my youngest son became a On 14th dad for the first time. Feeling very proud I immediately travelled to visit the new arrival and took my 90 year old mother along to see her eleventh Great Grandchild. Malacai is so cute and during my visit was so content: only opening his eyes to say "bye".
Katherine
If you would like to submit an article, provide feedback or request this update in an alternative format please contact Nasreen Mohammed Diversity Adviser West Bell Street Dundee, DD1 9JU Telephone: 01382 596742 Fax: 01382 596529 mail@tayside.pnn.police.uk
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