To help promote Deaf Awareness Week 15-21 May 2017, Healthwatch Dorset have teamed up with Bournemouth Deaf Club to produce a British Sign Language (BSL) video.
Deaf Awareness Week this year is celebrating collaborative work that has made a difference for people who are deaf or have a hearing loss. Promoted by the UK Council on Deafness, the campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness that 1 in 6 people in the UK are deaf or have a hearing loss.
Craig Crowley, Chair of the UK Council on Deafness, said: “This year’s Deaf Awareness Week is ‘A Celebration’ of collaboration and working together on a joint campaign for the benefit of people who are deaf or have a hearing loss”.
Joyce Guest, Healthwatch Dorset Chairperson, told us: “It’s really important that everyone gets to have their say on local health & care services, so we need to make our information as accessible as possible. By working together with Bournemouth Deaf Club we’ve been able to make this short BSL video about Healthwatch and promote deaf awareness across Dorset.”
The video features members of Bournemouth Deaf Club and is presented by Matt Kirby. Matt told us: “Healthwatch visited Bournemouth Deaf Club a couple of months ago and our members suggested that they make a sign language video for Dorset. When you’re deaf it can be really difficult to get the information that you
need – so it’s been great to work on a project that makes Healthwatch Dorset available to everyone”
The video, which also has subtitles, is available now from the Healthwatch Dorset website www.healthwatchdorset.co.uk and on their youtube channel.
To find out more about Bournemouth Deaf Club go to: www.bournemouthdeafclub.org.uk
Louise Bate
