***Photo Opportunity***Photo Opportunity***Photo Opportunity***Photo Opportunity***<br><br>Deaf and hearing-impaired residents in Islington will join Islington Council Leader Steve Hitchins and Chief Executive Helen Bailey on 9 September for a VIP opening of the Council's new signing call centre.<br><br>As part of Islington's drive to provide excellent services to its residents, Islington is the first local authority to offer this technology to members of the deaf community. <br><br>The innovative service means deaf residents can now share the advantages of the council's call centre, Contact Islington, already enjoyed by thousands of hearing customers each week.<br><br>Contact Islington are providing high-quality broadband video phone access from the Council's offices at 222 Upper Street N1. This enables deaf people who are able to sign to directly access a signing/interpreting call center run by technology solutions company Significan’t. Deaf customers can then conference with call centre staff via a qualified sign language interpreter.<br><br>Any deaf customers with videophone access at home or elsewhere, will be able to access the signing call centre direct. The Council is looking to install videophone links in other departments if there is sustained demand.<br><br>There are estimated to be 250 registered deaf people in Islington who can sign.<br><br>On trial since June 17, 2005 - the service has received lots of interest from users and BBC's See Hear programme.<br><br>Cllr Steve Hitchins, Leader of Islington Council said:<br><br>"This signing scheme is about extending to deaf residents what the rest of us take for granted - accurate information and instant contact with the Council.<br><br>We are enthusiastically embracing the possibilities of new technology to serve residents better - be that through our website or wireless 'hotzone' on Upper Street."<br><br>Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend from 9.15am Friday 9 September at Municipal Offices, 222 Upper Street, London N1.<br><br>ENDS
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009