Got a problem with a council service such as housing, social services or council tax? The council will be holding an advice surgery for Deaf people in Islington on Thursday 16 February.
Cllr Laura Willoughby, executive member for communities said:
"Islington is home to approximately 200 Deaf people and while we have some of the best services in the whole of London and the UK, we are always looking at ways to make improvements. We are very demand led, so we are keen to know what more we can do.
We've made excellent headway in the last year and are particularly proud of the new Signing Call Centre which has been up and running since last summer."
Recent improvements in Islington's service provision to the Deaf community are:
1. Sign Language Interpreting Service
· The Sign Language (SLI) interpreting service, started up Oct 2005, is the largest per capita, in the whole of the country. It is also well regarded within the national Deaf community as being a 'strong' team with well qualified and experienced staff.
· The service has been set up to meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements and counter act the effect of the national shortage of qualified signers. RNID report that for the 50,000 estimated BSL users in England and Wales, there are only 200 registered SLIs nationally, this equates to one interpreter per 250 Deaf people. The Islington ratio is one interpreter per 50 Deaf residents.
· The new service has been developed in direct response to the wishes expressed by Deaf people during the Hands Up consultation events last year.
· The DDAct provides Deaf BSL users with rights specifically in relation to providing SLI support facilitating access to goods, facilities and services.
· NB the Deaf community dislike Deafness being referred to as a disability, they regard themselves as being part of a distinct cultural community group, and it is intentionally Deaf with a capital D.
· The new service is PCT/LBI joint venture providing a single access point for Deaf residents and health and social professionals.
2. Contact Islington
Contact Islington offer a remote signing facility to enable Deaf Signing residents to communicate directly with Contact Officers using high tech web equipment.
3. IPCT commissions a Welfare Rights Service just for Deaf residents from DISC a charitable organisation.
4. LBI commissions the Royal Association of the Deaf to provide a Deaf Job Club at Islington Outlook
5. The Sensory Team has a Deaf SW, a Hard of Hearing SW and a Deaf and Blind Social Worker. the Team Manger is also Deaf herself.
6. DAII has received Health Action Zone Funding to run a Deaf Campaign and Consultation Group
INFORMATION ADVICE SESSION
Time: 5.30pm - 7pm
Date: Thursday 16th February
Venue: Islington Town Hall
BSL Interpreter provided
minicom: 020 7527 1900
Text: 07968 708703
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008