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Belleville Intelligencer - Ontario, CA
Two years ago, Marguerite Constable walked into the Belleville office of the Canadian Cancer Society and volunteered.
Today, the 59-year-old cancer survivor is credited with helping to break down a significant communication barrier between the organization and a sector of the population often overlooked — her own deaf community.
For several years, the society has used an automated phone system to provide access to its toll-free cancer information service or peer support programs, but quite often those in deaf communities had trouble connecting.
Faced with her own cancer diagnosis eight years ago, Constable, who signs and reads lips, said the lack of services to those with hearing impairments made the quest for information or support frustrating, to say the least.
“I didn’t know where to look for information,” she said, “and I asked myself, ‘What am I supposed to do?’ It was a very emotional time for me.”
When she began working with the Hastings-Prince Edward branch as a peer support volunteer, Constable had no reservations in bringing the gap of services forward to staff, recalled manager Heather Gray.
“It was Marguerite who originally brought it to my attention,” she said.
“What we were finding is that we were serving the needs of the deaf community, but people generally had to come in person to the office or e-mail us for information or support.”
This month, the local society launched a pilot project using new digital telecommunications technology that simplifies accessing the society’s information and support services.
Similar to most instant messaging programs available on the Internet, the program works in a split-screen format on a personal computer and allows for a more simplified, expanded use of the traditional telephone typewriter (TTY) service.
“We can still correspond with people through the Bellnet (TTY) system, however if they have a computer, they can correspond using the Textnet as well,” Gray said.
While most deaf people would prefer to meet in-person rather than using a messaging service, Constable said the software allows for someone to have a first-time conversation with a volunteer within a measured level of comfort.
“And if they really want to see me in person, we can then make arrangements,” she said. “If they don’t, then that’s OK too. It depends on the person. It is exciting for me to see this technology available.
“The technology is very useful for the culturally and orally deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people in Ontario.”
In addition to the pilot project — which could mean the technology is implemented at regional society offices across Canada in the coming years — the software is currently in use on a national scale with the society’s toll-free Cancer Information Service and Peer Support programs.
Having the service available locally, however, is a boon for Gray’s Belleville office.
“In addition to offering support and accessing information, it also opens a door for those in the hearing impaired community who are looking to volunteer or find out information about upcoming events,” she said.
“The Canadian Cancer Society actively looks for ways reach out to diverse communities” added Donna Czukar, a director with the society’s provincial office.
“Members of the public have always been able to call upon us for cancer information and support services. We are very pleased to introduce technology that will make it easier for those in deaf, deafened and hard of hearing communities to access to our services.”
Members of deaf communities in Ontario can access the Belleville office, find out more information about the new program or contact the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Service and Peer Support program by calling the toll-free TTY number 1-866-786-3934.
The society is looking for volunteers for the upcoming Relay for Life event on June 20 — call the local branch at 613-962-0686 or e-mail hgray@ontario.cancer.ca.
Two years ago, Marguerite Constable walked into the Belleville office of the Canadian Cancer Society and volunteered.
Today, the 59-year-old cancer survivor is credited with helping to break down a significant communication barrier between the organization and a sector of the population often overlooked — her own deaf community.
For several years, the society has used an automated phone system to provide access to its toll-free cancer information service or peer support programs, but quite often those in deaf communities had trouble connecting.
Faced with her own cancer diagnosis eight years ago, Constable, who signs and reads lips, said the lack of services to those with hearing impairments made the quest for information or support frustrating, to say the least.
“I didn’t know where to look for information,” she said, “and I asked myself, ‘What am I supposed to do?’ It was a very emotional time for me.”
When she began working with the Hastings-Prince Edward branch as a peer support volunteer, Constable had no reservations in bringing the gap of services forward to staff, recalled manager Heather Gray.
“It was Marguerite who originally brought it to my attention,” she said.
“What we were finding is that we were serving the needs of the deaf community, but people generally had to come in person to the office or e-mail us for information or support.”
This month, the local society launched a pilot project using new digital telecommunications technology that simplifies accessing the society’s information and support services.
Similar to most instant messaging programs available on the Internet, the program works in a split-screen format on a personal computer and allows for a more simplified, expanded use of the traditional telephone typewriter (TTY) service.
“We can still correspond with people through the Bellnet (TTY) system, however if they have a computer, they can correspond using the Textnet as well,” Gray said.
While most deaf people would prefer to meet in-person rather than using a messaging service, Constable said the software allows for someone to have a first-time conversation with a volunteer within a measured level of comfort.
“And if they really want to see me in person, we can then make arrangements,” she said. “If they don’t, then that’s OK too. It depends on the person. It is exciting for me to see this technology available.
“The technology is very useful for the culturally and orally deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people in Ontario.”
In addition to the pilot project — which could mean the technology is implemented at regional society offices across Canada in the coming years — the software is currently in use on a national scale with the society’s toll-free Cancer Information Service and Peer Support programs.
Having the service available locally, however, is a boon for Gray’s Belleville office.
“In addition to offering support and accessing information, it also opens a door for those in the hearing impaired community who are looking to volunteer or find out information about upcoming events,” she said.
“The Canadian Cancer Society actively looks for ways reach out to diverse communities” added Donna Czukar, a director with the society’s provincial office.
“Members of the public have always been able to call upon us for cancer information and support services. We are very pleased to introduce technology that will make it easier for those in deaf, deafened and hard of hearing communities to access to our services.”
Members of deaf communities in Ontario can access the Belleville office, find out more information about the new program or contact the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Service and Peer Support program by calling the toll-free TTY number 1-866-786-3934.
The society is looking for volunteers for the upcoming Relay for Life event on June 20 — call the local branch at 613-962-0686 or e-mail hgray@ontario.cancer.ca.