Miss-Delectable
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- Apr 18, 2004
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Sunday Life
You don't need a pill for every ill.
That's the message being conveyed as chemists take on a bigger role in diagnosing minor ailments.
But imagine what it must be like being deaf and trying to obtain over-the-counter medication for common ailments, such as coughs, sore throats and headaches?
Michelle Faulkner, from Newtownards, doesn't have to imagine this scenario - it's one she is, sadly, all-too-familiar with.
For Michelle has been deaf since she was just one - and this is just one of the many issues she faces on a daily basis.
Michelle - cultural development officer for the Deaf Association for Northern Ireland (DANI) - told Sunday Life: "It's difficult trying to get over-the-counter advice and support. I find, when people discover I am deaf, they try to hurry me along to get rid of me rather than spending time to get a proper picture of what's wrong so they can prescribe the right medication."
Michelle was involved last week in DANI's Learn To Sign Week, which aimed to encourage businesses to learn basic sign language and promoted the use of flash cards.
She added: "Very rarely do people in shops ever take the time or make the effort to communicate with me - even at a simple level, such as using a pen and paper.
"Instead, they turn to my hearing son. I find this very frustrating.
"I am deaf, not stupid - and I am very much a person in my own right."
Michelle welcomed the involvement of independent pharmacy chain Gordons Chemists - the only retailer in the province to take an active part in the campaign.
"I think it is fabulous that it is taking these taking steps to begin to train its staff," she said.
"I know this will not happen overnight, as sign language needs to be learnt.
"But if staff become confident and willing to take the time to use the special sign cards, gestures and basic elements of sign language, then it will make customers such as myself feel so much more comfortable and valued."
Helena Buchanan, head of health promotions at Gordons, added: "We are anxious that everyone across the province has equal access to health advice.
"As a consequence, we were delighted to get our staff involved in this kind of training which will, hopefully, help people from the deaf community feel more comfortable about approaching our staff for support and advice.
"We will also be organising special information evenings with interpreters to alert members of the deaf community to the services we already provide, such as medicine management, minor ailments, healthy eating and free cholesterol testing."
? For more information about sign language courses and business training, ring DANI on (028) 9038 7700 or click Sign Community
You don't need a pill for every ill.
That's the message being conveyed as chemists take on a bigger role in diagnosing minor ailments.
But imagine what it must be like being deaf and trying to obtain over-the-counter medication for common ailments, such as coughs, sore throats and headaches?
Michelle Faulkner, from Newtownards, doesn't have to imagine this scenario - it's one she is, sadly, all-too-familiar with.
For Michelle has been deaf since she was just one - and this is just one of the many issues she faces on a daily basis.
Michelle - cultural development officer for the Deaf Association for Northern Ireland (DANI) - told Sunday Life: "It's difficult trying to get over-the-counter advice and support. I find, when people discover I am deaf, they try to hurry me along to get rid of me rather than spending time to get a proper picture of what's wrong so they can prescribe the right medication."
Michelle was involved last week in DANI's Learn To Sign Week, which aimed to encourage businesses to learn basic sign language and promoted the use of flash cards.
She added: "Very rarely do people in shops ever take the time or make the effort to communicate with me - even at a simple level, such as using a pen and paper.
"Instead, they turn to my hearing son. I find this very frustrating.
"I am deaf, not stupid - and I am very much a person in my own right."
Michelle welcomed the involvement of independent pharmacy chain Gordons Chemists - the only retailer in the province to take an active part in the campaign.
"I think it is fabulous that it is taking these taking steps to begin to train its staff," she said.
"I know this will not happen overnight, as sign language needs to be learnt.
"But if staff become confident and willing to take the time to use the special sign cards, gestures and basic elements of sign language, then it will make customers such as myself feel so much more comfortable and valued."
Helena Buchanan, head of health promotions at Gordons, added: "We are anxious that everyone across the province has equal access to health advice.
"As a consequence, we were delighted to get our staff involved in this kind of training which will, hopefully, help people from the deaf community feel more comfortable about approaching our staff for support and advice.
"We will also be organising special information evenings with interpreters to alert members of the deaf community to the services we already provide, such as medicine management, minor ailments, healthy eating and free cholesterol testing."
? For more information about sign language courses and business training, ring DANI on (028) 9038 7700 or click Sign Community