Miss-Delectable
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http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/c...=newsislg&itemid=WeED07 Sep 2005 10:27:17:830
DEAF activists are setting up a campaign group because a shortage of sign language interpreters in Islington is making their lives "pretty impossible".
Islington Deaf Committee has been awarded £4,000 by Islington Disability Network (IDN) to set up the group because residents with hearing difficulties are finding even basic communication difficult.
Islington Council has employed only one full-time sign language interpreter for the past 10 years to help the borough's estimated 200 sign language users. Three new interpreters are due to start later this year.
The new group will target the council, Islington Primary Care Trust (PCT) and City and Islington College to make sure they meet the needs of the borough's deaf residents.
IDN co-ordinator Wendy Haslam said: "The lack of sign language interpreters is a massive problem. They're needed when you go to the doctor's or for finding out about repairs to your home. There have been incidents of children being used as interpreters - once a little girl at the doctor's was told, 'Please tell your mother she's got cancer'.
"On a day to day level, life for deaf people is pretty impossible."
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 will put a responsibility on all public bodies to promote disability equality - but this could prove difficult in Islington, according to Ms Haslam.
She said: "There are not a lot of sign language interpreters and it's increasingly difficult to get someone - sometimes it's necessary to book a month in advance.
"The DDA puts a lot of pressure on these service providers. It's yet to be seen whether they'll be able to respond to that."
Councillor Laura Willoughby, Islington Council's executive member for communities, said: "We have been using RNID interpreters or freelancers to supplement the council's own sign language interpreter and make sure there was always an available signer if one was wanted.
"But we took the decision that it would be better to bring this service in and manage it centrally - so we have three highly qualified and very experienced part-time signing staff starting with the council very soon.
"This, and the recently opened signing call centre, means that Islington's deaf residents now have some of the most modern and accessible facilities in London.
"I am looking forward to meeting with Disability Action Islington's deaf group in the near future to agree good practice. It's important people challenge the council over compliance with the DDA - we are working hard to make sure we do but if residents think we can do better, we'd like to hear from them."
A spokesman for Islington PCT confirmed the council's three new interpreters would also be available to the PCT.
A City and Islington College spokeswoman said the college no longer taught sign language classes because of a staff shortage but she said: "Having a hearing impairment is not a barrier to doing a course at the college. We ask potential students to let us know in advance they will need an interpreter and the college will arrange it.
DEAF activists are setting up a campaign group because a shortage of sign language interpreters in Islington is making their lives "pretty impossible".
Islington Deaf Committee has been awarded £4,000 by Islington Disability Network (IDN) to set up the group because residents with hearing difficulties are finding even basic communication difficult.
Islington Council has employed only one full-time sign language interpreter for the past 10 years to help the borough's estimated 200 sign language users. Three new interpreters are due to start later this year.
The new group will target the council, Islington Primary Care Trust (PCT) and City and Islington College to make sure they meet the needs of the borough's deaf residents.
IDN co-ordinator Wendy Haslam said: "The lack of sign language interpreters is a massive problem. They're needed when you go to the doctor's or for finding out about repairs to your home. There have been incidents of children being used as interpreters - once a little girl at the doctor's was told, 'Please tell your mother she's got cancer'.
"On a day to day level, life for deaf people is pretty impossible."
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 will put a responsibility on all public bodies to promote disability equality - but this could prove difficult in Islington, according to Ms Haslam.
She said: "There are not a lot of sign language interpreters and it's increasingly difficult to get someone - sometimes it's necessary to book a month in advance.
"The DDA puts a lot of pressure on these service providers. It's yet to be seen whether they'll be able to respond to that."
Councillor Laura Willoughby, Islington Council's executive member for communities, said: "We have been using RNID interpreters or freelancers to supplement the council's own sign language interpreter and make sure there was always an available signer if one was wanted.
"But we took the decision that it would be better to bring this service in and manage it centrally - so we have three highly qualified and very experienced part-time signing staff starting with the council very soon.
"This, and the recently opened signing call centre, means that Islington's deaf residents now have some of the most modern and accessible facilities in London.
"I am looking forward to meeting with Disability Action Islington's deaf group in the near future to agree good practice. It's important people challenge the council over compliance with the DDA - we are working hard to make sure we do but if residents think we can do better, we'd like to hear from them."
A spokesman for Islington PCT confirmed the council's three new interpreters would also be available to the PCT.
A City and Islington College spokeswoman said the college no longer taught sign language classes because of a staff shortage but she said: "Having a hearing impairment is not a barrier to doing a course at the college. We ask potential students to let us know in advance they will need an interpreter and the college will arrange it.