Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1788&ArticleID=1476831
ELAINE Wilson had to learn sign language from scratch when she was appointed manager of Hartlepool Deaf Centre.
Now the mother-of-one is enjoying the challenge of working with the deaf residents in town and wants people to learn some valuable tips from National Deaf Awareness Week.
The week's message is Look At Me and encourages people to look deaf people in the eyes and speak to them.
"My perception has changed considerably since I have been here," said Elaine.
"I now understand that English is often a second language for deaf people so I am having to learn another language.
"I have met a lot of confident deaf people. It is easy to think if you have any disability you will not be confident or do things that everyone else does.
"Deaf Awareness Week is about looking straight at a deaf person and not talking louder or faster. You just need to be more articulate."
Elaine, 44, from Grange Road, has worked in the voluntary sector for more than 10 years and was previously employed in mental health where she raised around £750,000 through fundraising.
But she says her current role is one of the most challenging parts of her career.
"I have had to learn sign language which I find extremely interesting but quite difficult," she said.
"Not being deaf it is difficult for me sometimes to identify what the problems are although I have learnt a lot since being here.
"Until I worked here my main contact with a deaf person had been the former manager who could lip read very well so I got a bit of a false impression about the communication issues.
"I have had to consciously change simple things like the way you get someone's attention when you walk into a room.
"I have had to be more articulate and make my mouth work harder because we are very lazy about our speech.
"I have been really blessed for getting the opportunity to be challenged. But I have to say the people here have made it a lot easier for me!"
The centre provides social activities such as snooker, darts and a bar together with educational opportunities.
"We are here to support the deaf and hard of hearing community in whichever way they want to be helped," said Elaine.
"It is their centre because they run it through their own committee. I manage it on a day to day basis but the management committee is made up of people from the deaf community.
"Having been here a short time, I think deaf people get a feeling of belonging and a sense of community which is very important because it is an isolating disability for all the obvious reasons.
"I think the centre offers fun, friendship and a place where they can go to get the help they sometimes need. For example, we can be the voice on the telephone."
Neighbourhood renewal money has allowed deaf people to take courses in English and computing.
There are also sign language courses available for people with and without hearing problems.
Elaine is placing specific emphasis on level three sign language courses, which can lead to people become translators.
"One of the things I wanted to do was to get people to the next level of sign language so they could have the opportunity to become interpreters," she said.
"On average, there is one translator for every 270 people and they are like gold dust.
"People need interpreters for things like hospital and doctors appointments because communication is very important.
"It is often the difference between having a left leg or a right leg off!"
For more information contact the centre, which is in Stockton Road, on (01429) 222206.
Deaf people can contact the centre by fax on (01429) 291444 or text phone on (01429) 282322.
ELAINE Wilson had to learn sign language from scratch when she was appointed manager of Hartlepool Deaf Centre.
Now the mother-of-one is enjoying the challenge of working with the deaf residents in town and wants people to learn some valuable tips from National Deaf Awareness Week.
The week's message is Look At Me and encourages people to look deaf people in the eyes and speak to them.
"My perception has changed considerably since I have been here," said Elaine.
"I now understand that English is often a second language for deaf people so I am having to learn another language.
"I have met a lot of confident deaf people. It is easy to think if you have any disability you will not be confident or do things that everyone else does.
"Deaf Awareness Week is about looking straight at a deaf person and not talking louder or faster. You just need to be more articulate."
Elaine, 44, from Grange Road, has worked in the voluntary sector for more than 10 years and was previously employed in mental health where she raised around £750,000 through fundraising.
But she says her current role is one of the most challenging parts of her career.
"I have had to learn sign language which I find extremely interesting but quite difficult," she said.
"Not being deaf it is difficult for me sometimes to identify what the problems are although I have learnt a lot since being here.
"Until I worked here my main contact with a deaf person had been the former manager who could lip read very well so I got a bit of a false impression about the communication issues.
"I have had to consciously change simple things like the way you get someone's attention when you walk into a room.
"I have had to be more articulate and make my mouth work harder because we are very lazy about our speech.
"I have been really blessed for getting the opportunity to be challenged. But I have to say the people here have made it a lot easier for me!"
The centre provides social activities such as snooker, darts and a bar together with educational opportunities.
"We are here to support the deaf and hard of hearing community in whichever way they want to be helped," said Elaine.
"It is their centre because they run it through their own committee. I manage it on a day to day basis but the management committee is made up of people from the deaf community.
"Having been here a short time, I think deaf people get a feeling of belonging and a sense of community which is very important because it is an isolating disability for all the obvious reasons.
"I think the centre offers fun, friendship and a place where they can go to get the help they sometimes need. For example, we can be the voice on the telephone."
Neighbourhood renewal money has allowed deaf people to take courses in English and computing.
There are also sign language courses available for people with and without hearing problems.
Elaine is placing specific emphasis on level three sign language courses, which can lead to people become translators.
"One of the things I wanted to do was to get people to the next level of sign language so they could have the opportunity to become interpreters," she said.
"On average, there is one translator for every 270 people and they are like gold dust.
"People need interpreters for things like hospital and doctors appointments because communication is very important.
"It is often the difference between having a left leg or a right leg off!"
For more information contact the centre, which is in Stockton Road, on (01429) 222206.
Deaf people can contact the centre by fax on (01429) 291444 or text phone on (01429) 282322.