Miss-Delectable
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New System For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing (from Mid Devon Star)
MID Devon District Council has improved its service to people who are deaf and hard of hearing by introducing RNID Typetalk.
Six employees in the Tiverton-based customer service department have been trained to use Typetalk, which enables people with communication difficulties to use the phone helped by an assistant, who relays messages between the parties.
Liz Reeves, Customer First Manager at Mid Devon District Council, said: "Over the past few years, we've received a number of calls through Typetalk and many of our staff felt that we needed to understand a bit more about how the service works.
"Everyone left the sessions feeling positive and now I think we're all just a bit more confident in general disability awareness as well as handling calls from people with hearing difficulties."
Mark Cunliffe, Typetalk Regional Outreach Co-ordinator, outlined issues affecting deaf people during an awareness training session and explained how customer-facing staff could make and receive calls using the service.
He said: "An estimated one in seven callers could potentially have hearing difficulties, emphasising the importance of the Typetalk service.
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"It's quick and easy to learn how to make and receive calls through Typetalk and training is free so there is no reason why businesses should not encourage staff to take part in a session."
To arrange a visit from your local Regional Outreach Co-ordinator, call 0800-7311888 (hearing) or 18001-0800500 888 (text).
MID Devon District Council has improved its service to people who are deaf and hard of hearing by introducing RNID Typetalk.
Six employees in the Tiverton-based customer service department have been trained to use Typetalk, which enables people with communication difficulties to use the phone helped by an assistant, who relays messages between the parties.
Liz Reeves, Customer First Manager at Mid Devon District Council, said: "Over the past few years, we've received a number of calls through Typetalk and many of our staff felt that we needed to understand a bit more about how the service works.
"Everyone left the sessions feeling positive and now I think we're all just a bit more confident in general disability awareness as well as handling calls from people with hearing difficulties."
Mark Cunliffe, Typetalk Regional Outreach Co-ordinator, outlined issues affecting deaf people during an awareness training session and explained how customer-facing staff could make and receive calls using the service.
He said: "An estimated one in seven callers could potentially have hearing difficulties, emphasising the importance of the Typetalk service.
advertisement
"It's quick and easy to learn how to make and receive calls through Typetalk and training is free so there is no reason why businesses should not encourage staff to take part in a session."
To arrange a visit from your local Regional Outreach Co-ordinator, call 0800-7311888 (hearing) or 18001-0800500 888 (text).