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Let's Talk About D/deaf Awareness Week

Annually in May, Deaf Awareness Week is celebrated. In this 'Let's Talk About Disability' instalment we are talking about D/deaf awareness and the support that is available at Warwick.

Not familiar with this instalment's theme? Find out more by clicking below:

What is the difference between deaf and Deaf?

Eleanor Hassall, Deaf student and former Warwick Enable President said:

"You might see deaf written as Deaf or D/deaf. The capitalisation of Deaf is often used by people who see their deafness as more than just a disability but also their cultural identity. The Deaf community is an especially strong one with its own cultural norms and rules, and obviously also our own language in British Sign Language! Some people might prefer to just say deaf instead of Deaf if they don’t feel very connected to the Deaf community or see their deafness as a disability rather than an identity."

You can read more of Elanor's reflections on language at the bottom of this page.


Stories from our community

Learn more by reading this reflection on the importance of language provided by a student below:

"Often when hearing people hear the word ‘deaf’ they assume we are referring to someone with absolutely no hearing at all. However, this is incorrect. Within the community, we use ‘deaf’ to refer to someone with any level of hearing loss at all, from mild all the way to profound (more on what those words mean in the FAQs above).

Within the Deaf community, there’s a whole host of language used and how people refer to themselves ultimately comes down to personal preference, however, here’s a quick guide to some expressions you might see used, and which ones to generally avoid.

You might also see deaf written as Deaf or D/deaf. The capitalisation of Deaf is often used by people who see their deafness as more than just a disability but also their cultural identity. The Deaf community is an especially strong one with its own cultural norms and rules, and obviously also our own language in British Sign Language! Some people might prefer to just say deaf instead of Deaf if they don’t feel very connected to the Deaf community or see their deafness as a disability rather than an identity.

You might also see people referring to themselves as ‘hard of hearing’ (often abbreviated to HoH). There is no rule as to what constitutes ‘deaf’ and what constitutes ‘HoH’ – it just comes down to how the individual prefers to view themselves.

However, one phrase to avoid at all costs as it is seen as highly offensive by the entire D/deaf/HoH community is ‘hearing impaired’. This is because this term implies that there is something wrong with us and that we need fixing. There’s a really good article on the use of 'hearing impaired' here if you’d like to read more."

Eleanor Hassall, Deaf student and former Warwick Enable President

And the personal story of a staff member below:

"Hearing Aids should be the answer. The problem is mine don’t always work, and getting them repaired is always a faff. Then there’s the problem with masks. Put the aid over the mask loop, and you worry about losing the aid. Put the mask over the aid, and you worry about damaging them.

I never knew how much I lip read. Add in how much masks muffle voices, and it’s all a very real problem. Voices are muffled at the best of times. I know you’re speaking, but for the life of me, I haven’t got a clue what you’re saying.

People have lived in bubbles with relatives these past few months. Without help, people with hearing difficulties live in a bubble of one their entire lives. When you can’t hear, people stop talking to you. You can’t hear birds sing, or the wind in the trees. The world is very boring when you can’t hear it properly. Worse, you’re isolated.

But hearing difficulty does not need to lead to a deaf sentence. Colleagues are universally very good. They understand the importance of clarity over volume. They readily spell out words when I ask them to do so. Vitally, they are patient. For that, a big thumbs up, and a huge 'thank you'."

Anonymous staff member


Top tips

The UK Council on Deafness have provided a list of top tips to support communication as part of D/deaf Awareness Week:

  • Face the person while you are speaking. Don’t turn away.
  • Repeat yourself if necessary.
  • Never say ‘It doesn’t matter’. If the person doesn’t understand you, don’t give up!
  • Write it down or draw a picture.
  • Speak one at a time, don’t talk over each other.
  • Keep your mouth visible. Smile and relax.
  • Don’t speak too quickly or too slowly.

Digital accessibility

The Library have brought together some of the freely available software and apps available to staff and students at Warwick which can support anyone who is D/deaf or hard of hearing.

IT services provide a wide range of guidance for digital accessibility for online teaching materials. Transcripts, subtitles and captions are paramount for video resources. Find out more about why it is important to make accessible video content, captions and audio descriptions, and how this applies to SiteBuilder video and audio clips.

Hearing loops

There is a dedicated webpage for portable hearing loops with a list of locations as well as links to instructions. These portable hearing loops are designed to work for 1:1 or very small group conversations to help hearing aid users minimise background noise. Centrally Timetabled Teaching Rooms have larger fixed loop systems more suitable for larger group or teaching activities. Rooms with fixed loop systems fitted can be found using the Centrally Timetabled Room Information Facilities Search, which allows you to filter rooms by Induction Loop and other features before booking the room. This website also contains details of how to report faults with both portable and fixed loop systems. The downloadable instructions associated with each loop on the webpage also includes instructions on positioning for portable systems. Across campus, to indicate loop systems, where appropriate we use the World Federation of the Deaf sign to indicate facilities for Deaf people, with the letter T indicating equipment to enhance microphone sound is set up for people whose hearing aid is fitted with a “T” switch.

If you know of a portable hearing loop that is not on the list, please get in touch with the Estates Accessibility team.

Face coverings

Although the Government has recently changed its guidance to say that a visor on its own does not constitute a face covering, as a University, we recognise our obligations to be proactive to anticipate the needs of disabled people under the Equality Act. As such, we will continue to issue and allow the use of visors on their own for service provision activities in combination with existing additional measures that we have in place on campus, such as social distancing, asymptomatic testing and transparent barriers as specified in local risk assessments. Examples of relevant service provision activities include teaching, customer service, and direct communication with people who rely on lip reading or the interpretation of facial expressions.

A polite reminder that not all disabilities are visible and some people may be exempt from wearing a face covering either due to their disability or to aid communication with a disabled person.

FAQs

We compiled a list of your frequently asked questions, which have been answered by a former Warwick Enable President, Eleanor Hassall.

Students' Union

Find out more about the work of the Students' Union Disabled Students’ Officer and Warwick Enable - the disability liberation and campaigning society on campus for disabled students, their friends, allies and carers or enablers, and anyone who is passionate about disability and inclusivity.

Staff Network

Join the Disabled Staff Network. The network is open to all staff members with an interest in making the University a more accessible place for all and creating a more inclusive environment.

PEEPs

If you feel that you need a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) for safe evacuation of a building in an emergency the Independent Assessment Tool will help the University identify the appropriate emergency response requirements and the assistance you may require.

Sign&Sing Choir

The Sign&Sing Choir meet online one lunchtime every week. Everyone is welcome; staff and students. Choir members are from all areas of the University with people from University House, the School of Law, the SU, Wellbeing, the Library, and Estates. Come along to sing a lot, laugh a lot, and learn a lot.

Adjustments

Get adjustments to support you in your work or studies.

  • Adjustments for staff: MAP is a tool to help you to have meaningful and confidential conversations with your line manager or other University representative.
  • Adjustments for students: Disability Services can support you to access a range of adjustments, exam arrangements, advice, and one to one study skills support.

BDF resources

As members of the Business Disability Forum, the University has access to a range of Member Resources including toolkits, factsheets, case studies, videos, and webinars to help you understand more about how to be disability inclusive. Just sign up with your University email address to get a free account.

Membership also grants us unlimited access to BDF's confidential Advice Service, a team of expert advisers who are enthusiastic about improving disabled people’s experiences of employment and users of services.

 

We are committed to creating a culture in which diversity is recognised, understood, and valued. To do this, we need your help to better understand the make-up of our community - please answer the diversity monitoring questions on your personal record. Staff can update on SuccessFactors and students on Student Records Online. It should only take a few minutes of your time. Find out more about what we ask and how we use it.