New Sensations at Merthyr

SENSATIONS, a hearing loss group in Merthyr Tydfil, met on May 9 at the 3Gs Development Trust building on Chestnut Way, Merthyr. This month’s session, which ran from 10am to noon, included a confidence-building course with Gail Davies, who will be helping people speak up in public places. Meetings are held on the second Monday of every month. If you want to join and learn more in the Merthyr Area please contact:

Michelle on 01685 353426 or text Kath on 07540 574038.

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Lip-speakers, what are they ?

Lip Speakers convey a speaker's message to lip readers without using their voice. They produce clearly the shape of the words, the flow, rhythm and phrasing of natural speech and repeat the stress used by the speaker. Facial expression natural gesture and finger spelling (if the lip reader requests it) can also be used to aid understanding.

Who may benefit? (No-one who wants welsh obviously !)

People with hearing impairments who can lip read

When will they benefit?

Especially assists in larger forums where a person is unable to lip read an individual speaker. As a rough guide, 3 weeks' notice as a minimum or as much notice as possible. If an event is being planned then it is recommended that interpreters are booked as early as possible.

Please note: Information to be supplied

The customer's requirements – what do they need?
The date and time at which the service is required
The likely duration of the service requirement
The venue, including the full address, telephone number and contact person
The subject matter – what is the event about?
The number of participants at the meeting (and names where possible)
Any background information, such as agenda, handouts and/or verbal summary of the event
The invoice details (the invoice address and your cost code)

A vital requirement to ask what level of skill is required and what level of understanding from the user is the norm, also has to be conveyed ! Most adverts do not aks what level of understanding YOU have of lip-reading, and given only 30% is the accepted norm this is vital.

Don't blag it ! If your lip-reading is so-so, SAY SO ! Another omission seems to be in duration of support required, you may need MORE than one lip-speaker if the meet is lengthy, usually a change is required to give the lip-speaker a rest at least every 20-30 minutes.

Take a Note Blodwyn....

Acquired, late-deafened whatever sign language is not all there is for access. There are numerous electronic note-taking services and equipment available you can use, and each method is empowered as your right in access terms, here is a description of basics. This method of access is still largely ignored by deaf access campaigns, but, has the greatest potential to service the most with hearing loss, campaign for more now.



Speech to Text Reporters– What Are They?

It is the role of the Speech To Text Reporter (STTR) to facilitate communication between deaf / deafened / hard of hearing people and hearing people. Speech to Text Reporting is a process of Verbatim Computer-Aided Transcription for deaf people. It is NOT voice recognition or predictive text. A trained Reporter takes down the verbatim spoken word on a Palantype or Stenograph keyboard. The specially trained Reporter types what she / he hears onto the Palantype / Stenograph keyboard. This is not typing every letter but words, phrases and shortcuts (thus enabling it to be verbatim.) The computer programme then translates into English, which then appears on the laptop screen / projector screen. There is not an Oxford English Dictionary in the computer, therefore, when words are new to the computer, it translates the typed text into what it thinks is being typed and this then appears phonetically. A trained Reporter can write in excess of 200 wpm.


The job is to simultaneously translate the spoken word into English and ensure that it is displayed for a deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing, reader to view. This enables the deaf, deafened, hard of hearing person to follow proceedings on an equal footing with their colleagues. STTRs cover exactly the same kinds of events as sign language interpreters and lip speakers, i.e. conferences, interviews, one to one sessions etc. All Registered STTRs originally trained as Court reporters. It takes up to 2 years to train as a Court Reporter, however to work for the deaf, deafened and hard of hearing, STTRs need at least 4 years court experience.

Rigorous training is undertaken in order to become a CACDP registered STTR. At present, all STTRs have to pass the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters (BIVR) Membership exam, which examines grammar and verbatim reporting skills. In order to take this exam, the STTR must have attained the minimum speed of 180 wpm. To become CACDP registered, all STTRs must have a deaf awareness certificate and also have attended a training course on technical issues and working with other Human Aids to Communication. Thereafter, they will have to be endorsed by two deaf assessors appointed by the CACDP.

Once all these exams have been passed, only then can the Palantypist / Stenographer be classed as an STTR. They are then bound by a Code of Practice / Role and Ethics of an STTR and Disciplinary Procedures. The user can then be safe in the knowledge that when an STTR is used, the work produced will be of a high standard.

WHERE CAN I USE STT ?

• job interviews
• meetings at work
• conferences
• at college or university.

ANY 'official' area e.g. GPs. Social Services, hospitals, 999 etc ALL these areas are subject to access laws.

Some may need access to an electrical socket. Any hard of hearing person can ask for this access as a right, just as deaf are empowered to ask for sign language, it is a LEGAL right.

SOURCE (A)

SOURCE (B)

If you are wondering, the name Blodwyn means 'Blessed Flowers' !

Listening a different way... Deaf week (2).

Mariclare Carey-Jones, blogs on deaf week in Wales.



Sign language is often used to help the deaf and hard-of-hearing communicate. As someone who works in a communication industry I spend most of my time talking, so I can’t imagine what it would be like if I couldn’t hear what others were saying. I suppose I would feel isolated and uninvolved – but life wouldn’t have to be like that. To mark Deaf Awareness Week, I’ve been finding out how people who can’t hear can communicate – and it’s like I’ve discovered another language or three.

I spent this morning with a group in Cardiff , with those who were there are learning sign language so they can converse with the deaf community. It was an important session to be at, because until recently there was a shortage of sign language interpreters here in Wales. But, thanks to a successful campaign, there are now three times more than there were. However, the numbers of palantypists here are still too small. These are people who listen to what is being said, for example at a meeting or a function, and type it word-for-word on an electronic shorthand keyboard, which is linked to the laptop of a deaf or hard-of-hearing person. It means those who can’t hear can be involved.

Lip-reading is also a useful technique, which can make a real difference. And the earlier people start to learn these methods of communication, the better; which is why the National Deaf Children’s Society is also supporting Deaf Awareness Week. It’s an important seven days in the charities’ calendars. By raising awareness, it’s hoped all deaf people in Wales will be able to hear and be heard by everyone – even if it means listening in a different way.

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Singing Hands for Deaf week

A CHOIR that doesn’t actually sing is still managing to make some beautiful music.

The lyrics are all in the movement for Wrexham’s Singing Hands – a nine-strong group formed by members of Wrexham Deaf Club. Most of the group are profoundly deaf or hard of hearing. They range in age from 22 to the Deaf Club’s chairman Malcolm Vaughan, from Plas Madoc, who is 72 and lost his hearing in a bomb blast as a toddler in the last war.

Singing Hands, formed in June last year, is led by Claire Hawkins who interprets the songs into sign language for them to sign and dance along to. Claire is secretary of the Wrexham Deaf Club. “I started signing in 2007 and I am now in my second year at Level 3,” she said. “I interpret the songs and the group follow me doing the actions and the signing. Deaf people do know music. They can feel the vibrations in their body and through the floor and with sign singing there is a flow.

“Because we are signing the words they understand what is being said. It looks a bit like dancing because we are doing the movements in unison,” she said. Claire studied sign language at Yale College in Wrexham for levels 1 and 2, but attends a centre in Colwyn Bay for her Level 3 course. “We do all sorts of music from latest chart songs by people like Adele to more traditional, perhaps Tom Jones, it’s quite a mixture.”

Claire and club members also carry out school visits. “We have set up deaf awareness for children in the eight to nine- year age groups and we want to make them aware of the dangers to their hearing having things like MP3 players blasting away in their ears. “We do some sign singing for them to make it fun and some of the members go along to answer questions the children may have about deafness.

“There is ignorance about deafness and hard of hearing so perhaps if we can catch these children now there will be less ignorance in the future,” she said. The group will be performing at Eagles Meadow, Wrexham, on May 7, between 10.30am and 3pm.

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What we as Welsh deaf can do about Hate Crime

Wales suffers a lot of Hate crime. By far the Cinderella of this unpleasant crime is via deaf people, so what do we do if we feel we are being targeted by neighbours or others because we are deaf ?

First we can contact the South Wales Minority Support Unit and fill in an complaint form HERE as yet there is no direct sign access you can use, but why not lobby the Police for that too ?

What IS 'Hate Crime' ? there is an assumption mostly it only applies to people who are coloured, homosexual or have gender issues, this is NOT correct, this is 'profile' media spin, but deaf people come under 'disability', (This is no time to play deaf politics when you are being attacked !), This is also valid under the Hate Crime law too. An legal definition :

Hate crime can take many forms including:

physical attacks – such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson.

threat of attack – including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints.

verbal abuse or insults - offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying at school or in the workplace

Police definition of a hate crime:

Any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.

Hate Incident:

Any incident, which may or may not constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate.

Hate incidents include those motivated by disability.

All hate crimes are hate incidents. However some hate incidents, such as inappropriate name calling in a non-confrontational situation, may not constitute a criminal offence and therefore will not be recorded as a hate crime. ( NOTE: With regards to this grey area, consistent and relentless name calling, IS, so do not be put off by the police suggesting they cannot do anything !).

Last 5 years 11 deaf families living in rented accommodation in South Wales were re-homed due to relentless hate crime lodged against them, not a single case was recorded AS an hate crime, because the deaf people agreed to be re-homed, recognise it for what it is and contact the Police to get it stopped, or the haters win ! You do NOT Have to be an homosexual or a coloured or ethnic or migrant person to get police support. Act now to silence these morons. Also tell police they must RECORD your complaint as an hate crime, without that, no statistics can be used to alert to it happening and thus get it addressed.

Welsh Medical Information Card

The Welsh Ambulance Service has made a Medical Information Card for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The card will help you give important information to paramedics and other emergency service staff if there is an accident or emergency. You will need to fill in as many details as you can on the card and keep it with you at all times. Remember to give the card to the emergency service staff when they arrive. The information on the card will have your name, any medical problems and allergies and any medication you take.

(If you fill in the Welsh side of the card please fill in the English side too as the paramedic who helps you may not be able to read Welsh)

To get a card please e-mail ppi.team@wales.nhs.uk, make sure you give your name, address and postcode. We will then send you a Medical Information Card.

Fire Service Roadshow

DEAF people from Ellesmere Port can learn to protect their homes from fire at a roadshow rolling into town as part of Deafness Awareness Week 2011.

It marks the start of a year-long series of events run by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Deafness Support Network. The hi-tech community roadshow vehicle will be at Ellesmere Port Market between 10am and 3pm on Tuesday, May 3. The event is co-ordinated by Melanie Pitts, deaf persons advocate, who said: “Visitors to our roadshow will be able find out about the specialist support available to them to make their homes safer, look at equipment designed to alert them to a fire and find out about our online home safety assessment service.”

A British sign language interpreter will be on hand to assist and information cards will be available showing the signs and signals that can be used in an emergency.

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ZULU !!!

I'm depressed dispirited and disappointed, my fave welsh film of all time has been disputed as inaccurate. Bit Freudian there with so many small d's but...in mitigation one fact may interest us.

Gonville Bromhead (Played by Michael Caine in the Film), was partially deaf, a disability not mentioned in the film. All the characters in the film pronounce Bromhead's name as it is spelt. In reality it was pronounced 'Brumhead'. He was also significantly older than portrayed and like many Victorian gentlemen of the period sported substantial facial hair.

A typical Welsh iconic historical moment ? erm... maybe, like the Welsh flag at the Alamo I suppose.... but hey we signed their Independence Declaration.

The 24th Regiment of Foot is described as a Welsh regiment: in fact, although based in Brecon in south Wales, its designation was the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. It did not become the South Wales Borderers until 1881.

Of the soldiers present, 49 were English, 32 Welsh, 16 Irish and 22 others of indeterminate nationality.

The song "Men of Harlech" features prominently as the regimental song; it did not become so until later. At the time of the battle, the regimental song was "The Warwickshire Lad".

There was no "battlefield singing contest" between the British and the Zulus. (Albeit it gave Ifor Emmanuel a spot).



The British infantrymen of the Anglo-Zulu War did not wear sparkling white pith helmets. They were stained a tan colour (with tea or coffee) without helmet plates.

Let us hope the English got the words right at least.... I'm still wondering if a friend I had in Merthyr Tydfil was right, in that he insisted a long lost ancestor was Davy Crocket... Even How Green was my Valley was made in the USA...

Disabled/Deaf lose rail concessions

Rail users in west Wales have voiced concern at the end of half-price travel concessions on local trains. Carmarthenshire council has agreed with Arriva Train Wales to remove the benefit for people aged over 60 and others with certain disabilities. It allowed them half-price travel between Swansea and Pembroke and on the Heart of Wales line. The council said it made the decision reluctantly in tough economic times, while Arriva declined to comment.

Rail volunteer Hywel Jones said the elderly were "going to feel the pinch" in a measure saving £60,000 a year. The Carmarthenshire pass has given people aged over 60 or with certain disabilities the right to half-price standard single or day return fares on rail journeys operating within the county. It has also been valid on local train services to and from Swansea, Pembrokeshire and Llandrindod Wells, provided the journey began or ended in Carmarthenshire.

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Welsh Pharmacies risk Legal Action by Deaf.

Superdrug were inaccessible to hearing aid users in 19 branches that were surveyed Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing find it difficult to buy medicines and health products because pharmacies across the UK have not made provisions for them, according to research by a deaf charity.

The charity found that of the 52 branches of pharmacies analysed, a staggering 81% are failing to comply with accessibility laws because they don't have fully working induction loops, essential equipment to two million people who wear hearing aids. Among the worst culprits was Superdrug, who were found to be inaccessible to hearing aid users in all 19 branches that were surveyed, while 67% of Boots stores visited were inaccessible.

A spokespeson for the charity said, “Pharmacies will be concerned to learn that, by not providing a full working induction loop, they are failing customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and putting themselves at risk of legal action under the Equality Act 2010."

Is YOUR chemist accessible ? Let us know...

New guidance on counselling services for deaf in Wales.

SCHOOLS are set to receive new guidance on providing counselling services for deaf pupils.

Funded by the Assembly Government, the new guidance is in response to research, which suggests that deaf children and young people are 60 per cent more likely to experience mental health problems than other children. The resource, written by the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) and another charity, highlights that growing up deaf in a hearing- orientated world can be challenging.

It also offers school counsellors practical pointers on how to meet varying communication needs and ensure that services are accessible to deaf pupils. Jayne Dulson, director of NDCS Cymru, said: "Living in a hearing-orientated society can present particular emotional challenges for deaf children and young people, and a general lack of deaf awareness can leave young deaf people feeling isolated.

She added: "With the appropriate support, deaf children can grow up to be confident and independent individuals." Leighton Andrews, Education Minister, said the new guidance will help ensure confidential counselling is available in schools for those deaf youngsters who may need additional support. "By 2011 we want every secondary school in Wales to have high-standard counselling services available so pupils can have someone to turn to if they need help or support," he said.

Welsh Deaf teen to compose Music for BBC/Olypmics

A deaf teenager has been asked to compose a piece of Olympic themed music to be played by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2012.



Lloyd Coleman, 18, who is also visually impaired, recently won a place at London's Royal Academy of Music. He will be mentored by Larry Ashmore who has worked on films including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. "Larry is now in his 80s and has developed a huge amount of knowledge," said Lloyd, from Bridgend. Returning the compliment, Mr Ashmore said: "I have known Lloyd for about 18 months and, as a professional musician myself of some 50 plus years experience, I can say with confidence that he is an outstanding young musician in several fields; as a player, as a composer, and as a conductor."

The former Pencoed Comprehensive School pupil has moved to London to take up his studies just around the corner from his mentor for the Olympic piece. The opportunity came through a partnership between Disability Arts Cymru and Cardiff-based UCAN Productions in a project called Whose Flame Is It Anyway. UCAN received £140,092 from the Big Lottery Fund in January to help develop young, visually impaired musicians. Lloyd said his work will incorporate a poem by Giles Abbott, who is also visually impaired.

"It's called Breaking the Wall because, after Giles and I started talking about marathons and how runners hit the wall and have to overcome humungous challenges, we realised there were parallels with the kind of challenges disabled people face," he said. "Our idea is to also have a narrative around the Greek athlete Pheidippides, who ran something like 150 miles in two days to summon more support to stop invaders taking over their territory. "This will also make it more relevant to the Olympics. I see it as being a piece with an overall metaphor of how everyone can achieve their dreams.

"When it's played in 2012 it will be just tremendous. It will be the biggest thing of my career. "I hope it will inspire so many younger people, create a bit of noise and show disabled and able-bodied people that disability is not a barrier to success." Lloyd's sight problems began after a suspected bout of viral meningitis when he was just eight weeks old, while his deafness became apparent by the age of three when he started talking. But he says his parents soon spotted his musical ability.

"I've been told that from a very young age, before I could talk, I would sing nursery rhymes in perfect pitch," said Lloyd. In 2005 Lloyd passed an audition to study at the prestigious Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, and performed at the Royal Albert Hall a year later, aged 14. Since then he has been composing music for professional orchestras and music groups across the county and also conducts using enlarged sheets of music. "One of the most important things for me is that I don't want my impairments to define me as a person," he said. "I don't want to be known as the musician who's a bit deaf; I want to be known as Lloyd the person and Lloyd the musician.

"I want my reputation to be built on my musical ability which I hope will inspire others to set themselves goals and get what they want out of life. "I already have - music is my life."