The Evening Standard has reported that the NDCS deaf children’s choir, which signs in Trafalgar Square every Christmas, has pulled out of this year’s carol service after officials insisted that they sign traditional songs with no backing music, and initially banned the use of a public address system.
This is a real blow to the London Deaf community, who often come out in force to support and join in with the choir.
Extract:
A deaf children’s choir has pulled out of a Trafalgar Square Christmas carol service after officials banned the use of a public address system and objected to their performance of Last Christmas by Wham!
The National Deaf Children’s Society uses sign language to accompany festive carols which are played through the PA system.
The Greater London Authority, which organises the event planned for 12 December, said this year that no PA will be allowed. The GLA wants to make the service more traditional with no backing music or modern tunes. Last year the choir raised £700 in an hour for deaf children with its appearance at the carol service.
Emma Watson, community and events executive at the the Islington-based charity, said: “The choir have been practising for weeks in their lunch hours and are incredibly disappointed, as it looks unlikely they will now be able to perform. Practising to sign along to songs takes a lot of time. It is simply not possible to learn a whole new song list by December.”
After being contacted by the Standard, the GLA agreed to allow the choir to use a small PA system. However, the choir has said that it is still excluded because its songs are not traditional enough.
A GLA spokesman said they got rid of the stage and PA to create “a more traditional atmosphere” and encourage the audience to gather closer to the choirs taking part.
Read the story here: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/deaf-childrens-choir-pulls-out-of-trafalgar-square-carol-service-over-row-8934627.html
With thanks to Sara Jae.
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Andy. Not him, me.
November 12, 2013
Here we go again!
It should be blindingly obvious to anyone with a modicum of intelligence that singing is not a natural thing for deaf children to do. They can >only< perform under the right conditions. To get to that point they have to put in about twice as much work as if they were hearing.
To now change the arrangements at short notice is not just a lack of consideration, it is also a failure to make a "reasonable adjustment" for the fact that deaf children don't find it as easy to sing as hearing. Equality Act 2010 applies because deaf kids need a bit of extra help to do their thing..
Go gettem Floyd….
jeremyhine
November 12, 2013
What crazy fool decided this??? There are many reasons this is wrong. One of the main reasons backing music is required is to attract people to watch. If passers by hear the music they will venture up to see what’s happening and then appreciate the signing choir and hopefully dip into their pockets for a good cause too. With no music people won’t realize something is going on and will simply walk on by. Better stop now before I write something I’ll regret!!
pennybsl
November 12, 2013
It is a massive blow for children and people, Deaf and hearing.
Deaf students, friends and staff from Sedgehill School Deaf Education Centre – within a walking distance of a direct rail line to Charing Cross (bliss!) – really loved visiting in the past 2 years. We were looking forward to more schoolkids joining us attending for the early evening treat next month.
Darn it.
A brilliant ‘star’ within those students’ end of term treats has now diminished. Christmassy Deaf Awareness in the Square has been swept aside to the gutters.
We have been ‘robbed’ of “wider participation”.
Nelson, give those idiots an hefty knock with your telescope!
Ordwil
November 12, 2013
Not surprised to hear this. Some people seem to delight in taking the joy from the disabled.
Get a grip, the deaf choir is raising awareness and funding for the deaf, they deserve their special night having worked so hard and giving up their time.
Jimmy Craw
November 13, 2013
There were two glaring extreme coincidences I came across on 12/11/13 regarding choir singer’s.
(A) – The scenario showing a full on hearing choir with a back-up of hearing council worker’s supported by their colleague’s, friends and family on the BBC2 programme ” The Choir-Sing While You Work ” which has a very distinctive contrast with a deaf choir in London !?
(B) – Deaf News spotlighted how The Greater London Authority stopped a deaf children’s signing choir from taking part in this years Christmas venue at Trafalgar Square by disallowing them their p/a and stage facilities leaving the choir no option other than to abandon this annual event.
Now this sort of practice by the GLA may have been misconstrued / naïve therefore requires to be seriously re-considered with the NDCS asap because such action’s create a dreadful stigma towards all deaf categories immaterial wither or not they are signer’s.
Reason to be Chippy
November 13, 2013
C’mon Boris. Get your act together.