Deaf News: NDCS launches Video Relay Service for its support and advice Helpline

The National Deaf Children’s Society has launched a free Video Relay Service on its national Helpline to make sure that parents and professionals who use British Sign Language (BSL) can access the charity’s support and advice.

The National Deaf Children’s Society’s Helpline receives over 9,000 calls per year, and its trained advisors support parents on everything from next steps after a child has been diagnosed as deaf, to helping families borrow and trial different technology.

BSL users can now make free video calls to the Helpline, with qualified BSL interpreters at InterpreterNow translating between the Helpline team and the BSL user. This will make sure that people who prefer to communicate using sign language, have the same ability to access the charity’s resources and information as anyone else.

Anthony Prowse, who leads the Helpline team at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said:

“We give independent support so deaf children and their families can make informed choices about their lives. We help parents navigate the complexities of the education and healthcare systems. We help professionals understand and interpret their responsibilities to deaf children across the country. And more than that, we help deaf young people and their parents to access the crucial benefits that they rely on for their independence.

“Whether someone is deaf or hearing, they should be able to access the information they need, in the language they prefer to communicate in, and so I couldn’t be happier to be launching this new Video Relay System.”

To access the National Deaf Children’s Society Helpline using the Video Relay Service, go to http://interpreternow.co.uk/ndcs