It’s a funny old world we live in. Just when I think everything is going smoothly – Access to Work are paying invoices on time, my daughters’s school teachers are learning BSL, I’m discovering the joys of Sign Live – something has to happen to remind me that when it comes to being Deaf, life is still not plain sailing. Sighs.
And the problem? I’m being told what I can or cannot do.
You see, I recently signed up to a course which involves an initial consultation. The course, free of charge to those with certain qualifications, is delivered via online modules so it’s easy peasy to access if English is your preferred language. The initial consultation, however, has to be done in person with the course leader.
To register for this I sent an email to the course leader and casually informed him that I was deaf, and seeing as it was a brief one-on-one meeting, I stated I was happy to just lipread. It’s my prerogative after all, right?!
Oh no.
Guess what I was told? The course leader stated that seeing as he was “not qualified to work with those with hearing difficulties” it would be best for me to seek elsewhere. He then suggested I work with one of his colleagues, who has level 1 BSL and who would charge me £60 instead of the free service I was initially signed up to.
I. Was. Gobsmacked.
First of all, do people really think that I would put myself in a situation where I wasn’t confident communicating? If I tell someone I will lip read it’s because that’s what I want. I’m not just being polite.
And secondly, Level 1 BSL… seriously?! No doubt this beginner signer would be able to do greetings, basic questions and the like, but if I switched my voice off and signed in full gusto, I think they’d be in for a shock.
I know that some of my friends have experienced the same problem but in the opposite way. They’ve requested interpreters for medical appointments but have been told they “don’t need one because it’s only a ten minute slot.” Or they’ve asked for specific support such as a lip-speaker but have been sent a BSL interpreter because – after all – “all deaf people sign!”
When did other people decide they know what’s best for us? On one hand we’ve got those who assume we need specialist help in all situations from often under qualified, expensive and inexperienced “experienced” people. (Which is not a dig at professional BSL interpreters who are invaluable!) And theeeeen we have those who don’t want to consider our needs and shuffle us into things without support because they assume “you’ll be fine!”
In the same way, many hearing organisations jump on the “accessible bandwagon” and implement changes to their company that they think makes them Deaf-friendly before even consulting with a qualified Deaf professional.
Come on, guys. You need to start asking questions and more importantly, start listening. And they call
Us deaf, ha!
And don’t get me started on the checkout lady in Tesco who later that day asked me “is it hard…being deaf” and retorted “it must be so lonely!” before I even had a chance to reply.
There’s just no getting through to some people.
I haven’t replied to the course leader yet. I want to and for educations sake, I blooming HAVE to. So, dear readers, any suggestions as to what I should say?
Rebecca-Anne Withey is a freelance writer with a background in Performing Arts & Holistic health. Read more of Rebecca’s articles for us here.
She is also profoundly deaf, a sign language user and pretty great lipreader.
Her holistic practices and qualifications include Mindfulness, Professional Relaxation Therapy, Crystal Therapy and Reiki.
She writes on varied topics close to her heart in the hope that they may serve to inspire others.
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barakta
September 3, 2018
Indeed.
The course leader is clearly breaking the law and I think that’s worth telling him. I’d be suggesting something like…
“Dear X,
Thank you for your reply. I realise you are trying to be helpful, but I feel I should let you know that you have got things quite wrong in two major ways. 1) I wouldn’t say I could manage with lipreading and a bit of patience from you if I didn’t think I could manage and 2) it is really unacceptable (and unlawful) to suggest that I seek access to this course elsewhere, especially as that option costs me more money compared to COURSE and level 1 BSL isn’t good enough for complex conversations anyway.
I would like to suggest we start again, please let me know when I can book my 1:1 session with you so I can proceed onto COURSE as I originally planned. If you like, I can send you a link with some basic deaf awareness tips.
Signoff etc.”
If they persist in trying to send you off the course, please please make a formal complaint. I am personally happy to help you with any of that process cos SO many deaf people are turned away from education by attitudes like this.
Good luck!
Smarty
September 3, 2018
This is shocking and to me seems like a clear breach of the Equality Act. Private training providers are covered by the Equality Act as a provider of services. Fortunately for you, the course tutor has put their discriminatory reasons in writing – do keep all correspondence as it will be a useful weapon.
Before replying to complain, consider what you would like the organisation to do next. Is it an apology? Offer a discount? Would you want to go on their course or would you now prefer to go elsewhere?
Clive
September 3, 2018
I would just simply email the tutor a link to this page and ask them to read it!
MW
September 3, 2018
“Hand in face” moment hating the education establishment for what it is and does with disabled and d/Deaf people. it is about time “they” get their act together. They ruined my quality of life as a student and I have never forgiven them for this but that was years ago and still they do a very bad service. How the hell they still get away with it for so long still behaving like professional idiots. growling away
pennybsl
September 3, 2018
Stunned & dumbfounded at the attitude and inflexibility of the course leader.
Emphasise with you – it’s unnecessarily exhaustible.
Apparently, the course leader either thought up the ‘alternative’ or consulted with ‘professionals’ who clearly are not of what we Deafies expect in such matters.
It’s equivalent to white decisions on black people without due respect & regard.
Both comments above – agree.
Mickey
September 3, 2018
A key issue for us.
What I try to do in equality training is encourage people to ASK the person what they need. Nobody is expected to be an expert, (experts don’t exist), because there are so many different ways of communicating. Just ask a simple question such as, “What would make things easier for you?”
Then as you say, they should listen carefully to the response and put in place what is requested.
Ian
September 3, 2018
Definitely a breach of the Equality Act 2010. Sue them.
Tashi
September 3, 2018
This. “Hearing know best”. I’ve encountered the same problem with banks and other situations when I’m happy to write/type to do the transaction but several times they have actually refused to do that, requiring me to fetch an interpreter. Never mind that I had just moved to the country (this happened twice, in two countries) and did not know the sign language yet. Never mind that I’m a linguist & former language teacher (including English and Spanish) and have often done similar transactions in various languages. They doubted my abilities to read and write English so much they wouldn’t even let me make a future appointment until I dragged in some kind of interpreter. My burden, not theirs, even though they were the ones requiring it! Meanwhile, the delay in getting a bank account, doctor’s appointment, etc. would drag on for weeks.
It’s all too common for people to disregard the agency of deaf and disabled people. Audism, ableism… simple lack of respect for customers.
jo
September 3, 2018
I was horrified to hear of your experience. 1. You have a right to choose preferred method of communication
2. It is downright disability discrimination to charge you when the service is free to everyone else,
and 3. never mind for the course leader trying to promote an alternative totally inadequate service of BSL level one!!! Even at level two is still vastly inadequate and I say that as I’m doing that course at the moment. I’m profoundly deaf and am a proficient lip reader like yourself.
My advice is to shoot from the hip and complain to the people above your course leader on the above grounds. It has really appalled me! Good luck and look forward to hearing what happened.
Best wishes
Jo
Pauline Thomas
September 5, 2018
Things never change it seems, you have to fight your corner, I was born profoundly deaf and lipread well to clarify speech sounds from wearing my single hearing aid. Over 40 years ago whilst doing an arts degree course I was removed from the music part of the course in my final year because ‘I was deaf,’ despite already playing the piano against the odds for 10 years. My course tutor was furious and had it out with the music dept , in an ugly / infamous Staff room showdown…….the outcome was reinstatement , the head of music was to take me on himself…….depending on an audition…… Very proud later, to not only perform in a college concert playing a Teleman suite on the harpisicord accompanying my future husband on tenor recorder…. only to find the offending discriminating person sat in the front row, but then to go on and get a commendation in music with my BA Hons . … So an amazing outcome. I still have piano lessons now, still learning and being encouraged but a digital hearing aid makes it more difficult for me now. ….Then tonight I got all frustrated and left my book club early because 6 out of 8 people present who know me well and should know better, had their elbows on the table and hands under their chins and across their mouths all the time! Ahh …..not in the mood to fight the right to lipread battle today and had a few tears…..tomorrow is another day….PS. Text prompt on this device does not like the word lipread… coming up with absurd alternatives….