There has been some interesting content on TV and online about the Deaf world recently. It’s just a shame not all of it has been accessible.
A couple of weeks ago, Channel 5’s ‘The Wright Stuff’ hosted a debate, which I took part in, about cochlear implants. The piece was well researched and took contributions from parents of deaf children on the pros and cons of cochlear implantation.
It was a very relevant and interesting debate for deaf people and deaf children to get involved in, but here’s the catch – it had no subtitles when broadcast live, and sadly no subtitles (or transcript) added to the online discussion.
Not long after that, the BBC reported a story about Mat Gilbert, a man that plays professional rugby for Bath but is also deaf. He’s a tremendous role model and the story should have been subtitled so that his inspirational words could be understood by the very people who would look to him for that insipiration the most: deaf children.
Unfortunately, the BBC don’t subtitle that kind of video (even though it would have been subtitled on local TV originally) leaving only hearing adults, and not deaf children to be inspired.
Action on Hearing Loss and NDCS’s Ian Noon were on the case but got no reply-
@actiononhearing @bbcsport It’s totally unacceptable – and unfair to Mat Gilbert. Will he be able to follow what’s being said about him?
— Ian Noon (@iannoon) February 26, 2013
— ActionOnHearingLoss (@ActionOnHearing) February 26, 2013
And then this came to my attention this morning. An excellent story about how Ryan Giggs has been supporting Manchester United’s deaf team but alas, no subtitles on that video either so there so is no way the kids who have just joined our Peterborough Youth Deaf Team or any other deaf footballers can draw inspiration from this video either.
My son was impressed enough to see Ryan Giggs with a deaf team, but had no idea what he said. A scene that was probably replicated thousands of times across the UK this weekend.
It’s bad enough that the internet is being allowed by public service broadcasters to be used as an excuse to exclude deaf people from online video content, but its even worse when it seems that the content discusses deaf people but they are being prevented from finding out what’s being said about them.
If I were a broadcaster, basic manners would motivate me to provide subtitles or transcripts for content that discussed deafness.
Aside from being needlessly exclusive, its very, very rude. They’re talking about you .. not to you.
Andy volunteers for the Peterborough and District Deaf Children’s Society on their website, deaf football coaching and other events as well as working for a hearing loss charity. Contact him on twitter @LC_AndyP (all views expressed are his own).
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Andy (not Palmer)
March 20, 2013
It needs to be pointed out that AOHL have been guilty of doing radio broadcasts about deafness. I know that transcripts are supplied but the fact is it is not the same. I might as well forget the broadcast and just read the transcript.
The fact is that we are visual people. That’s what deaf people are about. That means TV.
I think that AOHL should have a TV spokesperson, getting on lots of couches and talking about deafness. They have everybody else on there, from Accountants to Zoologists, why should deaf people be left out?
Rob
March 20, 2013
it is not just bad manners, but also lack of action by Organisations to complain in a strong language. I am tired of “complaining direct to TV channels” and no action. So I dont bother any more.
Sophie
March 20, 2013
Absolutely agree with you Andy.
Radio 4 recently broadcast their programme Book of the Week reading an extract every day from ‘Far from the Tree’ by Andrew Solomon. In brief, it deals with how children are like and/or unlike their parents, and the Deaf community was talked about in much detail.
After contacting Radio 4 outlining the issues you mention, they provided a full transcript of the show – however it was only available online for 7 days and then removed.
I found the extracts fascinating and well-written, a book which had seen the author interview many Deaf people about parenthood, childhood and access to education. Poignant and relevant topics, especially with the current talks surrounding the BSL Act. (Even though the interviews are from the American Deaf perspectives, a lot is relevant to the BSL community too).
It’s just a shame there was limited time for any interested Deaf people here to access those words read out on Radio 4. (I guess you could always buy the book but that’s not the point!)
Here’s a link to the book’s website anyway
http://www.farfromthetree.com/deaf
Jill
March 20, 2013
Hi Sophie are you aware there are no subtitles for the video clips on the website you mention above? How disappointing…
And Andy (Palmer) – not only is it wrong and bad manners not to subtitle videos that corporations make available on the internet it is illegal with reagrd to the Equalities Act. A private individual does not have duties under the Equalities Act (Access to Goods and Services) but a corporation or company which provides goods and services (such as TV transmission, DVDs, video clips) to the public is under an obligation to make these goods and services accessible to all.
The problem is that it has to be a private individuls, or group of individulas (e.g. a charity) who take the action against the organisation which is refusing to subtitle their good and services. All it needs is one action to set a precedent. Until that happens companies like Channel 5 will continue to disregard their duties under the Equalities Act.
Is this something AOHL would be interested in doing? I rather think not. Ten years ago when I took legal action (under the DDA 1995) against a well known cinema chain for not providing subitled films neither the AOHL (or RNID as it ws then), BDA or NDCS wanted to get involved. The action was expensive, and it took a huge toll on my mental health but it paid off in the end…
Sophie
March 20, 2013
Hi Jill- that is disappointing- and ridiculous, seeing how the author seemed so keen on opening his own eyes to the lack of access there is for Deaf people.
If anyone wants a transcript of the extract read out on Radio 4, I have it and am willing to share!
Sophiejallen@gmail.com
Sylvia Webb
March 20, 2013
Is it possible for the people being interviewed to specify that the item they are involved with should be subtitled (for all broadcasts) or a transcript made available, so that their target audience can access it? And, that without that agreement they are not willing to be involved? After all, in many cases that could well be the reason for them doing the item.
Robert Mandara
March 20, 2013
I think that this is a good idea in a wider sense. Actors and broadcasters should be made more aware that the shows they are taking part in are not as accessible as they should be. Perhaps then they would all check or insist that any show they take part in will only be shown/available with subtitles before they sign their contracts. Perhaps the actors/presenters would listen to us more attentively than the TV/film companies do?
Editor
March 20, 2013
(Andy Palmer here) When I was asked on the Wright Stuff in 2011 – I insisted that they subtitle the show because my son and family and friends would not be able to access the programme. They agreed and for that episode – there were subtitles live but not on demand. Here is the proof that it can be done .. http://www.pddcs.co.uk/2011/09/watch-wright-stuff-extra-with-william.html
Jimmy Craw
March 20, 2013
“The Wright Stuff” has NEVER been subtitled and Andy Palmer is absolutely right to bring this sheer lack of respect for deaf and hard of hearing viewer’s to public attention.
I sent an e-mail to C5 informing the network they were depriving many thousands of deaf/hoh
categories access to an informative/topical programme which must be counter productive as it is none too clever to miss the opportunity to gain thousands of more viewer’s from millions of hearing impaired categories..
I trust C5 will endeavour to address this important issue to “The Limping Chicken”.
Andrew Fox
March 20, 2013
It’s not just impolite, it’s downright ignorant. A form of racism if you take it to the extreme? These organisations should be held to account.
sophie
March 21, 2013
Jill- The author of the book ‘Far from the Tree’ (which I mentioned above) replied to my tweet today about his video on the website not being subtitled- progress? Hmmm we’ll see!
Andrew Solomon said this: ‘Thank you for noting this.We are working on getting the subtitles up but it’s taking a little longer than expected.’
Martyn Brown
March 21, 2013
The lack of standards in subtitling frustrates the hell out of me. Catch up TV is a case in point. BBC I-player is pretty good on the whole, but the ITV equivalent is appalling. I know the show I want to watch was sub-titled when it was broadcast, so why does it not have subtitles on catch up? Things in general are improving, but there’s a lot of ignorance still out there.
Claire Hill
March 25, 2013
The Wright Stuff used to be subtitled as I used to subtitle it (using steno) for ITFC, back in 2010. But they stopped using us and it hasn’t been subtitled since. It would be more delayed now as all TV has gone to digital (subtitling via analogue TV came out much quicker).