Deaf News: RAD works with HMRC to make tax information accessible to Deaf people (BSL)

The Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) is delighted to announce a brand new innovative service that will help to make tax information and advice more accessible to Deaf people.

To watch this article in BSL, press play below:

The new service will mean that Deaf people will have never before levels of access to HMRC information and support.

The service has been piloted with a small number of Deaf people and the feedback has shown how beneficial the new service is proving to be. One of the new customers explains how she used the service to receive advice on Self Assessment via the RAD’s Video Interpreting Service:

“Using Skype and RAD webcam to relay the conversation I had with the tax office – it was great! After a long discussion, I mentioned that I would book again in August to help me filling the form; knowing the forms will go smoothly without problems. I would recommend to my friends the use of RAD Tax Advice webcam. Thank you so much for setting up and I hope many more Deaf BSL Users will use the link.”

Similarly, Laura Eadsforth, RAD’s tax advisor commented;

“The response from the Deaf community has been overwhelmingly positive. One client even said how useful it was to ‘speak’ to me after work, from a pub – as a hearing person could. It felt like equality!”

Visitors to the new microsite www.royaldeaftax.org.uk can:

• Find information in British Sign Language (BSL) about tax credits, PAYE, child benefit and self-assessment

• Book a FREE webcam appointment in British Sign Language with RAD’s Tax Advisor to solve problems with Tax or Tax Credits

• Contact HMRC directly via a British Sign Language/ English interpreter using RAD’s Video Interpreting Service. RAD’s Video Interpreting Service gives easy, instant access to registered, qualified interpreters via a PC or tablet

Dr Jan Sheldon, Chief Executive for RAD said, “We work with Deaf people to make as many mainstream services as possible accessible to Deaf people. The website we have developed with HMRC has been enormously beneficial. For the first time ever, Deaf people have access to information about tax in their first language”.

For more information visit www.royaldeaftax.org.uk or contact taxadvice@royaldeaf.org.uk