The UK Council on Deafness (UKCoD) represents any organisations that have links to deafness. For example, the BDA, cochlear implant groups and universities that do deaf-related research can all join UKCoD. Then, UKCoD represents their views to the Government.
Watch Jen’s article signed by her in BSL below:
UKCoD’s Chair, Jim Edwards, who is hearing, is set to resign in November and they are now looking for someone to replace him.
Perhaps one of their trustees, some of whom are deaf, will step forward to do the job? Or, maybe another deaf person will volunteer? Maybe even YOU or someone who you think would be good at it?
If you’d like to fill the role, or if you know someone who might, you can contact UKCoD via their website: click HERE.
I’m sure it won’t be difficult to find a deaf person to do it. Now, in 2016, there are plenty of skilled and experienced deaf people who know their stuff and are perfectly capable of working with the Government on deaf issues.
After all, it is a bit embarrassing for a hearing person to talk to the Government on our behalf, isn’t it, in this day and age? I do think that’s a role for a deaf person. Right?
Well, it seems rather obvious to me, anyway, so I’m going to think positive and look forward to seeing good things happen this year…
Read and watch in BSL more of Jen’s articles for Limping Chicken by clicking here.
Jen Dodds is a Contributing Editor for The Limping Chicken. When she’s not looking after chickens or children, Jen can be found translating, proofreading and editing stuff over at Team HaDo Ltd (teamhado.com). On Twitter, Jen is @deafpower.
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Dan Sumners (@sumnersdan)
March 1, 2016
As Jen says, the UK Council on Deafness represents organisations that have links to deafness – in all its forms. Jim has a hearing loss. And he has worked in the deafness and hearing loss sector for decades.
Neither is Jim the only person who speaks to government on behalf of UKCoD’s members:
* David Buxton (Deaf), director of the BDA, chairs the Access to Work special interest group, leading negotiations with Access to Work;
* Christopher Jones (Deaf), chairs the Deaf Access to Communications special interest group, leading negotiations with Ofcom and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and
* Craig Crowley (Deaf), chief executive of Action Deafness, chairs the common purpose steering group, engaging with the APPG on Deafness and others.
Let’s hope the best person for the job – someone who can lead UKCoD to supporting its members to work ever more collaboratively, to the benefit of people who are deaf, Deaf, deafblind, deafened or have a hearing loss – steps up.
pennybsl
March 1, 2016
Thanks Jen, for flagging up the opportunity and thanks, Dan, for highlighting UKCOD’s roles with the list above.
Some other areas are missing?…deaf children, health, education?
However, in recent years, UKCOD has not maintained the same level of engagement with the Deaf Community and relevant bodies of people – professional and ‘on the shop floor’ – as a decade ago.
We could understand this, during times of funding challenges and the Government’s inept handling of the ‘Big Society’ thanks to the so-called welfare reforms.
But it is true that many professionals and users are already feeling that UKCOD could might as well be in the Space Station (where GB’s Peake is), such is the depth of polarisation.
The current political / social climate, thanks to the Government and previous, is causing charities to ‘compete’ and collaborate in ways that – to be frank – at times cause concern for us in the front line, with good reason.
Decisions have been made which deserve pre-deciding checking/consultations with us.
More and more discourse and action are becoming more bureaucratic rather than openly proactive, or duplicated.
Campaign groups who recently grew out of genuine anger and frustration at ‘anti-Equality Impact Assessment’ and ‘anti-Deaf friendly’ processes imposed upon us by Government Departments – like Stop Changes to ATW and Deaf ATW – and professional bodies like NUBSLI – have genuinely good reason to be anxious about UKCOD and APPG diluting the ‘fire’ and injustice in its discourses with the Government.
That is what it looks like from the ‘shop floor’ and ‘frontline’ to us Deaf Equality warriors in this time of constant inequality.
Therefore, as Jen eloquently said in her article, we need a real visionary with a board of ‘no hidden agenda’ individuals. If one person isn’t sufficient, why not two?
Deaf Issues cover a huge range, now much, much more than when UKCOD first started.
We Deafies & allies at the shopfloor and frontline are keeping an eye on the process with keen interest………..
Tim
March 1, 2016
Totally agree with Jen here.
Some people will try to say that being Deaf is irrelevant to the job and that we should just pick the “best” person. This is nonsense and just an excuse that has been used to keep Deaf people locked out of these sort of roles. It’s like saying ‘we will pick the best person for the job of doctor, irrespective of medical qualifications.’
On top of what Penny says above, I think UKCoD have failed to speak up on behalf of unemployed Deaf people – ‘othering’ them by ignoring and shunning them. I hope the new person will speak up about the menace of so-called “welfare reform.”
I can’t be the only person who is gravely concerned about this ‘common purpose’ direction – it is, unintentionally perhaps, playing people off against each other, drowning out everybody’s voices.
Cathy
March 2, 2016
Tim, Iam not sure that UKCD have much power where welfare reform is concerned. If ATW can do nothing, nor BDA then what can this organisation do? Not much, in my book.
Thousands don’t agree with Welfare Reform, but after much thought, I think I do. It is good to have a system that helps the unemployed. Remember, in many other countries, welfare does not exist! So we are damn lucky!
The problem with this system is that it has become a way of life, which as time goes by, becomes too dependent and too scarey to leave. Irrespective of disability, welfare is lived on for years and years as the bill rises exponentially! This is what Britain cannot afford, after all money doesn’t grow on trees!
There will always be unintended consequences, no matter which way we turn, but many Deaf people are perfectly capable of work, if only there was more support systems out there, with less cuts: ATW. Deaf people may then find the courage and confidence to find work and stay there, but this will only happen when employers take a big step and employ them instead of discriminating against them!
This job opportunity is great and hopefully a deaf person will fill it, but it must be well advertised to the Deaf community in order that they have first refusal. It is a real crying shame that so many deaf people are out of work, wasting talents, skills and aptitude. I look forward to knowing a Deaf person fills this upcoming vacancy. Good Luck!
Tim
March 2, 2016
Cathy, I could not disagree more, sorry. When employers are ready to give Deaf people a chance, then the government can say they’re ready to think about cutting benefits. In the meantime, we all have the human right to an adequate standard of living.
MW
March 2, 2016
I don’t share the thought it need to be a BSL led. That too political for the majority but more so, it is cultural rather and than for everyone. I like to see a d/Deaf leader that embrace all forms of communication and engage more so with grass roots.
UKCOD however is not grass root led but organisational led by our hearing able peers and that need to be sorted by the board of trustee and again requires a diverse group of non political members of d/Deaf focusing on Equality. They need to be skilled based, inclusive, and outward looking.
I don’t share Man’s thinking here.
MW
March 2, 2016
Man should read Dan
Cathy
March 2, 2016
Tim, I understand where you are coming from. However, I do not agree that the Government should wait for bosses to employ deaf people in the mainstream. That is totally unrealistic! How many companies are out there? How many deaf people are applying for jobs?
Iam currently battling a discrimination case and many employers have little or no idea about the Equality Act 2010. I have to undergo “risk assessment” before I can start training and if the employer deems the risk is too high you’ve had it!
So how can the government wait around for all that to be resolved before cutting benefits? And don’t forget thousands of hearies don’t get DLA so they are struggling far more than Deafies! Even with DLA it is mainly spent on holidays, pub nights etc etc. Is that what it is supposed to be for? I’ve not had a holiday in years even with DLA. Standard of living is subjective. What is enough for one is not enough for another.
I think the “plug being pulled now” may not be the right time, but therein lies the problem: WHEN is the right time to pull the plug on benefits? Our answer should be the same: we can never find the right time as there are far too many variables to do so……
Toby
March 2, 2016
I agree with Tim totally! Well done Tim, we need more people like you saying things like that.
Cathy, you can’t have one rule for yourself and another rule for others – DLA could be used tae pay for a faster broadband connection tae use video calls and among many other things that comes with an extra cost being a Deaf person using BSL / ISL and so on.
Why don’t you claim DLA / PIP yourself? If you are Deaf or hard of hearing and you may be entitled tae it? Because the UK Government aren’t making us equal citizens from birth tae grave.
And I agree with Jen, she’s right tae bring this up as having a Deaf person with all the experiencing of going through barriers in life, and even more crucial – a native BSL user for example which would raise visibility.
I would love to know the percentage of Deaf people who are employed under UK Council on Deafness’ organisations as I think Deaf people are hugely under represented in all organisations in the UK overall.
Tim
March 2, 2016
Thanks Toby, I appreciate the back up.
Annie L Brotherton
March 5, 2016
The position should absolutely be offered to a Deaf person!
I understand that positions may exclude the targeted applicants e.g. a women worker in youth / abused young women services, who have the experience but not the qualifications.
Male workers who have the experience but not the skills of gang culture / street crime. Support and training should be given with a respect / acknowledgement of life skills and experience rather than just the academic theory .
Employ a Deaf person, within that BE GENDER AWARE.
Support and training might be needed, but then we all need to be mindful of issues we are not familiar with.
Annie Brotherton