The British Deaf Association (BDA) and the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) have both responded to a request from Limping Chicken for a response to Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.
The BDA has said that it will work with the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) to ensure the BDA and Deaf Community in the UK are a “vital part” of the EUD.
Their statement said:
“The people have spoken on the future of the UK in the European Union. Whatever happens as a result of the decision to leave, the BDA will continue to make sure that the rights of Deaf people are properly heard and protected.
Our language, access and inclusion are the most important parts of our lives and will work with the UK Government to ensure there are no further negative impacts on Deaf people’s rights as a result of leaving the EU.
The Chair has already been in contact with the Director of European Union of the Deaf (EUD) regarding any impact, and implications, and we have both agreed will do all we can to ensure the BDA and the Deaf Community in the UK are a vital part of the EUD.
Discussion will be on-going but nothing will change overnight and until Article 50 is invoked only then will real in-depth discussion will take place and could take up to two years to resolve “Importantly, the BDA is, and will remain, the “voice” of Deaf people in the UK”
Meanwhile Susan Daniels, the NDCS Chief Executive has said:
“Whatever happens, the National Deaf Children’s Society will continue to campaign to protect vital services for deaf children.”
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Linda Richards
June 27, 2016
With respect…. I asked before the Referendum what the Deaf organisations’ views were.
Why couldn’t they have told us whether they’d received any EU funding?
Why couldn’t they have told us what we Deaf people would lose if we came out of the EU?
Why couldn’t they have told us what leaving the EU would mean for Deaf people?
Organising hustings and sitting on the fence is not what you offer a disenfranchised Deaf Community which had no access – no access – to any of the political messages, until the sterling efforts of Ramon Woolfe, and which has been stripped of so much through the decimation of Deaf education.
Am I angry? You bet.
Am I sad? You bet.
Am I disappointed? You bet.
Please don’t profess to be ‘my’ voice or that of the Deaf Community when you did nothing to inform us about what the EU Referendum meant – on every level and from every aspect.
My ‘Deaf Community’ is now fragmented – not because we voted a different way – but because it has the most horrendous racism I have ever seen since the 1970s.
My ‘Deaf Community’ is no longer because the ‘leaders’ weren’t there.
My ‘Deaf Community’ is no longer because in doing nothing, the D/deaf organisations and others (Universities too), perpetuated our ignorance and reinforced our position at the bottom of the pile.
Thanks.
Tim
June 27, 2016
Linda’s comment is brutal, but I can’t fault it at all. It’s a sad time.
ohdear
June 27, 2016
I agree with Tim. However the EU referendum is about democracy and the ability to make our own laws and not have laws fostered on the UK by foreigners. Issues about deaf rights are irrelevant to the referendum. Many disability laws were created by UK government before the EU, so it wouldn’t be a major issue. All we need to do is keep an eye out, after all can anyone trust deaf organisations to do that after reading Linda’s post.
Barbara
June 28, 2016
If deaf rights weren’t an issue and it was all about democracy why were you posting vile comments on earlier EU threads complaining disabled foreigners from Africa and Romania etc coming to the UK to claim benefits?
Cathy
June 27, 2016
Interesting, that organisations are going to keep the Deaf Community IN the EUD regardless of what happens next!
If a 2nd referendum is carried out and the result is even higher than the first time, what then?! Are we going to do it again and again until remain win?! That is not democratic!!
And what happens when article 50 is invoked? Are we going to have the Deaf Community stuck in the EU while the rest of the country are out???
And what happens to Deaf people who voted leave?!? Is this action not going to fragment the Deaf Community?
I have no idea about the “racism” Linda is talking about because as far as I can see the Deaf Community is exactly the same as it was before the referendum! There maybe racist post on FB, which are mainly copied from the hearing community: largely hot air!
If you know who your friends are you do not need to worry unduly. I do wonder though how things are going to work with possibly half the Deaf Community in the EUD and the other half: OUT!!??
pennybsl
June 27, 2016
Many lessons are bitterly learnt in those times.
Linda’s post reflects even many Deaf professionals’ disillusionment in times of need.
Just endured a brutal suspension process for nearly 2 months which completely ignored the borough’s policies of reasonable adjustment (which could have lessened the daily anxiety), realising that Equality respect & reasonable adjustment are no longer respected.
We do not want Gove or Johnson as Tory leader at all, as they showed their true colours.
Cathy
June 27, 2016
Pennybsl, I have said before that the equality act has no teeth, whatsoever! If you follow these posts you will know that I have just battled against a company in a Tribunal, due to their discrimination.
It is the 2nd time I have been offered a job, but as soon as they realise you need an interpreter and how expensive it is, they soon blow cold and remove the job offer!!
In the face of health n safety THEY tell you what you can or cannot hear and imply that you are stone deaf and cannot communicate when other sounds are around!! How dare they tell a deaf person what they cannot hear!!!
The equality act does not help ANY of us whatsoever. Health n Safety comes trumps everytime!
I have great sympathy for your situation and “reasonable adjustments” is a joke!!! And just remember this is all BEFORE we are anywhere near out of the EU’s stranglehold!!!
That is one of the reasons I voted leave. Our situation is ALREADY dire while we remain IN the EU. For people to think matters could be WORSE by leaving this dictatorship, makes me laugh!!
Matters are already at their worst and we are still IN!!!
Hartmut
June 29, 2016
Linda Richards,
it should be obvious that BDA is not getting any funds from the EU, nor from the U.K. national government. I know EUD is not getting any money for its operation from EU. If UK gives any, you would know for sure as BDA would announce that and it would be published by the BDA, at least in its annual report to the membership.
The big problem is the relative political unsophistication of the leadership in the Deaf Community and lack in the participation in the politics at different levels. The problem is similar in other nations. First, you should volunteer to serve in the committees, learn how to be active politically. Learn how to communicate your concerns to the government and to your MPs, participate in demonstrations, like the Deafies in Germany who brought 12,000 Deafies and hearing allies on the streets in Berlin in 2015. Help the BDA develop more resources to run legal services to assist Deaf complainants to sue government and enterprises for violations of the Equality Act, perhaps through legacies and grants from foundations.
Unfortunately, Deaf people have been too silent, leading people to think “everything is A-OK with the deaf”.