Is there anyone left out there who hasn’t seen the recent story about a mother suing a concert organiser for failing to provide an interpreter? I find it hard to believe – the coverage has been so widespread, I suspect even my great grandfather knows, and he’s dead.
It felt, for a few days, like it was impossible to get away from this modern day underdog tale; Deaf mother attends a BSL-interpreted girl group concert with her hearing daughter, and is disappointed to find only the main act is signed, with the supporting performances left open to, well, interpretation.
The mother then starts a campaign to sue the concert promoters, for breach of the Equality Act (I assume) as she believes they didn’t provide equal access.
This somehow caught the eye of the media, and the whole thing blew up deliciously – people who have nothing to do with the d/Deaf world were suddenly talking about this particular situation; on the bus, by the water cooler, in the pub and, somewhat sadly, on social media.
Some were on the side of the Deaf woman, while some took quite viciously against her. And it definitely wasn’t a case of the Deaf supporting the Deaf – there were a lot of mixed opinions even within our own community.
Some people think it’s a case that she is set to lose, and we should, as a community, ‘pick our battles’. Others think she is creating a fuss over nothing, as the main part of the concert was interpreted. Also, there are many people with the opinion that signing a sung performance is pointless, as the Deaf person will be watching the interpreter, not the show, and it’s impossible to truly translate English lyrics into BSL anyway.
On the flip side, others are supportive of the discrimination case, as it highlights the kind of barriers d/Deaf people face every day – which are often illegal, when held up against equality guidelines and laws. Some people feel that having paid to see the whole concert (advertised as BSL accessible), she should have been able to access it all, and that the promoters have wilfully discriminated against her, and the d/Deaf community.
Personally, I am confused. At first I was intrigued, then angry, then I was disappointed, and now I am just confused. And, you know what? That is EXACTLY HOW I FEEL EVERY TIME.
Because this isn’t a new story. It isn’t even a new angle. Every so often, a d/Deaf (or disabled) person has a story which is leapt upon by the media and our online social world, and it goes viral. We’ve all seen the cochlear implant switch ons, the Deaf child signing something super cute, the deaf person waging a war against some company or individual who has discriminated against them…
It lasts for a few days. Everyone is talking about it. I follow my usual emotions; intrigue and interest in this particular story, then anger at either the way d/Deaf people are being portrayed or stereotyped or all shoved into yet another ‘one size fits all’ bucket. Then disappointment that it’s ended up splitting our community AGAIN…
And, finally, confusion. Because, surely I should just be glad that people are noticing our struggles, and talking about them? Isn’t that, in the end, the only way we move forward towards true understanding and equality?
It’s hard not to lose hope, when every time these cases come around, it feels like the same old story. There’s the flicker of hope that maybe this time things will change, this time will be the one that makes people GET IT.
And then the chatter stops. The case continues, but it is now a tiny paragraph on the back page of the newspaper. Maybe a 60 second interview on local news. The people on the bus are talking about Strictly Come Dancing instead, and the water cooler is abuzz with news that Janice in Accounts bought a new cactus.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t fight for our rights. I’m not even saying we should pick our battles. I’m just, actually, wondering who decides which of these stories are newsworthy, and who decides to drop them before we ever reach some kind of resolution? Because I think it needs to change.
These battles and barriers are presented to hearing people as something so rare and horrifying that these chosen stories alone are newsworthy. That’s rubbish. If this wasn’t a moderated site, I’d tell you a few other words it is as well.
We deal with this stuff EVERY DAY. Every single one of us. There’s ALWAYS something, and, actually, you could run a 24hr rolling news channel about it.
We are a community, living in a world that doesn’t always look out for us. And we need to have public support, if we want to make a change. But we don’t need to be used for shock value, or inspiration porn.
And we don’t need our stories to be forgotten two days later because someone ate a kangaroo testicle in the jungle.
Emily Howlett is a regular writer for this site. She is a profoundly Deaf actress, writer and teacher. Emily is co-director of PAD Productions and makes an awful lot of tea. And mess. She now has not one, but four grey eyebrow hairs. C’est la vie. She tweets as @ehowlett
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Sarah Playforth
February 1, 2018
Brilliantly and perceptively put, as always. For the media, it’s a story; for us it’s our daily lives.
Queby
February 1, 2018
I read lots of online response to this case. What shocked me is the lack of understanding and ignorance of what deafness is. A lot of people assume that if you’re ‘deaf’ you can’t hear anything. As we know that’s often not the case. I can’t cope with TV, theatre, cinema, without captioning but can have a conversation in a quiet environment as long as I can see faces. One online response I received to a comment I made was
‘Can you speak up, I CAN’T HEAR YOU’ (that’s how it was written, not my capitals, by the way).
Do people make similar comments to the blind? If someone is suffering from a disability that means their walking is affected, do they follow them down the street copying their movements? Doubt it.
I get tired of fighting for things. I’ve battled with Boots about not having their loop displayed on the counter, this in a branch that sells hearing aids! (won that one)
Marks and Spencer for not always manning the till with the hearing loop (promises made but haven’t been in for a while)
I feel like a one woman band, constantly complaining. So many issues to deal with. I’m sure I’m not the only one!
barakta
February 1, 2018
Sadly yes people do make stupid comments to blind people and those with mobility impairments. As someone with physical impairments I have been followed down the street by people ostensibly copying my movements too. Sadly that’s disablism, and deaf people seem to get it about as annoyingly as everyone else…
And yes the having to complain all the time, or let constant fail go by is draining and an experience I am familiar with.
And the reaction towards other disabled people who pursue formal complaints is just as nasty as those made about Sally, sometimes even worse. A wheelchair using friend wanting basic ramp access which would cost under £40 to comply with found herself doxxed and the subject of online death threats.
Josephine Dickinson
February 1, 2018
True. And that’s before you consider the plight of the Deaf who were orally raised and denied their BSL heritage. To make it truly accessible the concert should also have surtitles.
MW
February 1, 2018
What sadden me even more – is a question on what is the Equality Human Right Commission EHRC doing to represented d/Deaf discrimination – they spent a hell of a lot of time on RACE but the issues Disability and Deafness seems to be a forgotten in the debate at their door. You never get to hear anything from them what they have been doing in the media when we have issues ?! I find that very frustrating. Even feeling that the Deaf Organisation doesn’t seem to have any clout to give support either.
barakta
February 1, 2018
I don’t think the EHRC do spend much more time on race than disability, they are intentionally only funded to provide occasional support for disabled people and only when cases are genuinely challenging of a legal principle. They don’t help in race cases at the frontline either.
It is a bad idea to assume “them over there get it easier than us” cos in many cases that’s not true, that group often have their own issues, often the ones they’re described as not having for ‘comparison’ purposes.
Mary Carolan
February 1, 2018
Well said Emily
George 32
February 1, 2018
i thought this was WAY over the top – they arranged interpreter for LITTLE MIX – she agreed – she should have stated then what about the support acts – shes got what she actually required.
its like a deaf person going to the cinema to see a subtitled film -but you dont bloody complain about not seeing subs for the adverts or trailers do you ?
Editor
February 1, 2018
Actually a lot of deaf people do question why they have to sit through trailers and adverts before subtitled films.
As for a concert, the support acts are part of the overall experience. A better comparison is having a meal. You want the main course, but you wouldn’t be without the starter or dessert, would you? It’d feel like less of a meal…
Lyn
February 1, 2018
A fantastic article! As a hearing person I do not know what it feels like to go through that daily struggle but as an interpreter I see the issues and fallout every day. Whilst I think if there is a legal case to be brought and someone wants to bring it then good luck to them, I was disappointed to see the media make such a furore over the case. As we all know GP and hosptial appointments are routinely attended by Deaf people without interpreters not because they choose to but because the hosptial says the interpreter hasn’t shown up/ hasn’t been booked etc. Under the New Accessible information Standard there is a legal right to have an interpreter present yet time and again this doesn’t happen but no-one is suing?? According to the media it would seem that in this day and age the right to attend a Little Mix concert is given precedence over having access to life saving information. We can only hope that this case stimulates discussion around access and improvements can be made.
MW
February 1, 2018
Barakta – I stand corrected in what you are saying in making comparison my argument with RACE – my apology.
Nevertheless, I still want to questioned the role EHRC does in their work and the outcomes that benefit d/Deaf people in the tackling discrimination direct or indirect.
I know that EHRC only represent individual rather than say – a mass of d/Deaf people having issues accessing cinemas in which has been an ongoing problem not resolved. I have not seen EHRC making noises about this on our behalf. That’s the bug bear for me.
For example I have had a poor experience in trying to gain their input via EASS in the tackling BA attitude towards us in the handling telephone calls making us use the dated minicom – but sign posted me to CAA and CEDRA both pretty useless for me – even Aon HL cited lack resource but knows the impact to address it in public but much rather concentrate on loop systems etc . EASS said they will pass this up to EHRC and nothing was heard since. I don’t like this process at all.
You said…”only when cases are genuinely challenging of a legal principle.” Then why have there not been the matter looking into the experiences d/Deaf people had with Cinemas. There have been strong evidence that discrimination has taken place and it does demonstrate a genuine need for challenging but I have heard nothing from EHRC on that score.
To compare Race and Disabilities in the work EHRC does one tends to hear more on the outcomes RACE than one does Disabilities and deafness. Why? I am not saying it is unfair – what I am saying is the abilities to voice our concerns is limited by the lack understanding our cultural values at EHRC – I might be wrong but I am only going by outcome and results on their part.
Hope you understand. I am not here to put anyone down – just raising a question and I feel it a valid one to ask.
barakta
February 2, 2018
Sadly the EHRC only has limited funding and remit, even less than the Disability Rights Commission had before it – that’s intentional.
EASS only provides generic advice, and yes I have heard too of many cases where the advice has been inaccurate and wrong.
Sadly “legal principle of interest” isn’t what WE would consider of interest, but what THEY can consider justified interest. So they got involved in the wheelchair space on the bus case, but only after the bus company appealed, before that Doug Paulley was on his own…
Thanks for coming back to me, I appreciate it. I’m aware it’s easy to divide people when actually we have a lot more in common than we realise, if we listen to one another.
kmccready
February 1, 2018
Access means access. It means full access. It means always.
When I was a kid, people used to get apoplectic about wheelchair ramps. Now they don’t. People feel threatened by change, any change. Deaf people will win eventually.
I also know that many Deaf people won’t be able to read and understand this article. Could you do bilingual Limping Chicken articles in future?
Editor
February 2, 2018
Hi, we do signed videos along with our articles as much as we can, for budget reasons it’s not possible more often. Thanks Charlie
Fred James
February 2, 2018
I think the Sally Reynolds deserves alot more support from Deaf organisations.
Signed Culture – (Formerly SPIT- Signed Performance Charity) – No Statement
Action on Hearing Loss – No Statement
British Deaf Association – No Statement
National Deaf Children’s Society – No Statement
National Union of BSL Interpreters – No Statement
Signature (CACDP) and iBSL – No Statements
Visual Language Professionals – No Statement
Positives
Association of Sign Language Interpreters – Supporting Statement
Performance Interpreters – Gave Interview material about Working conditions
Its sad and incredibly disappointing that organisations who are established to empower and lead on Access Equality and Specialised Theatre Charities who are like Signed Culture: “brings together BSL users, arts and cultural organisations, BSL interpreters and Deaf presenters to support BSL access to the arts.” – Failing when Someone stands up for the rights and empowerment of Deaf BSL users. A Deaf BSL user had the guts to stand for her rights. These Organisation SHOULD be right behind her, to make sure her case succeeds, and sets a precedent for the future so that access in improved not only for Deaf People, But Hearing BSL students wanting to learn spending thousands of pounds on BSL Courses.
I applaud Sally Reynolds and I name and shame all the above organisation for not supporting her to make sure the future of access for Deaf BSL users are preserved for years to come. The time has come that Deaf BSL Users are refused and denied Access Equality, and that Interpreters/translators/performers have to fight to provide the level of access we have now, that is frankly, NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!
barakta
February 2, 2018
BDA have released a statement https://twitter.com/BDA_Deaf/status/957990534412427265 (only an image in twitter so far from what I can see).
Not surprised the other organisations who haven’t, they don’t want to risk being associated if Sally loses her case or gets bad publicity.
It has always been that way, charities and BSL orgs have vested interests (funding) and care more about their PR than supporting individual disabled people.
The way Sally’s case has been reported has also made it look like she’s being greedy and unreasonable. It has not been made clear she ALWAYS asked for access to the whole concert (including support acts) and that she tried every nice way of asking possible before having to resort to a legal injunction to get an interpreter provided for Little Mix only via the agency Sally had linked LHG to. This was only sorted the day before the concert, if Sally hadn’t taken this unusual legal step no terp would have been provided at all.
I agree more support for Sally! We need to challenge this idea that access is conditional or unreasonable to ask for.
Fred James
February 2, 2018
Here Here!!
Yes the organisations IMHO have no balls to actually spend their money to support her so that they can “fact find” r help show solidarity by supporting her.
Robert Mandara
February 2, 2018
I have not followed the case closely but would hazard a guess that the lady in question has experienced numerous failings with interpreters before this. When they don’t show up, or are not able to stay to the end of the event, the deaf person will gradually get worn down. I use speech-text interpretation and have had my fair share of troubles. Hence this was quite likely the tip of the iceberg or the straw that broke the camel’s back.
However, for signed performances, interpreters typically prepare beforehand – getting a copy of the lyrics for example. That takes time. While Little Mix’s lyrics might be readily available, lyrics for the support acts may not have been. At the very least, prior to the event, this lady should have requested that the support acts should be signed as well (maybe she did, I don’t know).
In the interests of inclusion, wouldn’t it make more sense to sign every show with a large audience? And to have subtitles and a working T-loop? Then deaf people could simply turn up like everyone else and there would, I believe, be more deaf people in the audience.
George 32
February 2, 2018
I have actually spoken to someone from Action on Hearing loss – and they are not releasing a statement of support as they do not want to get dragged into what they see as a personal issue. Off the record, i was also told that indeed is gone too far and does not need to be this kind of over-action / negative venture.,
dualsensorydude
February 4, 2018
As I understand it she threatened to sue the promoters as they were not going to provide interpreters at all for any part of the show. Then they relented and provided performance interpreters but only for Little Mix.
When you buy a ticket for a show you buy it for the whole show not spevifically for each band performing in the show. The Little Mix show consists of two supporting bands before the main stars perform.
It follows that if you require communication support then you need it for the whole show and not just part of it.
It disappoints me that so many Deaf people havent supported this. It is almost a form of treason not to support someone campaigning for access and standing up against those who attacked her with ignorant and often vile comments.
Some Deaf told me they didnt support her as they didnt like her at school or the local deaf network. Really!
This issue isnt about liking someone its about our rights.
There is a lot of spoken dialogue at concerts not just the songs. Why shouldnt Deaf know the stories being told between songs?
Good interpreters can bring the songs to life. Many of us enjoy BSL versions of popular songs do we not. Some BSL users can hear bits of music but need help with the lyrical content.
To be honest I feel angry there isnt more support for this lady and OUR rights.
I feel weak each time I go to a subtitled film in cinema and sit through so much inaccessible content before we get to the main film. Maybe we should all demand more access butif I make a stand will my own community turn against me? Its the same thing really being able to enjoy life like the rest of the population.
Ian
February 5, 2018
George 32 – if my interpretation is correct your contact at AOHL thinks that pursuing legal proceedings is an overreaction and unnecessary. Then AOHL are clearly missing the point and do not have deaf peoples’ interests at heart. They are more interested in making profits.
The crux of the matter is that full interpretation was requested for the whole concert (both the support acts & the main act) and this was not done. Either do a job properly or don’t bother, don’t try and cut corners and do things by half measures.
What we need is something in law to protect a deaf consumer’s rights in terms of receiving a service. We have consumer rights just like hearing people and the Equality Act is there for a reason but it needs to go further. Time and time again deaf consumers are ignored and are constantly fighting the same battles for full and equal access, whether this be captions or/and interpretation.
Sally has taken a courageous and moral stand which could potentially have a profound effect on improving the lot for current and future deaf generations.
If we continue to accept being treated like an afterthought and being ignored, and accept the scraps that are thrown our way then nothing will change. This case is not just about attending a pop concert, it goes further than that and if a legal precedent is set then it will benefit deaf and disabled people in all walks of life.
I sincerely hope that C. Fry Law win this case.