Juliet England: How cards from one deaf business are helping people to communicate

Our last post about what communities are doing to help deaf people deal with the pandemic struck a chord with many readers, and communication clearly remains a key issue and concern for huge numbers of us, especially behind face masks that aren’t transparent.

Deaf businesswoman Ruthy Fletcher, 57, who lives in Nottinghamshire, is responding to the crisis with her own idea – cards so those who can’t hear can still communicate when they’re out and about.

The cards can be shown on transport, and in public places such as cafes and shops.

One side of the cards explains that the holder is deaf or hard of hearing, with a space to add a name, and a box to tick which applies to you – i.e. deaf, deafened, hard of hearing.

The other side asks the person to remove their mask briefly and make eye contact without covering their mouth but speaking normally and with patience, and using gestures. Alternatively, basic sign language or writing things down are suggested.

“Over the lockdown, I saw deaf people getting increasingly frustrated and struggling, panicking at the lack of communication,” says Fletcher, who was born deaf after her mother contracted rubella.

“I felt lucky that I could lipread and mostly understand what people were saying, but many couldn’t.

“That’s not to say that things are always perfect. I was in a queue in a shop recently, on the 2m circle waiting for my turn at the till, and I was confused when I couldn’t lipread through the (not see-through) mask. I hadn’t realised a member of staff was shouting at me to move over. They were really rude, until someone eventually apologised. I was angry at being shouted at, and they wouldn’t remove the mask to help me, even briefly.

“Equally, a friend had a terrible experience of being shouted at in a pharmacy, again behind a mask. I had to get my interpreter to call the chemist and sort out the medication so my friend could go and collect it, hours later.”

Fletcher has since been delighted with the positive response from the deaf community, and describes it as a ‘privilege’ to help give people peace of mind.

She is now posting the communication cards out to people for £5 a time, including postage.

She explains that, while people can of course produce their own home-made cards, hers perhaps look a little more professional.

Another concern is the apparent fraudulence of some suppliers of see-through facial coverings.

Fletcher adds: “There have been many scams involving selling clear masks, too, so deaf people should be very careful when ordering if they want to wear one themselves. I’ve been on social media helping people to order from reputable companies.”

Fletcher runs the Support the Deaf People Facebook group and website, a business aimed at hoteliers, and which she has been running for the last decade. The former teacher provides basic sign language and deaf awareness training specifically within the hotel industry.

“I was staying in a hotel years ago but didn’t hear the fire alarm, so I was a bit surprised when a fireman turned up in my room!

“To cut a long story short, I found that hotels simply didn’t provide the right equipment. Even a vibrating pad under a pillow is no good if the deaf person is in the bathroom; they still won’t be able to hear the fire alarm.

“When I was made redundant, it was the push I needed to change career and set up my own business teaching hoteliers how to support and communicate with deaf guests. I also supply deaf-friendly alarms with a vibrating pad and strobe light, along with doorbells and alarm clocks for the industry.”

Since lockdown, Fletcher has also been contacted by her local business forum.

“They were interested to hear about how best to communicate with deaf colleagues at work, or customers with a hearing loss. I suggested that every two or three staff members could wear clear face masks to help communication, or that people should be allowed to remove the mask just for a couple of minutes, so that the deaf person can lipread.”

The business forum liked the idea, and have asked Fletcher to take part in an online public meeting so that they can hear more.

• To order cards, visit http://www.supportthedeafpeople.co.uk/or email ruthy@supportthedeafpeople.co.uk.

Hers is of course not the only business helping deaf people during the pandemic.

Edinburgh-based Breathe Easy, a start-up company, has recently received funding from Scottish Enterprise to increase its production of clear masks enabling deaf people to lipread through them.

Only set up a few months ago, the business is working closely with charities including NDCS and Deaf Action Scotland on its project.

Scottish Enterprise’s Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund (PERF) has awarded £50,000 in funding to Breathe Easy, which also has the support of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland. The business can now step up production for NHS trusts and business where employees deal with members of the public.