DWP enters legal agreement with EHRC to improve services for deaf claimants The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has entered a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to improve support for deaf customers accessing its services by telephone. Two advisers raised a complaint with the EHRC on behalf of four hearing-impaired people who needed to use the telephone service with a British Sign Language interpreter to help them decide whether or not to apply for a home loan. All four disabled people faced difficulties in dealing with staff from DWP and Serco who didn’t
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Making Zoom Videos Accessible for Deaf People   deafscotland is the user led, membership organisation for the deaf sector in Scotland.  deafscotland use the term the ‘four pillars of deafness’ to describe Deaf, Deafblind, Deafened and Hard of Hearing as people with different levels of deafness who have different barriers to overcome and have different language and communication support needs. There are several steps to consider and available features that maymake Zoom meetings more accessible for deaf people.  Zoom for people who are Hard of Hearing: PDF WORD Zoom for people who are Deafened: PDF WORD Zoom for people who are Deafblind:  PDF  WORD Zoom for
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Dementia and Deafness Report A new deafscotland study highlights parallels between the social isolation of lockdown and the social isolation experienced by people living with hearing loss and dementia. The link between dementia and hearing loss has been well established and it has been found that mid-life hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for dementia.  There have, however, been few regional studies exploring the topic until now.  A joint research collaboration between deafscotland and Queen Margaret University has looked more closely at prevalence rates in Scotland in order to better inform service planning at local and national level. The
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Physical Distancing Easy Read Summary Report “I was spat at yesterday for asking someone to clear my space.” This is just one of many comments received by Disability Equality Scotland in their recent poll of disabled people on the topic of physical distancing.  In collaboration with the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) Disability Equality Scotland posed the question ‘During your daily exercise or when undertaking essential journeys, have you experienced any issues with physical distancing?”  The poll generated over 900 responses with the vast majority (99%) stating they had experienced difficulties. Key concerns related to infrastructure, with pavements
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Disability Equality Scotland praises new app function that allows wheelchair users to track accessible spaces on First Buses Disability Equality Scotland has praised national bus operator First Bus for fast-tracking technology which will enable wheelchair users to track accessible spaces on their local bus services in ‘real-time’. The mobile app update, available now, enables customers across the UK to view available wheelchair spaces across its fleet. This important innovation makes bus travel easier by tracking wheelchair capacity through an icon that moves across a virtual map. The update forms part of a fast-tracked investment in the app which has seen First become
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Euan’s Guide offers free face mask exempt badges   Euan’s Guide has produced face mask exempt badges which they will be giving out free of charge while stocks last. The badges are a direct response to feedback the charity is getting from users about their concern of being judged for not wearing a face mask. Research from Disability Rights UK showed that nearly 60% of people who cannot wear a face covering fear being challenged for not wearing one. The Euan’s Guide badges can help individuals who are exempt from wearing masks easily identify themselves to try to prevent unnecessary
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis – Accessible Formats The Sottish Government published Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis, which sets out the plans for easing Scotland’s coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in four phases. The Scottish Government has produced the route map in the following accessible formats: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Phase 1: Scotland’s route map update – easy read version. You can view BSL translations of the chapters of this publication in a YouTube playlist (they are also embedded in each section). Audio versions of the chapters on Soundcloud
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Edinburgh Based Company Create Lip Reading Face Masks An Edinburgh company has created face masks for the deaf community which enable sight of mouth for lip-reading. The lip-reading facemask Breathe Easy, created by Gavin McAdam, has been inundated with orders for the products after trialling the prototypes in early April. The masks include a plastic insert which allow for lip-reading. The company is creating around 200 masks a day and 5,000 have already been distributed free to those in need. Plans are already in place to increase production. Fore more information about the masks, visit the Breathe Easy website.
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Inclusive Communication-Added to Coronavirus Scotland No 2 Bill On behalf of deafscotland, Mark Griffin MSP, Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Deafness agreed to take forward an amendment to the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill on Inclusive Communication. “Amendment 51 seeks to ensure that, in using its powers under the bill, the Government does so in a way that is inclusive and communicates appropriately with all people, particularly those who have a disability or communication needs. The amendment, which is sponsored by deafscotland would align the duties on Government under the bill with those in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 and
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Easy Read information about Domestic Abuse   People First (Scotland) have created some Easy Read information about Domestic Abuse in partnership with the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability and Scottish Government. View the information on the People First (Scotland) website.
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