Hi All,
A practical question for you, which I've raised because it is a classic
example of why I'm nervous of splitting the world into Deaf and hearing.
I have a 60+ counselling client who is deafened. She grew up with English
as her language, has very limited sign language (because sign language
training is not geared towards deaf people), is highly intelligent and well
educated, and in the past has been active in the lesbian and feminist
movements, so is no stranger to political activism. Tinnitus is a
particularly difficult aspect of her impairment and is often stress-related
- the biggest stress factors being other (hearing and Deaf) people's
attitudes (try splitting disability and impairment here!). The aging
process means that she doesn't always have the energy to fight, but she
knows all about disability rights.
Recently she began a practical arts-based course at college in the UK -
creativity is one thing that helps her to relax and she plans to make a
career in the profession afterwards. The course is one of the best in the
country for this particular subject and she was lucky to be accepted. She
was initially supplied with a note-taker who was also a teacher of the deaf
(in this country TODs are trained to work with children). She wasn't given
a choice even though she explained clearly what her needs were and said
that she wanted to explain to other students what was needed (which was not
allowed). This TOD proved so patronising that my client complained to the
course manager, who didn't take the complaint seriously and didn't know how
to resolve it because 'he had the other students to think of!' My client
carried on challenging, at considerable expense to her well-being and
eventually, the support worker left. She has now - surprise, surprise -
been offered a sign language interpreter (though the college has no idea
how to get hold of one).
Any ideas, given that our DDA doesn't cover education (though I'm not sure
whether this course would be classed as education or training)?
Best
Mairian
P.S. Please don't suggest she moves colleges (which was one of the
suggestions the last time a problem of this kind was aired on the
mailbase). That would mean that she would have to go to a less prestigious
course and that this college gets away with what appears to be blatant
discrimination.
*********
"To understand what I am doing, you need a third eye"
*********
Mairian Corker
Senior Research Fellow in Deaf and Disability Studies
University of Central Lancashire
Postal Address:
111 Balfour Road
Highbury
London N5 2HE
U.K.
Minicom/TTY +44 [0]171 359 8085
Fax +44 [0]870 0553967
Typetalk (voice) +44 [0]800 515152 (and ask for minicom/TTY number)
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