The handicap of being both deaf and blind has not prevented a charity worker winning a national award as employee of the year reports the Croydon Guardian (14/10/11).
Mother of two Emma Boswell has Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that has seen her lose first her hearing with her sight then deteriorating so she had tunnel-vision and no night-vision by the age of 20.
Unperturbed, Mrs Boswell, 38, of South Norwood, joined deafblind charity Sense, and works to support people with her own condition, earning her the title of Employee of the Year 2011 on Tuesday, October 4.
She said: “I feel very honoured to win this award - It’s a privilege to be able to work with deafblind people and their families and to meet new people and learn new skills.”
Meeting with deafblind clients, working with professionals and families, and those affected with Usher, Mrs Boswell also does presentations and attends UK conferences speaking about dealing with the disorder.
“My life with Usher did not stop me from achieving my dream of travelling solo, joining an expedition working at Camp America and achieving a degree in interior design. I have had a adapt and accept my condition.
Supported by her guide dog Drew Mrs Boswell also uses sign language and speech, though she recognizes she is not always easy to understand.
She said: “My speech is not always intelligible but my family and friends understand me because they are used to my voice and how I speak. Strangers may not always understand me.
Having been promoted to manager of the National Usher service Mrs Boswell, who works out of the Sense office in Epsom says she loves working to help people She said: “I used to work as an interior designer but realised I wanted to work with people on a more personal level.”
Friday, 14 October 2011
Thursday, 13 October 2011
SignVideo available at constituency office
Mike Crockart MP for Edinburgh West is the first elected member in the UK to make Deaf Action’s SignVideo available at his constituency office, report STV TV Edinburgh (12/10/11).
The service provided through Deaf Action in collaboration with SignVideo, means that Deaf BSL constituents are able to visit Mike to discuss their concerns without having to worry about a language barrier. The latest technology means that a translator joins the meeting via a webcam and provides simultaneous translation.
The online interpreting service for deaf people will provide instant access to experienced SASLI registered BSL/English interpreters using the most advanced technology in the field.
Commenting Mr Crockart said:
“Throughout the UK there is a shortage of British Sign Language/English interpreters; this is a particular problem throughout Scotland with the ratio of qualified interpreters to sign language users estimated at around 1 interpreter for every 200 sign language users.
“This shortage means that interpreters are booked up in advance and many interpreters are unable to accept bookings at short notice. Commonly, sign language interpreters are booked for a minimum of two hours, even for an appointment that may only last 15 minutes. Clearly, this booking process is not very convenient for deaf users of the service.
“This technology will revolutionise the way that I can communicate with Deaf BSL constituents. I hope other elected representatives across Scotland will think about adopting SignVideo.”
The service provided through Deaf Action in collaboration with SignVideo, means that Deaf BSL constituents are able to visit Mike to discuss their concerns without having to worry about a language barrier. The latest technology means that a translator joins the meeting via a webcam and provides simultaneous translation.
The online interpreting service for deaf people will provide instant access to experienced SASLI registered BSL/English interpreters using the most advanced technology in the field.
Commenting Mr Crockart said:
“Throughout the UK there is a shortage of British Sign Language/English interpreters; this is a particular problem throughout Scotland with the ratio of qualified interpreters to sign language users estimated at around 1 interpreter for every 200 sign language users.
“This shortage means that interpreters are booked up in advance and many interpreters are unable to accept bookings at short notice. Commonly, sign language interpreters are booked for a minimum of two hours, even for an appointment that may only last 15 minutes. Clearly, this booking process is not very convenient for deaf users of the service.
“This technology will revolutionise the way that I can communicate with Deaf BSL constituents. I hope other elected representatives across Scotland will think about adopting SignVideo.”
Innovative Solution To Improve Access To Theatre for Deaf
1 in 6 people are left out of the arts! Innovative solution to improve access to theatre for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing comes to the Isle of Man writes Paul Watson, Manx.net (07/10/11).
As part of Disability Awareness Week (31 October – 5 November) the Manx Deaf Society is delighted to announce that captioning (subtitling) equipment has been purchased for permanent use in the Isle of Man, greatly improving access to theatre entertainment for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people.
Judith Ley, on behalf of the Manx Deaf Society, said “Due to the generosity of a private family trust, the Isle of Man now has portable professional equipment that enables the spoken word to be converted into visible text that provides deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people with access to live theatre performances – and because the captioning unit is portable, it can be used in venues around the Island to benefit the maximum number of people”
Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure said, “Improving access to leisure activities is a key policy of the Department. The sign-language interpreted performances of shows has proved to be extremely popular and I am delighted that, in addition to these, a captioning facility is now available. I know that it will greatly improve the experience of visiting the theatre for people with hearing difficulties as well as attracting for the first time those who have never been able to comfortably follow a show at the theatre.”
To demonstrate how the captioning equipment works, there will be a showcase event at the Gaiety Theatre on Tuesday 1 November at 8pm. The general public is invited to attend and entry is free.
As an introduction to how the system works, the Legion Players will be performing a 10-minute preview of their upcoming play – RC Sherriff’s WWI classic ‘Journey’s End’ (the play is on at the Gaiety Theatre from 17-19 November, tickets on sale now priced £10). The Legion Players will also be the first to use the equipment during a fully captioned performance of Journey’s End at 2.30pm on 19 November.
Stephanie Gray, Chairman of the Legion Players, said “The Society is absolutely delighted to support the launch of the new captioning equipment, and to put it to full use in its forthcoming production. Communicating fully the text of a play or musical is vital. This new equipment will enable drama and music groups throughout the Island to engage with those who have previously been discouraged from attending productions and shows. Our sincere thanks to the Manx Deaf Society for making this possible.”
As part of Disability Awareness Week (31 October – 5 November) the Manx Deaf Society is delighted to announce that captioning (subtitling) equipment has been purchased for permanent use in the Isle of Man, greatly improving access to theatre entertainment for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people.
Judith Ley, on behalf of the Manx Deaf Society, said “Due to the generosity of a private family trust, the Isle of Man now has portable professional equipment that enables the spoken word to be converted into visible text that provides deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people with access to live theatre performances – and because the captioning unit is portable, it can be used in venues around the Island to benefit the maximum number of people”
Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure said, “Improving access to leisure activities is a key policy of the Department. The sign-language interpreted performances of shows has proved to be extremely popular and I am delighted that, in addition to these, a captioning facility is now available. I know that it will greatly improve the experience of visiting the theatre for people with hearing difficulties as well as attracting for the first time those who have never been able to comfortably follow a show at the theatre.”
To demonstrate how the captioning equipment works, there will be a showcase event at the Gaiety Theatre on Tuesday 1 November at 8pm. The general public is invited to attend and entry is free.
As an introduction to how the system works, the Legion Players will be performing a 10-minute preview of their upcoming play – RC Sherriff’s WWI classic ‘Journey’s End’ (the play is on at the Gaiety Theatre from 17-19 November, tickets on sale now priced £10). The Legion Players will also be the first to use the equipment during a fully captioned performance of Journey’s End at 2.30pm on 19 November.
Stephanie Gray, Chairman of the Legion Players, said “The Society is absolutely delighted to support the launch of the new captioning equipment, and to put it to full use in its forthcoming production. Communicating fully the text of a play or musical is vital. This new equipment will enable drama and music groups throughout the Island to engage with those who have previously been discouraged from attending productions and shows. Our sincere thanks to the Manx Deaf Society for making this possible.”
Monday, 10 October 2011
BBC's mangled subtitles anger viewers
The BBC has been criticised by deaf groups over "ludicrous" computer-generated subtitles which have labelled the Labour leader "Ed Miller Band" and announced "a moment's violence" for the Queen Mother reports Josie Ensor for the Telegraph (10/10/11).
Hard-of-hearing viewers have been left "utterly perplexed" by errors in the live captions – which have also renamed the Ireland rugby team "Island". Deaf people have expressed their shock at being told a town was expecting a visit from the "Arch b**** of Canterbury" during one local BBC news broadcast. In another embarrassing faux pas, a reporter visiting a farm spoke of how the pigs "love to nibble anything that comes into the shed, like our wellies." Unfortunately the subtitles alongside the report changed the last word to to a rather childish homophone. After one viewer captured it on screen the error became an internet sensation.
Hard-of-hearing viewers have been left "utterly perplexed" by errors in the live captions – which have also renamed the Ireland rugby team "Island". Deaf people have expressed their shock at being told a town was expecting a visit from the "Arch b**** of Canterbury" during one local BBC news broadcast. In another embarrassing faux pas, a reporter visiting a farm spoke of how the pigs "love to nibble anything that comes into the shed, like our wellies." Unfortunately the subtitles alongside the report changed the last word to to a rather childish homophone. After one viewer captured it on screen the error became an internet sensation.
During the Queen Mother's funeral, the solemn words "We'll now have a moment's silence for the Queen Mother" became "We'll now have a moment's violence for the Queen Mother" in one BBC broadcast.
The blunders have become so regular that a dedicated website has been set up by bemused viewers: http://subtitlespage888.blogspot.com/
One found in another broadcast a BBC announcer said "government making holes for surgeons" instead of "making helpful decisions." While the Labour leader was referred to as "Ed Miller Band" in a news broadcast earlier this year. And in one Daily Politics show, one politician announced to the presenter, Andrew Neil, that he did not believe in “soliciting” himself, when he had actually said “shortlisting”.
Pre-recorded subtitles are done before transmission and appear in time with the programme. Live subtitles, however, are made by a stenographer typing words phonetically as they listen to a show, or with speech recognition, where someone talks into a microphone while listening to the broadcast, and a computer recognises their words. The latter can lead to the use of words that sound similar to the intended one, but give a very different meaning.
Broadcast regulator Ofcom has compiled research which has found that many people who could benefit from subtitles just make do for example by turning up the volume.
They also found that of those who use subtitles, nearly 60 per cent report problems with subtitles on catch-up television services.
Last week, BBC subtitles left deaf rugby fans baffled, thinking that the Welsh side were playing "Island" instead of "Ireland" in the World Cup. The frequent mistakes in the corporation’s live subtitling have now come under fire from deaf groups.
Emma Harrison, Action on Hearing Loss’s Director of Public Engagement said she receives regular complaints about errors in subtitling: "Access to television is really important to people with a hearing loss. We urge all broadcasters to monitor the quality of their subtitling to ensure high standards, and invest in technology to reduce mistakes so people with hearing loss can access television in the same way as hearing people," she said.
"We would also like Ofcom to play a greater role in monitoring subtitling complaints.
"As part of the Government review of the Communications Act, we are calling for new laws to provide full access to television entertainment, and want subtitling to be available on all programmes, regardless of whether it is traditional or catch up TV."
The BBC said: "We recognise that subtitling is a hugely important service, and we endeavour to ensure it is as accurate as possible. There are occasions, particularly during live broadcasts, when mistakes will happen but we do all we can to keep this to a minimum and are constantly striving to improve accuracy."
One found in another broadcast a BBC announcer said "government making holes for surgeons" instead of "making helpful decisions." While the Labour leader was referred to as "Ed Miller Band" in a news broadcast earlier this year. And in one Daily Politics show, one politician announced to the presenter, Andrew Neil, that he did not believe in “soliciting” himself, when he had actually said “shortlisting”.
Pre-recorded subtitles are done before transmission and appear in time with the programme. Live subtitles, however, are made by a stenographer typing words phonetically as they listen to a show, or with speech recognition, where someone talks into a microphone while listening to the broadcast, and a computer recognises their words. The latter can lead to the use of words that sound similar to the intended one, but give a very different meaning.
Broadcast regulator Ofcom has compiled research which has found that many people who could benefit from subtitles just make do for example by turning up the volume.
They also found that of those who use subtitles, nearly 60 per cent report problems with subtitles on catch-up television services.
Last week, BBC subtitles left deaf rugby fans baffled, thinking that the Welsh side were playing "Island" instead of "Ireland" in the World Cup. The frequent mistakes in the corporation’s live subtitling have now come under fire from deaf groups.
Emma Harrison, Action on Hearing Loss’s Director of Public Engagement said she receives regular complaints about errors in subtitling: "Access to television is really important to people with a hearing loss. We urge all broadcasters to monitor the quality of their subtitling to ensure high standards, and invest in technology to reduce mistakes so people with hearing loss can access television in the same way as hearing people," she said.
"We would also like Ofcom to play a greater role in monitoring subtitling complaints.
"As part of the Government review of the Communications Act, we are calling for new laws to provide full access to television entertainment, and want subtitling to be available on all programmes, regardless of whether it is traditional or catch up TV."
The BBC said: "We recognise that subtitling is a hugely important service, and we endeavour to ensure it is as accurate as possible. There are occasions, particularly during live broadcasts, when mistakes will happen but we do all we can to keep this to a minimum and are constantly striving to improve accuracy."
Saturday, 1 October 2011
A deaf refugee from Bhutan impresses in Canada with her enthusiasm
Moving half-way across the world to an entirely new country and culture could seem daunting to a deaf teenage refugee from Bhutan writes Gisï Nyembwe, Alert Net (29/09/11).
But Pabi Rizal says it's the best thing that ever happened to her. And she'll tell you in English and American Sign Language - both of which she learned in an astonishing three months after she, her parents and two deaf siblings came to the Canadian capital just over two years ago, when she was 18.
"I believe deaf refugees can do anything hearing people do, except hear," she says through a sign language interpreter in her Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada classroom at St. Joseph's Adult School in Ottawa. Clearly excited about being interviewed by UNHCR, she's exuberant and outgoing, her face only turning sombre when she recalls refugee friends she left behind in the Beldangi camp in eastern Nepal.
After 17 years in a refugee camp of thatched huts - her parents fled Bhutan soon after she was born - Pabi was enormously impressed by things most Canadians likely take for granted.
"Wow, there is electricity everywhere and all the time," says Pabi, her eyes lighting up at the thought of being able to study at night and use her computer whenever she wants. "Here at school, I keep on being amazed at the flashing fire alarm," she adds.
At first astonished by the high-tech visual learning aids at her new school, Pabi quickly mastered video phoning. She now uses Skype to train other deaf Bhutanese refugees around the world. She is happy to explain how to use the equipment in the classroom, her enthusiasm inspiring visitors just as electricity illuminates Pabi's new world.
Pabi and her family are some of the 5,000 Bhutanese refugees from camps in Nepal coming to Canada under a five-year resettlement programme that began in 2007. More than 50,000 refugees have already left camps in Nepal for eight different countries in one of the world's largest resettlement programmes.
Contrary to public perception, American Sign Language is not related to English, so Pabi had two new skills to learn when she arrived in Canada. But after just three months she did well enough to get a job as a warehouse attendant in a department store in an Ottawa suburb.
She's grateful for the opportunity to study in the morning and work in the afternoon, and has applied for admission to the Belleville School for the Deaf in hopes of becoming a teacher of others with hearing problems.
Pabi clearly sees her future as lying in this hospitable North American country. "I want to stay in Canada," she says. "Canada has given me and my family empowerment, equality and respect."
But Pabi Rizal says it's the best thing that ever happened to her. And she'll tell you in English and American Sign Language - both of which she learned in an astonishing three months after she, her parents and two deaf siblings came to the Canadian capital just over two years ago, when she was 18.
"I believe deaf refugees can do anything hearing people do, except hear," she says through a sign language interpreter in her Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada classroom at St. Joseph's Adult School in Ottawa. Clearly excited about being interviewed by UNHCR, she's exuberant and outgoing, her face only turning sombre when she recalls refugee friends she left behind in the Beldangi camp in eastern Nepal.
After 17 years in a refugee camp of thatched huts - her parents fled Bhutan soon after she was born - Pabi was enormously impressed by things most Canadians likely take for granted.
"Wow, there is electricity everywhere and all the time," says Pabi, her eyes lighting up at the thought of being able to study at night and use her computer whenever she wants. "Here at school, I keep on being amazed at the flashing fire alarm," she adds.
At first astonished by the high-tech visual learning aids at her new school, Pabi quickly mastered video phoning. She now uses Skype to train other deaf Bhutanese refugees around the world. She is happy to explain how to use the equipment in the classroom, her enthusiasm inspiring visitors just as electricity illuminates Pabi's new world.
Pabi and her family are some of the 5,000 Bhutanese refugees from camps in Nepal coming to Canada under a five-year resettlement programme that began in 2007. More than 50,000 refugees have already left camps in Nepal for eight different countries in one of the world's largest resettlement programmes.
Contrary to public perception, American Sign Language is not related to English, so Pabi had two new skills to learn when she arrived in Canada. But after just three months she did well enough to get a job as a warehouse attendant in a department store in an Ottawa suburb.
She's grateful for the opportunity to study in the morning and work in the afternoon, and has applied for admission to the Belleville School for the Deaf in hopes of becoming a teacher of others with hearing problems.
Pabi clearly sees her future as lying in this hospitable North American country. "I want to stay in Canada," she says. "Canada has given me and my family empowerment, equality and respect."
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