Deaf man cleared of G20 charges

The Crown has withdrawn criminal charges against Emomotimi Azorbo, the deaf man who says his Charter rights were violated when he was arrested at a G20 protest and then denied access to an adequate interpreter writes Jennifer Yang for The Star (07/02/12).

The Crown has withdrawn criminal charges against Emomotimi Azorbo, the deaf man who says his Charter rights were violated when he was arrested at a G20 protest and then denied access to an adequate interpreter.

Azorbo, now 32, was watching a G20 protest near Yonge and College Sts. on June 25, 2010 when he failed to hear police commands and got in a physical confrontation with officers.

He was arrested and taken to the G20 temporary detention centre, where Azorbo says he was denied access to a professionally-trained interpreter — even though the Canadian Hearing Society had offered their services free of charge to Toronto police over the G20 weekend.

Azorbo was charged with assaulting police officers and resisting arrest and was scheduled to begin trial this week. But at the Finch Ave. courthouse Monday morning, Crown attorney Jason Miller withdrew all the charges.

“Pursuing a conviction of Mr. Azorbo for the assaults is, in the Crown’s opinion, unnecessary,” he said.

Azorbo signed a peace bond, agreeing to keep the peace for six months.

Miller told the court Azorbo was not involved in the protest and could not hear police instructions, nor could he effectively communicate to officers that he was deaf.

But Miller added he wanted to correct the “public record” created by the media’s portrayal of Azorbo as a blameless party when he was actually “confrontational” with police. He played two YouTube videos for the courtroom; one that captures Azorbo walking towards police and being struck and pushed away, only to re-approach the officers. What happens next is mostly obscured by the crowd.

“Despite being given a couple chances by police to calm down and walk away, Mr. Azorbo persisted in pushing police officers and finally shoved an officer aside who was blocking his progress,” Miller said. “Mr. Azorbo appeared at that time to be making a beeline at a specific officer he had his initial confrontation with. This caused police to place Mr. Azorbo under arrest.”

But Azorbo maintains that what police interpreted as aggression and “pushing” was merely his frustrated attempts at communicating with officers and defending himself.

“I was trying to explain that I was deaf,” Azorbo said Monday, speaking to the Starthrough an interpretation team that includes an American sign language interpreter and a deaf interpreter. “And then I was being pushed and all of a sudden I was taken down.”

Azorbo’s lawyer, Howard Morton, has also filed a Charter motion alleging his client was denied his constitutional rights, including his right to the assistance of an interpreter during legal proceedings.

Azorbo said that when he arrived at the detention centre, police failed to provide him with a professionally-trained interpreter. He was instead offered police officers who could only finger spell or had a minimal knowledge of American Sign Language, which Azorbo himself is still learning, having grown up in Nigeria using Nigerian Sign Language.

“I just kept saying, ‘I don’t want this to happen, I need an interpreter that I can understand and can understand me,’” he said. “I didn’t want to be misquoted. I didn’t want this police officer – who doesn’t understand sign language – being the one communicating for me because she wasn’t going to do me justice.”

Morton said his client was further denied access to interpreters at two of his subsequent court dates, when interpreters ordered by the judge failed to show up.

Gary Malkowski, with the Canadian Hearing Society, said his organization offered to provide Toronto police with interpreting services during the G20 weekend, paying thousands of dollars to keep qualified interpreters on standby. But when they offered interpretation services for Azorbo, they were denied, Malkowski said.

“There was not only a denial of rights, but an intentional denial of rights,” he said.

At the time of his arrest, Azorbo did not fully understand what his rights were.

He knows them now, however. And he thinks police should know them too.

“I assumed that the police would do right by me and have an interpreter,” he said. “I assumed that they would be aware of my rights and make sure I was protected. But they weren’t.”

Living outside the hearing world

For several years cochlear implants have offered some deaf people the chance to have a "sensation of sound". So why would some deaf teenagers choose not to have the implant even if they had the option? asks Lucy Wallis for BBC News (07/02/12).

The issue of cochlear implants and efforts to "cure" deafness is a very sensitive subject among the 19,600 deaf teenagers in the UK.

Indeed, many young deaf people are proud of deaf culture.

"I never hear anything, I'm fully deaf. With hearing aids all I could hear was beeps and I thought what's that? So I took them off. I never use them. What's the point?" says 19-year-old Sara Kendall.

Sara and her boyfriend Asher Woodman-Worrell live with Sara's mother and brother in Nottingham. Everyone in the family is profoundly deaf. As Sara and Asher cannot hear or speak, they live in a totally silent world.

"I'm very strongly in the deaf world," says Sara. "I'm passionate about it. I can't imagine myself outside of that world. No thanks. I'm happy where I am, because my parents brought me up deaf."

Even though it might improve her hearing, no one in Sara's family has ever considered being fitted with a cochlear implant - a surgically implanted electronic device that can improve hearing by stimulating the auditory nerve. Although an implant cannot restore hearing to normal it does give the sensation of sounds.

In the operation, a surgeon creates a small space on the surface of the skull where the electronics are placed. From here an electrode carries signals down into the inner ear.

Cochlear implants are not suitable for all deaf people and those considering the surgery have to undertake in-depth hearing, speech and language, educational and psychological assessments. Around 500 adults, aged between 15 and 59, receive cochlear implants in the UK each year.

But some deaf families do not agree with the procedure and are defiant about remaining in the deaf world. Sara and her family consider themselves to be very much part of the deaf community and proud of their deaf culture.

"I don't like to see children suffer because it's not right. I think cochlear implants look awful attached to the side of your head… I'd rather they look normal," says Julie Kendall, Sara's mother.

For Sara, however, it is not just a case of what the implant looks like, but how it would impact on her sense of identity.

"Personally [I] thank God I don't have a cochlear implant because I wouldn't know where I belong, in the deaf world or the hearing world," says Sara. "I know I'm in the deaf world, that's it, but with a cochlear I'd feel in between."

"It's offensive to think you can fix it," she suggests. "You can't fix it. If you're born deaf, you're deaf, that's it."

Asher also finds any suggestion that a cochlear implant might help intrusive.

"We find it offensive when people come in and say, 'oh we can change you into a hearing person', that's why cochlear implants are a really sensitive issue for us."

The term "big D-deaf" is sometimes used to refer to those who identify themselves as culturally deaf, and have a very strong deaf identity. Tyron Woolfe, deputy director of children and young people at the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) says deaf culture is extremely varied.

"Deaf teenagers are just like other young people, with diverse interests and social lives. Each deaf young person's experience of deaf culture is different," says Woolfe, "but we do know that being able to meet other deaf young people is very important to many of the deaf teenagers and children we work with."

The decision to not explore the option of a cochlear implant is a matter of personal choice says Woolfe.

"Every deaf child is different and it is important that there is a range of provision to meet the diverse needs and preferences of deaf children.

"A cochlear implant is just one option - it would not benefit all deaf children and young people. Suitability can depend on a child's level and type of deafness.

Nineteen-year-old Meghan Durno would like to hear more and maintain a connection with both the hearing and deaf world."Cochlear implants, whether unilateral or bilateral, don't make deaf children hearing children. They improve access to sound, but they don't replace hearing."

She has been profoundly deaf all her life and had her first hearing aid when she was three months old. She grew up in a deaf family and her mother as well as her sister and grandparents all inherited their deafness.

Meghan decided to have a cochlear implant fitted, but the operation was not without risk as the procedure is most successful when performed on the ear with the best hearing. After surgery, a patient waits four weeks before the implant can be switched on as the area needs to be given time to heal.

During this time Meghan started studying for a veterinary nursing degree at Edinburgh Napier University and had to rely purely on lip reading, which made it difficult for her to understand exactly what her lecturers were saying.

"When I went into the lecture theatre, I just switched off because the lady that was standing there started pacing up and down and talking and I couldn't understand what was being said, so I just looked at the notes," says Meghan.

"I do feel sad sometimes, not so much that I can't hear right now, but knowing that I'll never be able to hear what hearing people hear, but I don't get down about it, I know no different."

"With the implant, I'm able to hear little things I never knew existed," says Meghan. "Like when you rub your hands together, I never knew that made a sound."Once the implant was switched on, Meghan's brain took time to recognise new sounds, but she very quickly discovered noises that she has never heard before, like the piercing sound of a baby crying and the sound of birds singing.

"I was lying down one time and I heard a noise and I was like what's that and I realised it was my own breathing… I've amazed myself with what I can hear, and amazed a piece of machinery can help you hear."

Rio Ferdinand Shows Support to Deaf Football Competition

England’s biggest deaf friendly football competition breaks down barriers for deaf children report FC Business (01/02/12).

Deaf young people from across England will be putting their football skills to the test at the National Deaf Youth Football Tournament. The biggest annual tournament for deaf football clubs and deaf friendly football clubs takes place on Sunday 4 March in Liverpool and on Sunday 18 March in Reading.

Hundreds of deaf young footballers will enter the tournament, organised by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), the charity for deaf children and young people. Teams can be made up of deaf and hearing children as long as three or more players are deaf.

The tournament takes place as NDCS celebrates the major milestone of 100 football clubs in England to signing up to the NDCS Deaf-Friendly Football Club (FC) pledge.
NDCS has been working with clubs all over the UK, including Norwich City FC, which was the first club in England to join the project in April 2007. Manchester United and Arsenal have also signed up to the project and are looking forward to competing at the Tournaments. Now 100 clubs have signed the pledge to increase playing, coaching and socialising opportunities for deaf children and young people.

Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United and England International, said: “It’s fantastic to know that 100 Clubs have now signed the Deaf-Friendly Football Club Pledge. Just because you are deaf doesn’t mean you should be denied the right to play football. All children deserve the chance to play football and enjoy sport and at Manchester United we’re really proud of the fact that our Foundation has a Deaf Friendly team playing in a mainstream league. With the support of so many Clubs, hopefully we can encourage even more deaf children to take up the game.”

Deaf children are often excluded from mainstream sports activities because clubs fail to consider their needs and find out how they could make their club accessible. For deaf children, the communication barrier can make football clubs intimidating environments, denying them the same opportunities as other children to take part.
NDCS Hayley Jarvis, NDCS Inclusive Activities Manager, said: “This tournament is a great way for us to celebrate the success that the clubs and the coaches have reached in making our beautiful game accessible to deaf children.

“The Deaf-Friendly FC project has created unique opportunities for more than 1,000 deaf children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to enjoy football. The milestone we have reached is a great success, but there is still a long way to go – only 100 out of 120,000 teams are registered as deaf friendly. “

Victoria Wenman, GB Deaf Ladies Footballer, said: “The National Youth Deaf Football Tournament is a brilliant event for deaf young people. It is fantastic to see the continued growth of deaf-friendly football. It was only through playing with my deaf team that I really thrived as a confident player. My coach knew how to communicate with me whereas in other teams I’d played in, communication had been an issue. It is so important that deaf young people have the same access to sport as other young people.”

The NDCS Deaf Friendly FC Project was set up in 2007 with the help of a grant from the UK’s largest sports charity, the Football Foundation (FF). An additional grant of £129,623 has been awarded by the FF, and the Football Association has also provided £10,000 towards continuing the project in 2010-2011.
The tournaments will take place at two locations at the Goals Soccer Centre in Reading and in Liverpool. Teams which would like to send their entries, please email football@ndcs.org.uk or visit www.ndcs.org.uk/football for details.

Lifesaving advice at roadshow for deaf people in Ellesmere Port

DEAF people from Ellesmere Port and Neston can learn about protecting their homes from fire at a roadshow rolling into town next week writes  Laurie Stocks-Moore for Ellesmere Port Pioneer (01/02/12).

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Deafness Support Network are running a series of events across the county to provide potentially life-saving advice to people with hearing loss.

The service’s hi-tech community roadshow vehicle will next be stationed outside Ellesmere Port Market from 10-3pm on Thursday, February 9.
The roadshow is co-ordinated by Melanie Pitts, deaf persons advocate.

She said: “It can be much harder for someone with hearing loss to be alerted to a fire so we’re working hard to reduce the risk of fire in their homes.
“Visitors to our roadshow will be able find out about the specialist support available to them to make their homes safer, look at equipment designed to alert them to a fire and use the on-board computer terminals to complete an online home safety assessment. There will also be lots of information about how the Deafness Support Network can help.”
A British Sign Language interpreter will be on hand to help and information cards will be available showing the signs and signals that can be used to communicate with a deaf person in an emergency.

The roadshow team can provide details of the service’s SMS emergency alert system and education events planned for children of deaf people.
For details, visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk and click on the ‘partnerships’ link on the homepage or visit the Deafness Support Network website www.dsonline.co.uk.

New TV assistance for deaf viewers

Deaf and hearing-impaired Kiwis are about to get a lot more choice in what they watch on television thanks to closed captioning being introduced on 10 new channels reports Stuff.co.nz (01/02/12).
Tomorrow, Sky Television will launch closed captions via its digital decoders on 13 channels: TV One, TV2 and TV3, Animal Planet, Disney, Disney Junior, TCM, Cartoon Network, Crime & Investigation, Discovery, Nickelodeon, UKTV and National Geographic.

Closed-captioning information will be displayed on the on-screen electronic programme guide, and viewers will be able to select closed captions for a single programme, or a global setting to show closed captions whenever they are available. Viewers will also be able to search the guide for content which has closed captions available.

Sky Television chief executive John Fellet said the company had wanted to offer the service for some time but failed to get NZ On Air funding.

The company had so far spent about $250,000 on sourcing the caption information for its programmes and setting up a system to monitor the service.

National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) chief executive Louise Carroll said New Zealand's level of programme captioning was among the lowest in the world but that the 10 new channels would "open up new horizons" for the hearing impaired.

Captions are currently available for shows on TV1, TV2 and TVNZ 7 as well as TV3 through Freeview or Teletext.

"Think of an elderly person who's been able to hear for 60 years and suddenly they can no longer hear the television news properly - they could go to TV1 and TV2, but they lose the option of all the great movies and even watching cartoons with their grandchildren," Carroll said.

"Imagine a child coming through at school age - they want to watch the cartoons with their mates but they just can't understand what's going on."

Carroll said Sky's new captions meant it was now a meaningful option for the one in six New Zealanders that had a hearing impairment. That amounts to a new market of about 700,000 people who may find the captions as added motivation to join Sky.

"I'm hearing impaired and definitely I miss the dialogue sometimes," said Carroll, who also chairs the Captioning Working Group which lobbies the government for public funding.

The faces in the shows are too fast so you can't lip-read properly and if you've missed an important chunk of the programme it's really frustrating. Carroll also said advertisers were missing out on a huge opportunity, and she hoped Parliament TV would eventually be captioned.

Deaf Aotearoa, also part of the working group, said a survey of 400 mostly deaf people showed the overwhelming majority would not subscribe to Sky unless it had captions.

Deaf Aotearoa president Kellye Bensley said excitement had already spread through the deaf community with the announcement of Sky's testing phase.

Sky Television's head of communications Kirsty Way said live content captioning - mainly for news bulletins and sports - could also be in the works but Sky was still asking NZ On Air to consider funding such content on its free-to-air channel Prime, if not its pay- television channels.


Sky was also looking at providing audio descriptors to make it easier for blind and sight-impaired people to understand television programmes, probably for TV1 and TV2 initially. Fairfax NZ