We did the usual for this modern age – Tweeted about this, publicised it on our Facebook page etc…
However, we have also been e-mailing our customers promoting our Deaf Awareness Training for their staff. We have been providing this training for many years and it is universally well received – those attending feel they have gained a real understanding of their deaf colleagues or clients.
The facts and figures we deliver astound people:
10 million people in the UK with a hearing loss in 2011
Estimated 14.5 million people in the UK with a hearing loss by 2031
Roughly 1 in 6 of the UK population currently has a form of hearing loss
At least 4 million people in the UK would benefit from using hearing aids, but they do not currently use them
On average it takes 10 years for people to address their hearing loss
It is hoped that upon completing his/her education, a deaf pupil will leave school with a chronological reading age of 9
There are also many questions asked; people feel free to bring up things within the secure environment of a training room that maybe they would not voice otherwise:
Can you drive if you are deaf?
How do deaf people dance?
If you are reading, do you sign in your head?
Why do deaf people sometimes struggle with written English, it is the same language isn’t it?
The last question is one that many hearing people struggle with – they find it difficult to understand why so many deaf people struggle with the written word. It is really quite simple – English is a phonetic language, our children usually learn to read using phonics as a guide. If you have no access to sound, how do you grasp this concept? There have been many articles written over the years (and we ourselves have publicised this on our WordPress before) that scientists believe your brain is wired differently if you are born deaf or lose your hearing in early infancy before language is developed (pre-lingually deaf).
As Deaf Awareness Week ends for 2014, we hope that we can keep the campaign for Deaf Awareness in the forefront of people’ minds – we cannot stress the importance of this! If you would like more information about Deaf Umbrella packages and how these can be funded, please do not hesitate to contact us – we look forward to hearing from you.