Melow's Twitter Page..

Question 1

ContactAFamily @RNID Hi! How have you involved your users in the rebranding process?

RNID @ContactAFamily There've been various stages - 4000+ people interviewed or surveyed, including users, commissioners, members (the RNID has 35,000 members but chose to ask outsiders like the people they want money from !).

Question 2

sirgarg @RNID Do you think the younger and "cultured" d/Deaf will focus more with rebranding.. an open umbrella adopted in the constitution..

RNID @sirgarg We hope our rebrand will make us more relevant to everyone - Deaf, hard of hearing, hearing #rnidlivechat (Hope ? theyhave more chance of getting Bin-Laden as a supporter than deaf people, and the RNID cannot spell culture...).

Question 3

mattisraelsohn Why spend on a rebrand when apparently RNID finances are so tight? #rnidlivechat

@mattisraelsohn In a nutshell we think (and our resarch shows) that finance may get tighter if we dont broaden our appeal #rnidlivechat (You could always take a wage cut, and cut the expenses)...

Question 4

JosephFreeman @RNID Hi Jackie, how else are you involving your supporters on the potential rebranding? #rnidlivechat

@JosephFreeman We are doing it NOW - Facebook, Twitter, our members magazine, face to face meetings, our website #rnidlivechat (No they aren't less than 15% of contributions were from members).

Question 5

kalireads RNID brand is ok, but could message be clearer?: "1in7" equates to 14% of customers, clients, patients, friends, neighbrs #rnidlivechat (1 in 7 refers to the fund givers).

RNID @kalireads Our research told us the current brand is not well recognised, and is a barrier to people who are hard of hearing #rnidlivechat (it IS recognised they just don't like the RNID, can a leopard change its spots ?)

RNID @kalireads I agree one in seven message is powerful, and we should not lose it, 14% may not be easy to understand for everyone #rnidlivechat (The 1 in 7 message ignores deaf people, the proof is via their relenteless medical messages and 97% hoh membership).

Question 6

Sensetweets @RNID Hi Jackie, what do you think's the most important thing to get right? What would equal a successful rebrand for you? #rnidlivechat

RNID @Sensetweets Success = better recognition, a bit of controversy helps publicity, more people thinking we are relevant to them #rnidlivechat (More CASH !).

RNID @Sensetweets Be a bigger, better organisation, persuade people to take early action on hearing loss & look after their hearing #rnidlivechat (Even MORE cash !).

Question 7

paulbharrison @RNID Why spending on re-branding RNID when essential services like welfare rights & employment services for deaf is axed? #rnidlivechat

RNID @paulbharrison Because research shows that rebranding is essential for our long term success and impact #rnidlivechat (And who gives a monkeys the deaf can't work, we don't want them either).

Question 8

JGJones @RNID A new name don't make you more relevant. It's meaningless and a waste of money when core function is same. What changed? #rnidlivechat

RNID @JGJones The name is only part of the brand, Relevance is about services, campaigns AND brand #rnidlivechat (We are hoping you CAN fool most of the people MOST of the time).

Question 9

TheSpiderplant @RNID With coalition govt proposing changes 2 Welfare payments how will RNID lobby parliament to protect people who are Deaf? #rnidlivechat

RNID @TheSpiderplant Lobby as RNID & as part of the Disability Charities Consortium - specific examples will help get message over #rnidlivechat (Answer the question what are YOU going to do ? are you a campaign and support group or not ? stop passing the buck to others...)

Question 10

Sensetweets @RNID how interesting! A bit of controversy is a good thing? Could you explain a bit more - how is the current brand a barrier? #rnidlivechat

RNID @Sensetweets A bit of controversy creates publicity, generates interest and debate - all good stuff! #rnidlivechat (Yeah ! like you pulled your own forum so controversy was never seen, the controversial bit is the deaf they slow us down, they talk too much, don't know their place in the pecking order.)..

RNID @Sensetweets Current name is a barrier - people dont know what initials stand for, many dont consider selves Deaf so put off #rnidlivechat ( You said it ! so drop the D and have done with the charade, erm the 'D' stands for deaf..).

Question 11

@UnstablePromo How are you going to let people know about your new name? Are you going to advertise?

RNID @UnstablePromo We dont have advertising budget - but all pro bon offers welcome! will use centenary as hook, keep costs down #rnidlivechat (Bull they are ALL about adverts, espcially when others pay for it).

Question 12

scope Hi @RNID you can read more about Scope's name change in 1994

RNID @scope A very successful name change and now SCOPE is very well known, We hope to emulate you! #rnidlivechat (The RNID isn't scope, thank God).

Question 13

jboyman How is the rebrand being funded? What other projects are a priority? #rnidlivechat

RNID @jboyman Total cost will be about £260,000 over 2/3 years. Also investing in new website, acquiring new donors #rnidlivechat (They need a new website perhaps one that is accessible and speaks English for start, but then it is for fund givers NOT The deaf, are you poor of reading or what ?).

RNID @jboyman Big expansion of our 'hear to help' services this year - funded by Co-operative Charity of the Year money #rnidlivechat (If you wear a hearing aid fine, if not....)

Question 14

Sorry question been deleted from their Twitter account (Ah ! a real question at last !).

RNID @DeafTAG We do not reach the four million who have hearing loss and have not taken action on it, are in denial or embarrassed #rnidlivechat (4 million ? hello we just lost 5 miilion people !! call the lost and found dept)...

Question 15

RNID @tony_sutton Total spend £260K over 2/3 years Hope to achieve greater relevance and impact #rnidlivechat (And get rid of them pesky deaf people).

tony_sutton @RNID How much will you be spending on this rebranding? And what do you hope to achieve from it? Thanks. #rnidlivechat (More Cash ! were you NOT reading at all ?).

Question 16

GideonHoffman Can I give a thumbs up for rebrand, important deaf people get support -millions with hearing loss now or ftre to reachout to #rnidlivechat

RNID @GideonHoffman Thank you - hope you like it when you see it! #rnidlivechat (Then again someone ELSE who didn't read what she said, it is NOT re-branding for the deaf, we couldn't care less basically we just want our £10m back and out of it.)

Question 17

JosephFreeman @RNID Is your rebranding research available to supporters? Admire the current openness, nut will that continue thru-out this? #rnidlivechat

RNID @JosephFreeman We can summarise key findings on our website, already in One in Seven mag - page 30 #rnidlivechat (Which is gunna cost you as well and what's the point anyway ?)

Question 18

JGJones @RNID It's quite well known by now that RNID is v.bad in being proactive in hiring deaf people - changing this would be much more relevant.

RNID @JGJones This is a myth. We hire the best people for the job and actively advertise on relevant sites to deaf people #rnidlivechat (More Bull manure they have just ONE at exec level, the re-brand is about total zeroing of the deaf influence, it puts fund givers off...).

Question 19

AliceLagnado @RNID @paulbharrison is a legal service to help deaf ppl get dda etc also not essential to our impact?

RNID @AliceLagnado Whose responsibility is a service? We will not subsidise government responsibilities from charitable funds #rnidlivechat (You are just in it for a profit in it).

Question 20

MaryWbn @RNID How will you ensure a name change doesn't lose the legacy and equity built up from 100 years of the RNID brand? #rnidlivechat

RNID @MaryWbn We have had 5 names in 100 years and will have a long transition through the centenary year, looking back and forward #rnidlivechat (5 names and as many remit changes in 5 years too, most to get the 'D' influence out, the buggers show no gratitude at all).

Question 21

Legsmaniac @RNID What do you plan 2 do about the "Last of the Summer Whine" group of whingers constantly running down the new rebranding? #rnidlivechat

RNID @Legsmaniac We have to listen to everyone, the research process ensured we have a balanced view across all audiences #rnidlivechat (Listen and ignore, always been RNID policy, whiners are people too...).

Question 22

Hayleesadler #rnidlivechat Hi Jackie, I hope your well! How come @rnid name changing next year?

RNID @Hayleesadler @rnid Hi Haylee, am fine thanks. Changing because we want to reach many more people like you #rnidlivechat (They already KNOW you, get a grip...)

Question 23

Sensetweets @RNID Have you got a favourite charity rebrand? One that you think really hit the mark?(personal fav = @macmillancancer) #rnidlivechat

RNID @Sensetweets @macmillancancer I like Macmillan, Catch 22 and Rethink best #rnidlivechat (I like Egg and chips).

Question 24

tony_sutton @RNID Your 7 in 1 magazine are mostly focused on hard of hearing people, what about pure Deaf people? Will this be improved? #rnidlivechat

RNID @tony_sutton the balance of articles reflects our membership who are primarily hard of hearing or have tinnitus #rnidlivechat (There you go, from the horses mouth.. who are these 'pure' deaf anyway ? don't you mean POOR ?)

Question 25

Legsmaniac @RNID Do you have any plans to expand into areas you appear to be unheard of? You mostly seem to be in London and Wales. #rnidlivechat

RNID @Legsmaniac Our services are all over England but not equally, some in Wales and Northern Ireland, plus Scotland #rnidlivechat (Nah Wales doesn't want them either).

RNID @Legsmaniac Big plans to expand Hear to Help across UK, including Isle of Man, we want more services in more places #rnidlivechat

Question 26

Legsmaniac @RNID Do you have any figures on the ratio of members Deaf, deaf and HoH? Could you get some if not? (Survey in mag?) #rnidlivechat

RNID @Legsmaniac Results of our most recent members survey are on the RNID website (But NOT if they are deaf and again you are NOT reading what she said, it's about hard of HEARING not deaf people, they don't HAVE any deaf members of note)..

Question 27

kalireads Why not ask RNID members for inspired ideas (on top of existing ideas)? Could come up with something as good as SCOPE #rnidlivechat

RNID @kalireads We asked members for idea, over 200 responses received #rnidlivechat (200 out of 35,000, really committed at the RNID aint they ?)

Question 28

paulbharrison @RNID Success for what? There seems to be a general view within the deaf community that RNID has neglect them with loss of vital services

RNID @paulbharrison Our biggest service area is care and support for profoundly deaf people, we do much less for hard of hearing #rnidlivechat (Biggest area is don't care, 50m last year, less than 10 on the deaf (your own accounts)).

Question 29

tomsteel @RNID Hi Jackie - IHow your new brand be reflected on your website - what plans do you have for your online work?

RNID @tomsteel We will have new website, new online presence in other media - launch next June #rnidlivechat (And the hallelujah chorus played on the vuvuzela...).

Question 30

macmillancancer @RNID ah thank you very much. That is very kind of you :-)

RNID @macmillancancer I only speak the truth! #rnidlivechat (cross your heart AND hope to die ?)...

Question 31

kalireads @RNID You did and I responded, but that asked for reactions to existing ideas rather than brainstorming brilliant new ones #rnidlivechat

RNID @kalireads We asked for ideas in One in Seven, before we researched the list you may have seen #rnidlivechat (1 in 7 is a comic for the hard of hearing, and they vet out deaf input).

Question 32

DementiaUK @RNID How do your supporters feel about spending money that could be used for services on a rebrand? #rnidlivechat

RNID @DementiaUK The majority of members who wrote to me were in favour of rebrand, and majority in our research #rnidlivechat (All 200 out of 35,000 of them ? majority stats isn't their bag is it ?)

And finally...

RNID Sorry, time to go folks. Sorry my computer really slow today - it needs a holiday or to be dropped from a tall building! #rnidlivechat (Just don't let go of it...)

Disney's 3D Xmas Carol a first in UK

Bluddy 'ell Christmas comes earlier every year ! Only one error as I can see the promo vid isn't accessible lol.....From this link...


Disney's 'A Christmas Carol' breaks new ground as the first ever fully 'accessible' 3D movie.

This weekend marks a milestone in UK cinema - the release of the first ever 3D movie that is accessible to people with hearing or sight loss. Disney’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ has been on release with subtitles on the 2D version and with audio description (narration) since early November, when the premiere set a new Guinness world record as the largest ever 3D screening. Now, as part of The Walt Disney Company’s ongoing commitment to provide entertainment to as broad an audience as possible, and thanks to new technology which enables subtitles to sit on a 3D film, ‘A Christmas Carol’ becomes the first movie in the UK to become truly accessible in 3D to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Disney’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ has taken £9.5m at the UK box office, with 79% of takings coming from the 3D screens. Clearly there is huge audience demand for the 3D experience. Only now has the technology developed to a stage where subtitles can be overlaid on a 3D image, so that people with hearing loss can enjoy the experience of a 3D film. The problem previously has always been where to place subtitles in the 3D space - in front? the middle? the back? Placed incorrectly, subtitles can cause nausea or headache.

Disney Studio’s Technical Executive Director, Saul Mahoney, said: "Dickens’ story was an innovative, socially responsible tale - a celebration of traditional Christmas-time values - family, sharing and charity. The Walt Disney Company believes in the same values, and has worked with the UK film industry and charities representing people with hearing or sight loss, to ensure that the 3D cinema experience can be enjoyed by as many people as possible."

Glee-Imagine

Who says deaf can't sing ?

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
a brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You, You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

The Great ISP fraud on broadband.

Who has real and declared broadband speeds ? In the UK 97% of ISP's claiming speeds available have never met any of them, atypically a declared package of say 8mb or 20mb is usually 2mb and 9mb at most about 30% are barely above dial-up still. My ISP says I can get 8mb, 6mb atypically, BT (British telecom), who delivers the broadband says they haven't the capability for 8mb yet, a test they did managed 4.9mb in my area, going down 26% at peak times.... where watching a film online is near impossible. My own online test showed 1.96mb at a number of points, with a maximum of 3.9. Yet at the bottom of my screen is this... "You are connected at 6.9mb.." someone is telling porkies aren't they ?

I am paying for that. The infrastructure is not there for delivering the speeds ISP claims you can get, and charge for, surely they owe us a refund ? the get out clause is 'up to' so they DON'T say you can get the 8mb they sell you, they just say the capability is there for it. By my reckoning they owe me half the fee I pay for the last 3 years. No point switching ISP's because the delivery system won't deliver it. At present I am paying..

(A) For an speed the ISP cannot deliver, or guarantee, and
(B) For a delivery system that can't.

While each blames the other, neither are reducing the cost of less-than broadband provision. If I pay for 8mb or 20mb, should I actually GET that ? don't be silly (reeled in lol).

Marlee Matlin (On Broadband)

To Interpret or not to Interpret ?

It was heartening to read via this link, a successful court case against a Hospital for trying to bully and pressurise an deaf patient into using relatives to interpret, avoid compliance with the law, and mostly to save money.

Hermans, who communicates primarily via ASL, alleged that despite repeated requests for a sign language interpreter, hospital staff never provided him with one. He also alleged the hospital's staff tried repeatedly to persuade his companion, who is not a qualified interpreter, to serve in that role despite her being unwilling to do so. As a result, Hermans alleged he was not able to understand what was taking place during his hospital visit.


In reality WHO is to blame here ? I have campaigned against relative signed support for years in UK Hospitals and in General Practitioner and care areas, who has been the most bitter opponent of those opposing relative support ? The DEAF have. There is SUPPORT and there is INTERPRETING, they are NOT the same thing. Let's just cut out the deafie at the start...

When I first mooted the idea, after having a lot of problems, (many that still actually exist), in that there had been constant pressure on deaf people by the medical profession (Albeit they are NOT the only people many areas do it), for deaf patients to be asked, "Can a friend, or relative translate for you ? because we have no financial system here to pay for qualified help, and, it would take weeks to arrange an supported diagnosis, because we cannot do it in the limited time we allot to hearing patients.." Yeah yeah and 50 other excuses...! WHo hasn't the GP system whereby the Brit GP's ignore patient phone contact numbers , and only use the relatives number ? Neatly avoids any contention happening, and the deaf going with it to, "Make things easier..." easier for who ? mostly those who want to avoid paying for terps ?

Do deaf not care about relatives who lose a days work helping out ? who compensates them ? Deaf are not playing fair, are complacent, stuck in their ways, and apparently not caring so long as someone ANYONE does it.... Time to get off your backside.

Apart from the fact none of the reasons were actually legal, I got opposition from deaf people and an British Deaf charity for sign users, accusing me of trying to deny deaf people the right to choose whoever they want. What right did I have to do that ? I pointed out that many deaf do not HAVE relatives to do this work, and there are numerous areas where you simply do not WANT a relative knowing all your personal details, this was linked by the fact hardly ANY relatives of the deaf patients were qualified enough in sign language, or were neutral either. A lot of deaf not understanding their medical issue, are denied knowledge by inept family support, it isn't just outside the family that people think "They won't understand all this, so let's do the highlighted version.." approach ! or simply will not admit they haven't understood everything either.

We reported a case of a deaf woman using an 8yr old child, who understandibly could not cope with the emotional situation of her mother being seriously ill, and was making her mother's condition worse, as well as making treatment impossible, the Dr did the only thing he could he refused to allow the child to do the interpreting and requested a terp, the Deaf charity threatened legal action could you believe ? When (As in this instance recently reported), a deaf patient attends an hospital, two areas present themselves for contention, (1) Reassurance to the patient, and (2)Clarity with the Medical staff treating them. It's not unknown patients relatives can sideline their deaf siblings and children to dictate what level of information the deaf patient gets, and can withold or not understand the medical condition (Or the signs for it), to reassure.

Having fully trained and neutral interpreting there, means both doctor and patient know exactly what is going on, and, a terp will not try to influence a decision either. I changed tactics after being opposed, to lobby Hospital Insurance companies, pointing out an unqualified interpreter can mean an huge court case if the deaf patient gets more ill or worse. Unfortunately we haven't yet had an Brit case like America has, it cannot come too soon in my view, if only to wake up these deaf to the dangers they are putting themselves in. Again the Deaf representatives group insisted on the paramount right of the deaf person to use whom they want, this totally undermined any campaign I was making to force the british NHS to honour the law, and to convince the deaf they are wrong about this.

Today the deaf STILL oppose a block on relative interpretation, even when I suggested, we allow relatives there as SUPPORT, but still NOT as interpreters. It would seem they want to be controlled by relatives, of course the really big issue here is not just 'deaf rights' (Which in this case is downright lethal !), but it removes DEMAND for qualified help, undermining campaigns for more terps, and makes deaf people downright lazy in not ensuring they are getting the right message. We had the ludicrous situation of a deaf woman going on national TV saying she had no qualified medical help, then saying her Mum was her preferred choice as interpreter, and she admitted she had never taken a sign exam in her life,and was complaining she had to leave her job to help her daughter, so the daughter was oblivious to that too.

Curiously we read a deaf comment here "It makes no difference WHO deaf use, if a mistake is made we can still sue the hospital for poor communication..." Have you EVER read anything so stupid ? No you can't, because you have declared your 'right' to use whom you want, which suits a system determined NOT to facilitate your access, down to the ground, so I was under attack from the Deaf, and the Medical profession for two very perverse reasons, neither of them about real access ! A simple statistical fact for the Deaf, no demand equals no more interpreters geddit ?

Either use Interpreters or drop the campaigns for more and take your chances... It's time deaf took responsibility for their support. You mess it up in Hospital there may be no way back....

A message for the British BDA and RNID, how about a campaign to back me up ? and educate the deaf community against their own misguided sense of rights ? Perhaps we need hospitals to sue relatives who misinform...

Not the 1880 Blog...

I say, I say, I say, have you heard the one about..... welcome to the silly season.

So they have just voted against an edict of 1880 in Canada, let no-one say we are backward in coming forward, or not forward in going backward for that matter. As I've been berated for not understanding it is an 'Symbolic' gesture (Really ? I thought they just had their dates mixed up, thought they were in Ohio, and spelt symbolic incorrectly), we now need an explanation from those who attended (Obviously suffering the confined space syndrome, and over-imbibing on the Vimto), as to the point of rejecting an edict that was made 130 years ago and which they have no visible or hereditary affiliation or connection with ? What is this thing that happens when you get too many deaf people in one space ? do they think,"We're bored.. let's put forward a motion to make Milan illegal ? invoke the death sentence for Signed english Advocates and a life-term imprisonment for members of A G Bell... ? gotta be more interesting than dear awareness."

If we are to vote on things we didn't agree with that long ago (I wasn't there so I will have to take their word for it, it wasn't a good thing), then where do we stop ? In reality a lot of GOOD came out of Milan, including the rise of deaf culture, deaf schools, and sign language, without some silly people passing a rule you cannot use sign, no-one would have gone the other way, think about it. It's not as if most in the civilised world took much notice anyway, of a few Italians with a signing bee in their bonnet. Without deprivation/oppression (Not that I endorse it), no aspiration to fight your corner, is one way you can look at it. 1880 they said no to sign, but from 1880 onwards an explosion of deaf clubs created here in the UK anyway, so not all bad news, if deaf community is your thing.

We were most amused the RLM blog has now also got completely carried away with the euphoria of denial, and is going for broke with a "Deaf Declaration Of Independence", let us hope there are less casualities than the first time around, (And the British do it differently next time, we win, you all drink tea), OK, you can have this one on Great Britain too RLM, bear in mind there were welsh people who signed your American dream, and at the Alamo.. If we are going to revert to fighting ancient battles, it's gonna be a long day isn't it ? Perhaps I'll vote against the Romans (Those Italians always doing something to annoy lol)....they did a lot of damage here. I suppose the next stop, is to put forward a law banning oralism, cochlear implants, and a total demolition of inclusive education, but hold on isn't that anti-choice ?



I think the best idea we read so far is that with this declaration of deaf independence, is they might turn California into a deaf-only state or something, that Dakota is being a bit too bloody cold, and not such an attractive destination for the revolution. I would suggest Hawaii personally, and you get grass skirts. Strange this weird 'vote' came from a country with one of the LARGEST CI implantation programs under way, and enough snow to keep most amused. Just like eskimos have 200 words for snow, they have hundreds of deaf people determined to be modern, by inventing 200 words or terms for being deaf, and voting against ancient edicts.

Perhaps we really do need to get out more....I may have over-focused on British and American areas, it seems all the weird and wonderful happenings are happening oop North. I'd be more interested if they were addressing pressing modern-day access issues. It's what we call in the Uk "Friday Syndrome" where most people are tired, awaiting the end of the day, and working week, and will rubber stamp any crackpot idea so they can go home early. Ominously this is how the British Disability Act was passed ! OK Milan rejection IS a good idea, (how about Kabul ?), now, where is the bar...

I've just realised it is the deaf version of "Back to the Future.." isn't it...

Did you know, 80% of husbands cheat on their wives in America ? (the other 20% cheat on them in Europe...).

A response to Candy's blog

Once again Candy offers considerable debate for further discussion regarding the age-old conflicts of why so many still oppose the deaf having a culture, while agreeing everyone else has. I'd like to respond on my own blog, as it is rather extended to include on Cathy's.

I think the issue is via the 'collective' status as a culture, it has become virtually impossible to separate people via loss degree, language, or communication used, and not welcomed either these days, despite desperate back-peddling by those determined to preserve deaf cultural aspiration, who seem to have alienated those that can help preserve the status quo of it. Deafhood has played also played its part in alienating deaf and HI people of all types.

The basis of 'deaf culture' is on sensory loss i.e. and what is regarded as a 'disability', by most, so without deafness and loss, no culture, not least 95% who are not born that way, will rarely recognise it as much else....and the 20th and 21stc means of offering CI's, better hearing aids, more inclusive communication options, and better protection to parents about illness, which caused many babies to be born deaf etc, all these advances are playing their part in removing the idea of a dedicated culture, because the basics are being removed for it to flourish. Should we mourn it's passing ? Oppose these advances, limit these options ?

What makes deaf, deaf is also no longer the norm, the deaf schools, the clubs etc, certainly not here where we are, which form the bedrock of deaf culture, and as we saw with the American thing recently, deaf schools created deaf culture by putting all deaf in one place. Only recently, two deaf schools shut for good here, one had only 8 pupils in it, the rest, mainstreamed, deaf associations where they still exist, seen organising support areas for CI implanted children who are rapidly replacing the born deaf.

Access has also seen determined undermining of sign language in many media areas, where captions are now seen as the primary and preferred means of following them, even by the deaf themselves. This has allowed the powers-to-be, to remove sign language options without breaking access laws, and where sign language IS seen in vision, deaf are demanding captions still as back up. This suggest deaf are not all cultural via sign language, which is the sole visual means many deaf are being identified, and another issue and area of dissent.

A culture of sorts probably DOES exist, but based on just 2% of the entire deaf/HI population. Born deaf are very, very small minorities, within deaf minorities too. All credit to these people for punching in huge excess to their weight, even if the message of culture is being lost in the drive to 'offer support' to them, which is seen as anti-social models of being deaf. I think questions still arise regarding what constitutes a culture, aka language, arts, music, literature etc in the deaf sense. If we look at HOW these things are done, are accessed by the deaf, they are not dedicated to the 'deafhood' concept of culture at all, it is still very much aligned as to how hearing do things, it's deaf culture because sign is used ? We aren't parrots, we are people.

We needed to see something more distinctive regarding culture, something that makes the deaf stand apart as a culture, the trend seems to be retiring to enclaves, and 'protected' oe exclusive areas and this is further isolation....it is becoming increasingly difficult to see that can work, and will become even harder as advances and choices are made by individuals themselves, who are no longer really part of the old 'collective' that gave the concept of culture impetus. The UK used to use the terms 'classless society' and 'multiculutralism', but both have failed completely, because they forgot one simple basic premise, none of us want to be the same as anyone else, and while we insist and go through the motions of 'cest la vie', (what our new religion is, I'm a happy atheist frankly), we are really just standing apart from what is happening and pursuing individual goals, and nervous and unsure at the fragmentions that are going on, while (To use the awful pun), paying lip-service to it. We are in defence mode mostly of ourselves, nothing is worse than conformity, or 'all the same'. Which is a living death to many.

Aka "I support deaf culture.." but, won't participate in it, won't encourage it, won't really respect it, because I have another life to lead....a culture killer surely ? Unlike black people (Forgive me if this is not PC somewhere), we deaf cannot be universally recognised just by colour, or just by sign language... It is this lack of real identification, and the reluctance to BE identified, that is the issue, allied to the drive for people to distill that ID to the individual, and not disseminate it to the whole, that gives deaf culture no real reference point... It will always be on the backfoot...

Lies, damn lies and Fraudulent statistics...

A recent (Alleged) poll of NHS deaf patients in the United Kingdom has been declared 'proof' by the British Deaf association of extensive BSL usage in Great Britain:


The British Deaf Association (BDA) welcomes the latest results from the GP Patient Survey, which confirms that there are just over 100,000 adult Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users in England. At last a clear question has been included in a national survey which makes the important link between being Deaf and using BSL. This provides confirmation of what the BDA has long believed; that the number of Deaf people who use BSL in England is significantly higher than previous estimates.

This survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI and commissioned by the Department of Health, is the largest of its kind of the population other than the national Census carried out every 10 years.

Total and utter GARABAGE ! No one has asked deaf patients WHAT language or access they use in GP surgeries in the UK, not a single deaf person at my deaf club has been asked about preference or, is mostly able to GET access to GP surgeries, neither are preferences asked for at GP surgeries. These utterly misleading statistics, have been, and I put it bluntly, either been MANUFACTURED my Ipso-Mori polls, or GP's have not understood the survey. Curiously this 100,000 figure is exactly the same as the total amount of deaf people registered as such. I also asked my GP, who said he had not participated in any survey, had he done so, he would have first asked me my preference, and, permission to log that preference with mori, he did neither. If GP's do not KNOW what means we use how can they say we use them ?

Who did they ASK ? it wasn't deaf people. They asked GP's ? who are the health services WORST providers of access in the whole country to those with hearing loss ? the one sector that did another NHS survey confiding that the deaf were a pain in the ass to them and were the most difficult and exasperating patients they have ever dealt with ?

All deaf use sign ? here we go again ......... it is bad form the BDA is agreeing with this survey, if there were THAT many BSL people they would be snowed under with members, instead they are bereft and going broke, no link of course....! For Ipso-Mori read Hans Anderson.... for BDA read desperation.

What we all need..

My deafness is 32 years old today, and whilst we still struggle with the interminable issues of deaf or Deaf ? Oral or Cultural ? (And whose a pretty boy then), a little light relief seems called for.... So I wish the following people all good will towards all men (Women too).

Deaf-UK
Deaf For Life
GOD's blogger
The RNID
The miserable UK 8

And the many many other people who have made my deaf life so interesting, or I could have been a right misery lol... If ever there was a case for CI's they are it....

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

How we used to be.... 1950 or 2010 ?

I read with sadness a recent comment on the Regency Blog. I'm inclined to agree, and share the sentiments on this British blog. If there is a second coming, let us all pray we are all hearing and put an end to it. Anyone with a strong belief on democratic representations and real inclusion, cannot help but be very depressed with the disgraceful state of British deaf Charity and representations concerned with the deaf. This last few weeks in the UK, we've seen appalling and patronising examples of deaf awareness, blatant celebrity sucking up, endless silly people begging for money (Hearing people mostly), to jump out of planes, take holidays in China, climb hills for fun, whatever, to help these poor deaf people, who disowned this approach years ago....give me the bloody money I will go to China, and more than willing to throw a few senior charity executives out of an aeroplane, and for free !

If all else fails there are the dog things, people despise the deaf, we know the medical profession thinks we are a pain in the backside, but we love our animals here, if it is straight choice they will put us down, or wheel out deaf children doing well, despite appalling exploitation and patronisations from the powers-to-be, and their education taking them nowhere but on this never-ending roundabout to deaf nowhere mostly, who still have not understood this is not what deaf people want or are about and never has been, creating a new generation of technology-ridden wannabees and affluent deaf for whom dependency is a still the norm and rights are what other people campaign for.... while we just moan occasionally.

This comes labelled with meaningless pap about rights no one really seems to be fighting for any more where it would really count, from grass root level, can anyone put a deaf face or name to 95% of deaf presentations here ?

Not unless they were involved with animal charities and motorcycle racing first....or even MS....They are not electing anyone any more 'staff' are hired from executive agencies and are not required to know what deafness or culture or sign language or anything about deaf at all, so long as they can crunch those numbers.... We are all being reduced to the status of pre-1950 but with new-age technologies hiding the fact we are dependent on others all over again with just a semblance of individuality, buried in hype and spin by the greediest set of non-member led charities and corporate asset - stripping service industries in UK living memory.

Even Australia and America have noted the increased amount of decision-making is done via "We'll tell the deaf after... or not..." sector, of unelected representation blanketing online with outrageous claims they have our 100% backing, while at the same time, have removed us all from the consultation and decision making process. Charities go online and "We asked 1600 people..." without ever asking IF they are deaf or have hearing loss what we need. A system that has to hire interpreters to access deaf groups.....Deaf seem to have either given up the Ghost, or have no need whatever for support, as they refuse to get involved, if we can't beat 'em go online and pretend you are still an individual there instead and leave rights and awareness to those being paid millions a year in funding to do it, with superannuated pay, and 4 holidays a year plus expenses.

There are no deaf people in sight ? not necessary they speak for us, regardless if we vote or agree with it anyway, what can we do ? deaf go to Twitters or Facebook and pretend they are free there instead. An arrogance of dependency, perverse ! If they are, why aren't they helping those that aren't ? If they don't want charity or support why not declare that ? We should have got an immediate alarm ringing when we read "We represent you all..." Hello ? when did this happen ? was there a vote ? a consultation ? ANYTHING ? Online is swamped with BSL lessons, all NOT working at all and raising NO awareness at all since there has been no visible increase in 10 years, there is still an statistic of 1 interpreter for 300 people, all BSL lessons have done is put money in tutors pockets.

Funding given to Deaf research' whatever the hell that is, lately it is researching if Stage 1 BSL is working, hello you have been doing it for 25 years ! Bit late in the day isn't it ? So we pour more money into pointless deaf academic projects, which are more a sop to inclusion that doesn't happen than anything else, and despite the fact 76% of learners drop out because of intransigence and deaf tribalism over regional sign and the huge financial cost of doing exams, so we turn out people who know 'some' sign ! we turn out people who do not speak well, who know nothing of deafened clear communication, or the deaf issues, but all doing their 'bit' for the deaf, how ?

Need to know basis ? DOH !

The Deaf Parable..

MM. 1:1. In the beginning there was deaf, and the deaf were without unity, cohesion, the spoken oration, and hearing ruled the earth, and it came to pass, the deaf developed manual signing, a community, and reading of the mouths, and there was great joy, and communications in abundance. The deaf created culture, and Identity, and all was well with the deaf world. It later came to pass, that in the country known as Italy, an evil meeting was held, where scholars made assembly and determined deaf language was put to ridicule, speech became the norm, and gloom and despondency descended upon the deaf community.

MM: 1:2. In time, benevolence and charitable men, saw the plight of deaf people, and were much anguished, and were saddened, of their neglect, and ignorant non-acceptances of the deaf, as people with equality and rights, and were determined to form charities, almshouses and societies dedicated to righting these wrongs.

MM: 1:3. The civilised populace took to the messages of deprivation and cruelty, and were appalled, and righteously felt deaf people should take their place in society, supported by charitable donation, and dignatories aplenty. The deaf were at first happy to be getting their righful recognition, laws were passed, but then felt aggrieved and upset, that the state and institutional systems had simply been replaced by charitable ones, and profit-making, the deaf messages of equality and rights were being lost in the pursuit and propogation of needy, and supportive systems, destroying their social models and reducing their identities to those of dependency.

MM: 1:4. "Verily we say unto mainsteam, this is not how we see ourselves, or see our advances to righftul and equal status, advancing this way..." but benevolence was much in anger at their ungratefulness. "Why bitest thou, the hand that feeds and nurtures ?" they asked the deaf, "but for our help, you would not be as accepted as you now are... access to many things would still be closed to you.. why art thou so ungrateful for our help..." and made of many meetings and AGM's, excluding the deaf, to decide upon the future of their benevolence, now much heaped upon them by an cruel government off-loading rights to the begging bowl...

MM: 1:5. And it came to pass charity and benevolence made decision to remove deaf from positions of equal status, and to not allow deaf people senior rights of decision-making again. Deaf people felt pain, felt exclusion, saw sign language removed from view again, and were scorned for their determination to gather and sign for their own purpose. They began to see benevolence and charity for what it was, patronisation without the obvious discrimination. "Our directions must now be ever outward..." they declared, "No more will benevolence masquerading as empathy, be used and abused toward us all, we will declare a war, but a war of peaceful rights, and equalities unfettered by the cruel manacles of support... and abusages of help messages." And it came to pass benevolence and Charity cut the ties between themselves and the deaf to make money as providers... for monetary gain..."

MM: 1:6. Verily I say unto you all deaf thus assembled, "Nothing that comes unto us, that mayest can be done, without us... else all be a falsehood..."

They Think it's all over ?

Deaf awareness week is now ! They say it can only happen in America but, us Brits are trying in our own way to emulate the American deaf dream and encouraging anyone with a name someone recognises to tell the public what shits they are for not giving charity money so deaf can be dependent on charity instead of the state, A recent article by a charity sector site suggested new tactics, SWEARING in advertising as shock tactics and value, noting Bob Geldof has only one language, Obscenity, and he swore non-stop raising millions for Live Aid.

Can you see this catching on ? "Give the *^*%*!!%!%!K money !" with deaf and others being sworn at so the public (Aren't WE the public too ?), foot in mouth time ! can be outraged enough to sign a few cheques. Presumably so the deaf and disabled can pay for minders... My response was as follows.


Sir, If you read online grass roots terminology and responses, it makes Bob Geldof look like Mother Theresa, but with less hair. The thing about telling 'mainstream' (The real minority these days), how bad they are for not respecting the vulnerable and not giving enough money, by giving them a veritable mouthful of abuse, is just going to harden attitudes, and re-create Charitable Overload, an issue I have suffered with for 25 years with no relief... when will a charity be set up for that ?

Not a bad thing in itself, charity died years ago, they are all PLC's now. I'm amazed British mainstream still gives to charity as they do, given everyone and their dyslexic cat are demanding cash from them. What I also noticed as did charity from early on, positive images failed to get funds, you have to show Joe public how BAD things are before they give, or, put fur and four legs on them. Perhaps sending deaf children down coal mines and dressing them in rags might assist, albeit that image is a bit dated now and chimneys have gone the way of the Dodo, we could show ragged deaf urchins deprived of the latests game computers or designer gear, or not having enough pocket money to get stoned more than twice a week, real deprivation........Personally I and a lot of other grass roots deaf people, refused to participate in deaf charitable awareness week, we are just fed up with it.



It was half medical modelling and using 'celebs' (In as much as Michael Parkinson and Pete Stringfellow (WHO ?) are these people), as means to raise money, deliberately side-lining real deaf people, who have their own 'celebs' (I categorize myself as minus z-celeb status at present but am working my way downhill), real deaf people they look up or aspire to (Or take the pee out of in my case). Shock tactics don't really work, it didn't for smoking, didn't for drinking, doesn't for me, and doesn't for obesity etc. The thing about Joe Public is they insist that the right to kill and maim themselves it is an inalienable right, they will still expect you to pick up the tab when they are hospitalised, or need couselling though... who knows they may have made a contribution to taxes in a previous life...

I can just imagine an advert of a Hearing Boss telling a deaf employee "How Bluddy stupid are You ?" not exactly raising much money, but rather raising a fire storm from deaf and the politically correct overnight. I could see deaf cheering the exact opposite though... I suggest deaf using reverse discrimination on mainstream a lot more effective, IF, done with humour.

Yours Sincerely MM deaf person of this parish.

P.S. can you lend me a Fiver ?