Gloucester have own BSL News channel for deaf.

FOR many deaf and hard-of-hearing people, it can be difficult to find out what is going on in the county because of communication barriers.  But now a weekly video is being created by the team at Gloucestershire Deaf Association to help overcome this isolation.  Below is the most recent with a transcript....I'm  a little disappointed they are refusing to caption ...



Hi again. 

Delighted to be sharing with you this week's issue of our BSL video newsletter. Make sure you watch to the end - there's a treat in store for you. 

In this week's issue, Reg tells us about: 
* Snooker at Quedgeley with a profesisonal coach, if you're interested, contact
us.
* 11 December Christmas party for hard of hearing from 11am to 4pm.
* GDSSC children's Christmas Party on 8 December from 11am to 3pm.
* Can you help GDA at our street collections on 5th December at ASDA, Gloucester and 6th December at Cirencester Christmas Market?
* This Saturday is GDSSC social club from 6pm. Will be a chance to practice whist drive ready for next week's match.
* A reminder about the Pamper Evening tonight in aid of GDYZ .
* And finally, the weather!

Enjoy!!

GDA  give out news and events from the county in British Sign Language.  Project co-ordinator Reg Cobb is the man in front of the camera.  He said: "The deaf community are often very behind with the news and some deaf people's literacy levels don't match their intelligence, while others are isolated in rural areas. I met a man recently who has worked for a company for 34 years. He signed to me about his friend in a pub that can communicate in a small way with him.

"I discovered from his colleague that this man left years ago and the deaf man still talks about him.  "The latest video gave important details on how deaf people could use a special 999 text messaging service during the recent flooding if they ran into trouble.  "We also add a bit of humour to each video as well. I got soaked by a bucket of water in the last video when we covered the bad weather that was approaching."

The videos have sbeen well received, but chief executive Jenny Hopkins said they would not be providing subtitles for hearing people.   She said: "Deaf people live their lives not understanding what is going on around them because we all rely so heavily on being able to hear information.  "Hearing people will understand better the experience of what it means to have been born deaf."