The Sensory Support Service says it is delighted to launch the creation of Deaf Awareness cards to help deaf users to communicate more effectively with its health care staff and when out and about in their local community.
Ursla O’Neill, Team Leader, Sensory Support Services based at Old Bridge House, Waterside, Derry, explained: “The Deaf Awareness cards were designed in conjunction with our deaf users, who attend to a user group every quarter.
“The service users are able to keep the cards in their wallets to help with communication when in public – for example in a café they could use it with counter staff so they understand they are a sign language user. Or in the bank/ GP/ hospital.
“The card can be used in any situation if they get into difficulty and are unable to make themselves understood. It will provide details of the sign language used either Irish or British.
“The card is also designed to have users next of kin/family contact on the back of the card.
“In some circumstances the phone number is there if a staff member needs to speak to a hearing relative for more information, or in an emergency situation which will be beneficial to obtaining information that cannot be relayed by the Deaf person at that time.
“The Deaf User group are very pleased with the cards which have been individualised for each person and we have had requests from other Deaf users to have these the cards made available for those who were unable to attend on the day they were issued.”
Pictured are some of the group members who created the Deaf Awareness Cards along with Ursla O’Neill and Naomi Fujitani, Deaf advocate for the British Deaf Association who jointly run the Deaf user group on a quarterly basis.
For more information please contact Ursla O’Neill on T: (028) 71320167 or email: [email protected]
