Video 10 of 11 in 'Disability and access'

Transcript - Examples of access provision
In court
A deaf defendant (or defender) in court proceedings uses BSL as his main form of communication. The court arranges for a qualified BSL interpreter to interpret and voiceover his evidence in court. This is likely to be a reasonable step for the court to have to take.


Probate
A probate office offers BSL interpreters for BSL users at probate appointments. This is likely to be a reasonable step for the probate office to have to take.
Bank services
A hearing-impaired person who lip-reads as her main form of communication wants a secured loan from a bank. In the initial stages it might be reasonable for the bank to communicate with her by providing printed literature or information displayed on a computer screen. However, before a secured loan agreement is signed, this particular bank usually gives a borrower an oral explanation of its contents.

At that stage it is likely to be reasonable, with the customers consent, for the bank to arrange for a qualified lip-speaker to be present so that any complex aspects of the agreement can be fully explained and communicated.
Subtitles on TV
A television broadcasting company provides teletext subtitles to some of its programmes. This allows viewers with a hearing impairment to follow the programmes more easily. This is likely to be a reasonable step for the broadcasting company to have to take.
A private club
A private club has a number of deaf members who use BSL. A member of staff attends a BSL sign language course so that he can communicate with the members. However, for special events, shows and presentations organised for all members, the club arranges for a BSL interpreter to attend. These are likely to be reasonable steps for the club to have to take.
Hospital Physiotherapy appointment
A hospital physiotherapist has a new patient who uses BSL as his main means of communication. The hospital arranges for a qualified BSL interpreter to be present at the initial assessment, which requires a good level of communication on both sides. At this initial assessment the physiotherapist and the disabled patient also discuss what other forms of communication services or aids would be suitable.
They agree that for major assessments a BSL interpreter will be used but that at routine treatment appointments they will communicate with a notepad and pen. This is because these appointments do not require the same level or intensity of communication. These are likely to be reasonable steps for the hospital to have to take.
School events
Several pupils at a primary school have deaf parents whose preferred means of communication is BSL. The parents communicate with their childrens class teachers individually through note-taking and lip-reading on a day-to-day basis. However, at a special event arranged for parents, the school arranges for a BSL interpreter to attend so that the required level of detail can be communicated between the parents and their childrens teachers. These are likely to be reasonable steps for the school to have to take.
Coach station
The operator of a coach station fits an induction loop system at its ticket office. This ensures that customers who have reduced hearing and use hearing aids are able to communicate effectively with the booking office staff. However, this does not help profoundly deaf customers. The operator of the coach company instructs its staff to take time to communicate by using a pen and notepad to discover what the customer wants and to give information.
Staff are also trained to speak looking directly at the customer to allow those customers who can lip-read to do so. These are likely to be reasonable steps for the coach station to have to take.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• British sign language
• UK