Deaf and hard of hearing people’s commitment

We are working with Derby Deaf Forum, British Deaf Association and CamTAD - Campaign for Tackling Acquired Deafness - on the Commitment we signed up to in September 2013. This Commitment aims to provide equality for Deaf and hearing impaired people. 

We are busy looking at ways of making our services more accessible with the help of our Deaf and hearing impaired community.

What makes Derby’s commitment unique is that it covers equality for both Deaf people and hearing impaired people because that is what our Disabled People’s Diversity Forum felt it should be.

The commitment sets out six key pledges to improve access and the rights of Deaf and hearing impaired people.

1. Providing access for Deaf and hearing impaired people to information and services.
2. Promoting learning and high quality teaching of British Sign Language.
3. Promoting learning and high quality teaching of lip speaking skills.
4. Supporting families with Deaf or hearing impaired family members.
5. Making sure that when our employees are working with Deaf people that they can communicate effectively in British Sign Language.
6. Consulting with local Deaf and hearing impaired people regularly.

We have a Commitment Working Group, made up of Deaf and hearing impaired people and key officers who have produced an action plan to put make the commitment pledges happen.

We also meet quarterly with Deaf people in the community – Deaf People’s Forum – for them to let us know their views on our services.

The Commitment Working Group has produced a guide on Access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People. We also have an Accessible Communication Protocol which our employees work to.