Deaf sector pulls together ahead of general election

Organisations concerned with deafness and hearing loss will be working collectively to influence the next government following agreement of a statement of common purpose.

Organisations are now from all sectors are now being asked to become founder signatories and promote the statement.

A campaign will be launched after the general election to raise awareness of the problems faced by people who are deaf or have a hearing loss and the solutions the sector is pursuing.

The aim is to take us closer to a world in which people who are deaf, Deaf, deafblind, deafened or hard of hearing are able to fulfil their potential.

It will benefit everyone who is deaf or has a hearing loss, whether they use sign language or  spoken language, have a cochlear implant or hearing aids, or see themselves as disabled or part of a cultural minority.

Craig Crowley, chief executive of Action Deafness, is chair of the task force that has produced the statement. Craig said: “We are pleased and encouraged that we’ve agreed this basis for collective work in a relatively short time.

“Everyone seems to have recognised a lack of common purpose has stopped us making the political and social progress on deafness and hearing loss we should have. We now have a firm platform from which to speak to government and the public.”

Jim Edwards, chair of the UK Council on Deafness, which led the initiative on behalf of its members, said: “In the past, organisations have focused on differences of opinion, rather than common aims. The focus this statement provides is an indication that’s changing.

“Because whatever we think about the importance of using this or that language, or the benefits of one or other medical intervention, we agree society shouldn’t hold someone back just because they are deaf or have a hearing loss.”

The statement has been designed and will be supported by not-for-profits, public sector organisations and companies. As well as a vision and mission, it describes how organisations will work together to achieve them.

It is the result of work established by the UK Council on Deafness and coordinated by a task force. For more information see http://deafcouncil.org.uk/category/commonpurpose.

If you want to be a founder signatory and help promote the statement please email dan.sumners@signature.org.uk.

Statement of common purpose

This statement is the basis for collective work by organisations concerned with deafness or hearing loss.

The organisations listed below are committed to the vision, mission and values. Any organisation concerned with deafness or hearing loss may join us as a signatory.

We use ‘deafness’ and ‘hearing loss’ to encompass people who are deaf, Deaf, deafblind, deafened and hard of hearing, whatever their chosen mode of communication or response to their deafness and hearing loss.

Vision

A world that benefits from people who are deaf or have a hearing loss being able to fulfil their potential.

Mission

To realise our vision we will work with people who are deaf or have a hearing loss to make sure they have equal access to all aspects of society by

• making sure access is available in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual;
• making sure people who are deaf or have a hearing loss can access all public services, giving special attention to education, health and social care, policing and justice;
• making sure government and others fulfil their obligations under legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
• making sure people who are deaf or have a hearing loss are central to discussions about issues affecting their lives, in particular the development of services;
• raising public awareness of deafness and hearing loss, the challenges faced by people who are deaf or have a hearing loss, the needs they have and the contribution they make;
• making sure the education of people who are deaf or have a hearing loss is delivered in environments which maximise linguistic, academic and social development and attainment;
• improving the education and training available to professionals providing services to people who are deaf or have a hearing loss;
• making sure people who are deaf or have a hearing loss can access employment and training in environments which maximise professional and social development and attainment;
• improving the quality and availability of information, advice and guidance for people who are deaf or have a hearing loss, and parents and carers of children who are deaf or have a hearing loss;
• improving the quality of services for people who are deaf or have a hearing loss, including assisting the research and development of technologies that improve access for and to people who are deaf or have a hearing loss; and
• preventing avoidable deafness and hearing loss by educating the public about the value of hearing and how to protect it.

Values

In carrying out our mission we

• collaborate: work together;
• are creative: explore new ideas and approaches.;
• use evidence: base our work on the best research and the experiences of people who are deaf or have a hearing loss;
• are inclusive: seek to involve all interested organisations and individuals in our work;
• have integrity: be open and honest about our work; and
• demonstrate respect: have due regard for the different views of individuals and organisations involved in our work.

Steering group

A steering group oversees progress on the following elements of the mission:

• making sure access is available in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual;
• making sure people who are deaf or have a hearing loss can access all public services, giving special attention to education, health and social care, policing and justice;
• making sure government and others fulfil their obligations under legislation such as the Equality Act 2010 and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and
• making sure people who are deaf or have a hearing loss are central to discussions about issues affecting their lives, in particular the development of services.

Mission groups

The following groups develop work on the elements of the mission:

• awareness: raising public awareness of deafness and hearing loss, the challenges faced by people who are deaf or have a hearing loss, the needs they have and the contribution they make;
• education: making sure the education of people who are deaf or have a hearing loss is delivered in environments which maximise linguistic, academic and social development and attainment; and improving the education and training available to professionals providing services to people who are deaf or have a hearing loss;
• employment: making sure people who are deaf or have a hearing loss can access employment and training in environments which maximise professional and social development and attainment;
• information: improving the quality and availability of information, advice and guidance for people who are deaf or have a hearing loss, and parents and carers of children who are deaf or have a hearing loss; and
• services: improving the quality of services for people who are deaf or have a hearing loss, including assisting the research and development of technologies that improve access for and to people who are deaf or have a hearing loss; and
• prevention: preventing avoidable deafness and hearing loss by educating the public about the value of hearing and how to protect it.

Planning

Each group has a plan for the year ahead. It usually includes

• issues that need to be addressed (aims);
• actions to address those issues (objectives);
• what will be produced (outputs);
• what will happen as a result (outcomes);
• the evidence that will be used or collected (evidence);
• organisations and individuals that need to be involved (partners);
• details of how other organisations and individuals can contribute (opportunities);
• how it will communicate its work to the sector and others (communication);
• resource requirements and ways to meet them (resources); and
• when it will do the work (timescale).

Resources

Signatories support our collective work where possible with resources such as

• staff time;
• rooms and other facilities;
• promotion of initiatives;
• sharing of research and other intelligence;
• sharing of contacts; and
• financial contributions.