As part of Deaf Awareness Week, the message to staff and students who are d/Deaf* or hard of hearing is that we are here to support you.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Christopher Snowden is the University’s Diversity Champion:
“We are an inclusive University and we want to support all our staff and students, whatever their disability.
“I’m proud of the fact that last December we were the first University to achieve Disability Confident Leader status. This demonstrates our commitment to disability equality and challenges negative attitudes and ensures that all staff have the opportunity to achieve their full potential.”
Lesley Taunton, who has a severe hearing loss and works in Communications and Marketing, says:
“I know first-hand how difficult it can be in the workplace. Little things like people covering their mouths with their hand when they speak, noisy offices, people talking over each other in meetings.
“Employers are obliged to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to help you, such as amplified phones or induction loops. The first step is letting your line manager and colleagues know that you are struggling and that you need some extra help.”
There are lots of good practices and activities at the University to help people with hearing loss. Our Auditory Implant Service carries out ground-breaking research which translates into benefits for people with hearing impairment.
We run free online courses and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) and we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities every year.
The University is working to improve its support for staff and students throughout their time here. As such the Disability Steering Group, comprised of individuals with a range of disabilities including deafness, works to ensure these standards are consistent and relevant to the University community.
The University will shortly be joining the Business Disability Forum (BDF), the UK’s leading employers’ organisation on disability and, supported by the Disability Steering Group, we will apply for the Disability Standard to measure and improve our progress towards becoming disability-smart.
Further support
Students:
Talk to Enabling Services, who can support a wide range of disabilities and health conditions.
Staff:
Talk to your line manager and colleagues to create a better understanding of your condition. Explore support that can be provided for you, including from Access to Work.
Talk to Health and Wellbeing, part of Health, Safety and Risk.
Activities and links:
Hearing Dogs 24 May 2018 11:00 – 15:00 Redbrick area, outside Building 42
Hearing Loss Simulation – what’s it like
*d/Deaf: We use the word ‘deaf’ to describe or identify anyone with a severe hearing problem. Sometimes it’s used for people who are severely hard of hearing too. Deaf with a capital D refers to people who have been deaf all their lives, or since before they started to learn to talk.
** Disability under the Equality Act 2010 is described as, “… a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.” You are legally protected from discrimination by this Act.
