Mid-January 2011 e-news

We have now sent out our January e-news. If you have had problems viewing it, please let us know by emailing claire@deafworks.co.uk otherwise click above or read the text below:

Mid-January 2011

Five things before breakfast:

Teach Yourself British Sign Language.
Deafworks, along with Deaf author Paul Redfern, has published a groundbreaking new book complete with DVD with Hodder Education. It is the first book of its kind in teaching BSL grammar and sentence structures of BSL, not just simply vocabulary. Its available from all good bookshops at £24.99 or from Amazon at £13.99.

If you do buy the book, please do us a favour and write a review on Amazon!

Laraine Callow, Director Deafworks, is awarded an MBE for services to Deaf and Hearing Impaired people.
This honour was announced on New Year’s eve in the National Press and Laraine has been inundated with good wishes. The official presentation will take place at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 8th February 2011. See ‘Latest News’ on our website for an interview with Hackney Times & others.

A New Year Resolution for working with deaf colleagues
Ask the deaf person what they would like you to do to help (they might ask you “to speak more clearly” or “can you learn six new signs?” or even “remember to copy me in your emails so that I know what’s going on”)

A New Year Resolution for Deaf staff
Be clear and precise with your hearing colleagues. Often they don’t know what you need (even if it is obvious to you) and will appreciate some tips. How about “Let me choose the best place to sit in staff meetings so I can follow what’s going on” or “Can we have a quick briefing meeting before the larger meeting so I can prepare for it properly” or even simply “Can I teach you a couple of signs which would help us both”.

See you all next month and if you have any questions you’d like the Director (who is a trained problem solver) to answer in the next e-news, just email LC@deafworks.co.uk.