We have updated our counselling page: have a look here.

Teach Yourself British Sign Language
Our book and DVD now has 7 great reviews on Amazon (and five gold stars). Thank you so much to those who have posted them! If you find the reviews useful, click on the ‘helpful’ button.
Why not watch Paul Redfern signing about the process of writing the book on YouTube (there’s a transcript on our website as well).

Calling Deaf Professionals
We are thinking about developing a running blog showcasing a wide range of Deaf Professionals. It could feature photographs and commentaries of interesting Deaf Professionals who are positive role models to students, school leavers and the wider Deaf Community, plus those who work in social services, local councils, in fact everywhere. If you know someone who fits the bill, let us know. Otherwise: watch this space! 

Valentine’s Day: Love your Deaf colleague
February is a romantic month, but how about working on the strength of your relationship with a deaf colleague? Here are some tips to get you started.
1. If an interpreter doesn’t turn up for a meeting, take notes for your deaf colleague (rather than cancelling the meeting and annoying everyone who will then blame the deaf colleague – do check first though).
2.  If you are a line manager then make full use of email and face-to-face meetings to discuss issues with deaf colleagues who may not be in the loop.
3. Choose a pub that isn’t too noisy, or ask your deaf colleague which is the best one to go to for a staff night out.
4. When choosing a restaurant, make sure it is well lit, or ask a deaf colleague which one is most suitable.
5. Be on your deaf colleague’s side. If a venue dims the lights late in the evening, request on their behalf that the lights be kept on for your area for better communication.
Spread the love!

The Full Works
Wish you had the opportunity to move up or move on in your job? Would you like ideas on how to overcome obstacles in your way? Frustrated with communication with your colleagues? Would you like to talk to someone about progressing in your career? Click onto our website for more info so we can support you in the way you want. By the way, this is open to both Deaf and hearing people.   

Art Galleries and Museums: Let us help you expand and support deaf audiences
Are you thinking about how to make your venue more deaf friendly, and want it to be more accessible to deaf visitors and deaf arts practitioners? We will give you practical advice and support which will make your aims easier to achieve and will address your concerns. This can be on a one-off basis, or over an agreed period. Email njc@deafworks.co.uk or give Nick Callow a ring on 020 7689 0033 to discuss your initial ideas. In the meantime why not post your BSL talks on www.magicdeaf.org.uk and Facebook Arts Events London?  

Website
We are continually updating our website. This month our newly improved pages are: ’Legal Reports‘, ‘Laraine Callow’s MBE‘, ‘Coaching you for your interview‘. Have a look! Let us know if there’s anything in particular you would like to see.

P.S. Apologies
We are sorry if you have received this e-newsletter on your personal email. Blame the returning gremlin – our apologies. Simply click on ‘unsubscribe’ below.

Train to Gain
Are you a Deaf Senior Manager or Chief Executive of a charity, business or social enterprise? Do you need some coaching to strengthen your strategic leadership? This popular government scheme ‘Train to Gain’ will enable you to have a series of part-sponsored, tailored, one-to-one coaching sessions with Laraine. Let us know asap as the funding is about to end and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on it! Email Laraine if you want to discuss this further, or look at the two links below.
www.deafworks.co.uk/our-services/deaf-professionals-training/
www.traintogain.gov.uk/

New Year e-news
Apologies to some of you who weren’t able to view our last e-news correctly (and were instead presented with a black screen). The Firefox gremlin has now been expelled (hopefully never to return). Click onto www.deafworks.co.uk/2011/01/january-e-news/
to see the New Year e-news. Tim of Cybacat sends his apologies and will be doing his utmost to stand guard over all gremlins!

New Year resolutions
Thanks to all those who responded to our tips for deaf and hearing people working together. Good to know what readers find helpful. Here are some more tips:

Top Tips when thinking about becoming a (deaf) manager
So you are thinking about becoming a manager? Does the thought terrify you or would you look forward to the challenge? There are several things you can do to prepare for management: and rushing out to get a management qualification is not necessarily the first step.
1. Think about why you want to be a manager. What attracts you? Is it the pay? Opportunity to do more? Status? Keen to be more involved in the organisation? Once you know that, then you can look for the right kind of management post.
2. Did someone else encourage you to think about becoming a manager? If so, why? Do they think you have good organisational skills? Leadership skills? What makes them think you’ll be a good manager? You might be surprised at their answers.
3. You are suspicious that this is “tokenism”. So what? Just get your foot in the door and make sure the tokenism quickly becomes a non-issue. Talk to people if you are concerned, and try and identify what it is that is making you feel uncomfortable.
For 7 more tips click onto http://www.deafworks.co.uk/resources/top-tips/ten-top-tips-when-thinking-about-becoming-a-deaf-manager/

Teach Yourself BSL on YouTube
We are pleased to see reviews for the TYBSL book and DVD are starting to appear on Amazon. You can now see Deaf author Paul Redfern on YouTube explaining, in BSL, how he came to write the book. For those of you who can sign click here www.youtube.com/deafworksuk. For others, captions will be added within the next couple of days.

Deaf Awareness Guide
Deafworks has produced two guides so far: Improve your BSL and Access for deaf people to museums and galleries. Our next publication will be a Deaf Awareness Guide. What would you like to see in this Guide? What would make the biggest difference to you – as a Deaf or hearing person?

See you next month!

P.S.
Many thanks for all your good wishes to Laraine on being awarded her MBE. She has received 300 well wishes so far and counting!