Talking about dementia – a resource for deaf people
28th November, 2008 Jenny Posted in News | No Comments »
Sarah Burgess & Louise McAfferty Launch new DVD at SDWG AGM
Sarah and Louise launched this much needed new resource for Deaf people who are affected by dementia. The Deaf Connections Carers Group also traveled up for the launch. SDWG were really pleased that their DVD, Listening to the Experts, has been used as part of the content for the new DVD ensuring that some of their material is now accessible to people in the Deaf Community.
British Sign Language and subtitles
The DVD is in 3 sections over 2 discs. One disc translates the SDWG DVD fully into BSL (British Sign Language)– this also has subtitles so deaf and hearing people can watch together. The carers group talked about their experience of being a Deaf carer and the needs of their loved one. Two of Alzheimer Scotland’s leaflets have been translated into BSL telling people about dementia and where to go for help.
Some of the issues the presentation raised:
- Increased difficulty in getting a diagnosis – many professionals assessing do not use interpreters so communication is often very poor and incomplete
- No material available in BSL and the incorrect assumption being made that written information is just as good. BSL is main language – written material is like reading in a foreign language – some people do not read
- Very few services have staff fluent in BSL – Deaf people therefore often go without any service or support
- Deaf people placed in mainstream nursing home care often have a very lonely and unstimulted life with no-one around them able to communicate
- Lack of general awareness all round of the experiences and needs of people who are Deaf
Louise let us all experience what it must feel like not being able to understand something by running the DVD with no subtitles or voice over.
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