Focus on: Hands That Talk

Hands That Talk is the only Deaf and hearing community organisation of its kind in the province. We adopt a holistic approach to the plight of the Deaf community by offering wide ranging opportunities, in an attempt to redress the imbalance of unemployment, marginalisation, poor self-esteem and exclusion which deaf and hard of hearing people experience.

History

Hands That Talk is a project that came into being as a direct response to the enormous deficit in provision for those people in our community who are either deaf or suffer from some form of hearing impairment.

Originally established as a local initiative in Dungiven Community Resource Centre, we have been forced to relocate to larger premises to allow the demands on our resources to be met.

A much larger purpose-built centre on a site provided by Limavady Council will soon replace the current premises in Main Street Dungiven. This generous offer of the lease of a prime site is recognition of the ever-increasing demand for the services we offer and of the dedication of the project members.

We currently employ 8 staff – including 3 deaf tutors. We are in the process of recruiting 1 additional full-time Sign Language tutor. The project relies on volunteers from all sections of the community and since its establishment in February 2000 has grown to be the largest Deaf community group in the country with 29 voluntary workers who can Sign and are Deaf Aware.

Our Aims:

The project has five basic aims:

• To improve the quality of life for deaf people
• To promote social inclusion and equal opportunities
• To help provide access to education, services and employment
• To improve communication between deaf and hearing people
• To help eliminate discrimination against deaf people

In order to meet these aims we have developed a wide range of services.

Our services

Hands That Talk provides a wide range of services for the community.

Hands That Talk Interpreting Service

Our Interpreting Service can be accessed across Northern Ireland. This ensures better access to good and services for the Deaf Community

Educational Courses:

We provide a number of educational courses, including:

• Basic ICT
• Essential Skills
• BSL/ISL levels 1 & 2
• Developing Awareness and Communication with Deaf and Deafblind People
• NVQ 3&4 ISL/BSL
• Introduction to Interpreting

Educational Resources:

Hands That Talk has produced the following educational resources:

• ISL Picture Dictionary
• ISL Tutor Manual
• ISL Student Manual
• ISL Tutor Pack
• ISL DVD to support Level 1 CACDP
• ISL Poster of Everyday Signs
• BSL Level 1 Unit 101 Student Manual
• BSL Level 1 Unit 101 Tutor Manual
• BSL Poster of Everyday Signs

We are currently developing Tutor and Students Manuals to support CACDP BSL Level 1 Units 102 and 103 and Sign Language resources for use in Primary Schools

Training:

A key role for the organisation is to facilitate training within the area. For example, we have facilitated the following training courses:

• Workshops for Interpreters
• Workshops for Sign Language Tutors
• Child Protection
• ICT – one to one training
• Committee Training

Tutor Group:

A Tutor Group was formed in 2003 to bring us into line with mainstream education, This group currently has 12 members and we have appointed an advisory tutor to train, advise and monitor our probationary and junior tutors.

This is to ensure:

• a high standard of teaching,
• good resources,
• the use or up-to-date signs, and
• a standardised approach to the delivery of Sign Language.

The creation of tutor group is an important step since Sign Language is now recognised as a language in its own right and of equal status to other European languages.

Recreational Activities:

As well as providing formal training we aim to provide recreational and social activities. Our recent activities have included:

• Flower Arranging
• Drama/Mime
• Tai Chi
• Line Dancing
• Curling
• Quiz nightsWeekend trips/visits to Deaf Clubs visits to other Deaf clubs

Social Club:

Our social club is a very popular part of our activities. At the club users can play:

• Darts
• Pool
• Cards
• Computer Games

On first Friday of every month hearing students from other centres meet to practise their sign language skills with our deaf members. This initiative fosters a real sense of inclusion and community

We also hold regular adult functions such as discos/dances, buffet suppers and barbecues

Seminars:

• Drug & Alcohol abuse
• Health issues such as Cancer Awareness, Healthy Eating
• Equal Opportunities, Discrimination, Employment Issues

Welfare Rights:

We believe that we have a key role to play in ensuring that members of the community are kept informed of their rights. We have developed a close link with Citizens Advice to help us do this more effectively. Representatives from Citizens Advice Bureau and RNID visit each month to provide one-to-one advice on Welfare Rights and help with form-filling.

Family Support

We organise support for parents of deaf children, partners of deaf adults, and children of deaf partners

• Healthy Eating
• Mental Health Awareness
• Stress Management
• Anger Management

Kids Club

The Saturday club for children from the Deaf Community was launched in November 03. Seasonal Activities include Cross Community Carol Services, Halloween and Christmas parties, Signed performances. An outdoor pursuits activity day is planned for August 07.

Senior Citizens Luncheon Club

Senior Citizens Luncheon will begin Sept 07 and run monthly.

Upcoming events at Hands that Talk

We are currently working on the launch of The Big Lottery Reaching Communities Award. The award of £500,000 will fund 5 key staff posts, project costs and running costs for the next 5 years.

Other upcoming events include

• Developing Awareness and Communication with Deaf and Deafblind People
  Starts Tuesday 08 May 7pm -9pm and again in September.
• Stress Management
  A 6 week course beginning Wednesday 16 May 11am – 1pm
• BSL/ISL courses
  We run these frequently, just contact the centre for details
• Annual General Meeting
  Friday 15 June 07 at 7.30pm
• BBQ
  Friday 22 June 07 – 8pm
• Senior Citizens Luncheon
  Beginning September 07 and will run monthly.
• Introduction to Interpreting
  This is a 1 year stand alone course leading to Junior Trainee Interpreter status. The course will run on Wednesday evenings starting on 05 Sept