Phone Breakthrough for Cheshire's Deaf Community
30/04/2012
Cheshire’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community is to be among the first in the UK to benefit from a groundbreaking communications system that will enable them to make and receive calls just like hearing people.
There are more than 90,000 people of all ages across Cheshire who are either profoundly deaf or affected by a degree of hearing loss that undermines their quality of life. The number is growing rapidly as a result of the ageing population.
This new breakthrough results from developments in broadband and new computer and telecoms devices. Leading local charity Deafness Support Network (DSN) is a founding member of national network DN:UK (Deaf Network UK) which seeks to provide nationwide on line services for deaf people.
From next month, deaf people will be able to order pizzas, book holidays, make appointments and talk to friends - just as conveniently as hearing people – through the evolution of on line interpreters on hand 24/7 to communicate a conversation between deaf and hearing people.
DSN’s Warrington premises have been selected to host a system that enables subscribers to call any phone number they wish and be automatically linked to an interpreter who will interpret the conversation.
The pioneering service will operate around the clock and businesses will be able to be featured in a directory of preferred suppliers.
“This is a major breakthrough and one which can immediately improve the lifestyle of deaf and deafened people ” said DSN Operations Executive Gill Reeder.
It will reduce isolation, increase equality of opportunity and enable thousands of deaf people for the first time to view and use telephone communication as a social tool rather than just a means of raising alarm.
“We’re very pleased to be to be founder members of DN:UK and to help roll out this brilliant new service on which will undoubtedly have a massive impact on the quality of life of Cheshire’s deaf community,” Gill added.
Having the freedom to communicate is vitally important for deaf people to ensure they don’t feel isolated and can have equal access to their community as hearing people.”
More details will be uploaded to the website in the next few weeks - watch this space!!