In a previous post, we said that we'd go through relevant articles in UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UK will be implementing this Convention in Spring 2009. In this post we will focus on Article... [...] more »

John Heppell (Nottingham East, Labour) To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future provision of simultaneous bilateral cochlear implant to those who require it. Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of... [...] more »

The first disability discrimination case has been brought against a recruitment agency, Sales Link Services, and won. The case in hand concerned a deaf person, Pauline Alexander: Although Alexander is deaf, that had not prevented her from formerly being director... [...] more »

Following the meeting with the Prime Minister in February, the Department for Children Schools and Families are planning to announce the publication of a tender for a project to improve access to and demand for BSL. The relevant DCSF... [...] more »

Go here. Says it all. Wonder if it was for a catalogue of condoms, to stop you having deaf babies ("RNID does not support the selection of a deaf embryo for IVF implantation where a hearing embryo is available")? And to think they churn ~£50 million smackers per annum, to look after us and in Scotland: to promote and encourage the prevention and mitigation of deafness and the better treatment, education, training, employment and welfare of people who are deaf or hard of hearing .... to promote, safeguard and protect the welfare of such people [...] more »

Yep, five years ago today, the Government announced that it recognised BSL as an official British language. Whoopee-do! A few months later, we had another (pre-planned) march through London to push for a BSL Act. [...] more »

As you may be aware I take interest over eugenics issue are-deaf-people-parasites-to-society ... now I came across this article on whats happening in Australia ONE of Australia’s first “designer babies” born from an embryo that doctors believed did not contain a cancer gene has failed, prompting a massive lawsuit. [...] more »

A petition was created by John Walker on ratifying British Sign Language under the UN Convention of Human Rights for People with Disabilities: On 30th March 2007, UK signed the Covention of Human Rights for People with Disabilities. This convention... [...] more »

Here's some other vlogs, blogs and forums on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, aka that Deaf Eugenics clause: Vlogs: Joey Baer's ASL Vlog (vlog by DE): WIPE THE DEAF COMMUNITY OUT?! What should we do? Blogs: Jared Evans: Paddy... [...] more »

Recognise Sign Language in Copenhagen Hooray for the Danish Deafies who marched last weekend!... [...] more »

Parliament is currently debating a National Concession for travel, meaning that concessionary will be available outside London. If for example you are Deaf and live in London, you will be eligible for a Freedom Pass allowing you free access to... [...] more »

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been debated in the House of Lords. Lord Ashley of Stoke (a Peer who is deafened), included a bit about deaf people in his speech. The relevant passage is... [...] more »

It seems that politicians are experts at not getting it. The latest from the House of Commons is that lipreading classes and learning sign language is not a skill for life. This obviously comes down to funding, not being classed... [...] more »

We all have to get in contact with authorities from time to time. We need a new passport, need a driving liscence, have to claim for social benefits or whatever. Deaf people are no exception to this and for a very long time a Deaf person would have to put up with writing down things, which for many Deaf people is quite an effort and does not provide very reliable information, or they would have to bring an interpreter on their own expenses or on the expenses of the local Deaf Association. [...] more »

Boing Boing is carrying a post about subtitlers getting arrested: In Krakow, Slask, Podlasie, and Szczecin, police arrived at the suspected subtitlers’ homes at 6 a.m. — and took them into custody. [...] more »