The Big RNID Survey 2024
RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, are running a survey about your life experiences. Are you deaf, or do you have hearing loss? Then we want you to tell us what it’s like living in the UK today. This is the biggest survey RNID has ever run to understand public attitudes towards deaf people and people with hearing loss. We’ve asked the general public what they think about deafness and hearing loss and now – most importantly – we want to find out from our the deaf and hearing loss communities about their real-life experiences. Your opinion matters. It helps to educate, change people’s minds, and influence their behaviour. Share your experiences and help make a more inclusive society for all. There is also a chance to win one of five £100 shopping vouchers. More information: Start Survey
More people are needed for a flash mob performing a song in sign language at Westgate Centre, Oxford, for Deaf Awareness Week.
Lifestyle
How can astronomy be made a deaf-friendly career path? How can we encourage deaf students into the subject?
Just imagine being a scientist who has to text or (if their colleague understands it) fingerspell every star, planet and comet they are discussing with hearing colleagues.
Arthur first started at Birmingham Deaf School and then went onto Northampton Deaf Club. He was interested in sports and organised the MDSA's cricket matches. In the 1960's he became involved with the BDA, being the Secretary, then the Chair of the Midland Regional Council, organising many activities.
In 2008 Dr Arun Mehta, a disability rights activist, was making a speech in Bengalaru. He was talking about technology for disabled people when he felt someone touching his throat. It was Zamir Dhale, a Deafblind boy who was trying to understand him by feeling his Adam's apple vibrating.
Nicaraguan Sign Language is one of the world's youngest languages. Until the first Deaf school in 1977, the Nicaraguan Deaf community was isolated and languageless. After the Sandinista Revolution in 1979, Nicaraguan Sign was spontaneously created by deaf children gathered together in oralist schools run by East German teachers.
Martha's Vineyard is an island in Massachusetts and was home to the world's most famous Deaf community. Even though they were never more than a quarter of the population, nearly everyone used the local sign language which would go on to form the basis of ASL.