A British Sign Language (BSL) film has been launched to highlight the difference between emergency and non-emergency SMS numbers for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
The film shows different scenarios and gives advice on what is considered an emergency and what is not, and how Deaf people or those hard of hearing can contact the police using SMS texts.
Robin Ash, the Empowerment Officer from the British Deaf Association (BDA), was successful in receiving funding from the Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioners Crime Prevention Grant.
Over the last year he has worked together with Deaf volunteers from Derby and Chesterfield Deaf forums, with support from Derbyshire Constabulary PLOD Manager (Police Link Officer for People who are Deaf) Jane Birkin to produce the film.
There are four separate sections, ‘At Home’, ‘On the road’, ‘Out and About’ and ‘Witnessing a Crime’ with an example of an emergency and non-emergency scenario for each. The content was been supplied by Derbyshire Constabulary.
During the process, the constabulary’s Deaf Advisory Group were consulted with and the film was showcased to the City and County Deaf forums and to a Deaf hate crime seminar held by the BDA in Derby last year.
Robin Ash, BDA Access and Inclusion Officer, said:
“This project has been a huge learning curve for us all. To work in partnership with so many organisations, to share experience’s and ideas, to involve the cultural element of our language and how information is delivered, the role-play and working within guidelines has benefitted us all. Working in partnership with the Deaf community, for them to participate is key and for them to be involved in the process.”
