Oct 28 - Deaf Awareness And Access To Police And Emergency Services Conference
A conference which has been organised by The Gibraltar Hearing Impaired and Tinnitus Association and which is supported by the Ministry of Equality, Social Services and the Elderly will take place on Wednesday 30th October at John Mackintosh Hall from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
There will be a number of presentations by local and overseas speakers including:
Dr Terry Riley (Hon) Arts, Chair of the British Deaf Association and member of the World Deaf Federation. Dr Riley has served ten years as Vice President of the European Union of the Deaf. His topic for this conference will be ‘Human Rights of Deaf People’.
Mr Chris Allan of Hassans will be delivering a talk on ‘Discrimination and the Need to Make Reasonable Adjustments in Employment’.
Mr Glen Barham MBE, UK Police Sgt, is the person who introduced Text Relay Service and Deaf Access to Police and Emergency Services in the Hampshire Constabulary. This was later applied throughout UK. His conference topic is ‘Deaf Access to Emergency Services’.
Mr Colin Thomson, a freelance BSL trainer, working with the NHS with adolescent children and as a deaf studies lecturer at South Nottingham College. For the past two years Mr Colin has tutored several BSL courses in Gibraltar. He will be making a presentation on deaf awareness.
Mr Joe Brugada conference organiser will also be making an address.
Speakers will have the support of two BSL interpreters Ms Jill Newlands and Mr Rob Smillie, for the benefit of the profoundly deaf and hearing participants at the conference.
Invitations have been extended to professionals within the public and private sector.
Minister Samantha Sacramento said “This conference is an example of a solid working relationship between HM Government of Gibraltar and a non-governmental association and, also reflects our commitment in assisting the integration of people with disabilities in our community”.
