Report to the People
A Better Deal for Deaf People
One of the more unpleasant legacies of our industrial past is the affect it has had on our health.
In common with many former colleagues, the clamour and din of the yard has seriously damaged my hearing. I am, however, luckier than most. Thanks to modern technology, I can get by with a tiny in-ear hearing aid. But I can appreciate the frustration and isolation that can be felt by people with more profound hearing problems.
Our society has not responded to these problems successfully in the past.
In terms of education, deaf children were completely segregated from the other pupils. On the assumption that they were either stupid or unable to learn, deaf school leavers were denied opportunities in the workplace. Bureaucracy and officials made little effort to understand their needs. Indeed, it is still the case that the public services which we all take for granted are still difficult to access for deaf people.
Although advances have been made in recent years, these issues still need to be tackled. I have recently visited both the Garvel deaf school and the local deaf forum, who highlighted a number of issues facing the deaf community today.
A common thread runs through these issues. Whether integration of education, widening the use of sign language, or access to employment, the bottom line is the same: it is unacceptable to exclude people simply because they are deaf.
Politics is no exception. Having impaired hearing does not let you off paying your income tax, VAT or excise duty. So why should it exclude you from the political process?
There are signs, however, that the Scottish Parliament is beginning to take this seriously. We have already held a debate on British Sign Language with, for the first time ever, signers for the deaf in the chamber.
Those of you who read this column last week will recall the growing influence of Cross Party Groups in the Parliament. In another positive move, my colleague, the MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Cathie Craigie, is currently setting up a group on deafness.
I intend to be active in this group which aims to provide a focus for the discussion of issues which affect deaf people. It will allow politicians from all parties and others to explore how the Parliament can start giving a better deal to deaf people.
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