Improving Access for Deaf Visitors Linda Ellis, Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service linda.ellis@wolverhampton.gov.uk

d/Deaf Visitors The term Deaf is used for people that use sign language as their first language People who use sign language as their first language tend to have lower reading skills than those whose first language is English Some deaf people us sign supported English rather than British sign language British sign language was recognised as an official language in March 2003 Not all d/Deaf people can lip read Deaf people are one of the most excluded groups in our society

The term Deaf is used for people that use sign language as their first language

People who use sign language as their first language tend to have lower reading skills than those whose first language is English

Some deaf people us sign supported English rather than British sign language

British sign language was recognised as an official language in March 2003

Not all d/Deaf people can lip read

Deaf people are one of the most excluded groups in our society

Our Deaf visitors told us they wanted: Any written information to be as short and as simple as possible Information in sign language (BSL) To be able to explore the exhibits independently To hear stories about local people and about museum objects Events just for Deaf people

Any written information to be as short and as simple as possible

Information in sign language (BSL)

To be able to explore the exhibits independently

To hear stories about local people and about museum objects

Events just for Deaf people

Signed videos that Deaf visitors can watch on hand held MP3 players and on our website Our Solution

Our Solution Wrote information specifically aimed at Deaf visitors as we didn’t have material we felt was suitable Translated the English text into British sign language which was then filmed Signing by local Deaf people not interpreters Videos filmed on site rather than in a studio Put videos on our website to tell Deaf visitors what to expect when they visit Put videos on our website to tell Deaf visitors what to expect when they visit Developed a guide made up of a number of short videos which visitors watch on a hand held player

Wrote information specifically aimed at Deaf visitors as we didn’t have material we felt was suitable

Translated the English text into British sign language which was then filmed

Signing by local Deaf people not interpreters

Videos filmed on site rather than in a studio

Put videos on our website to tell Deaf visitors what to expect when they visit

Put videos on our website to tell Deaf visitors what to expect when they visit

Developed a guide made up of a number of short videos which visitors watch on a hand held player

Its not rocket science and you probably do some of it already … Make sure any text you write is simple and straightforward If you have audio guides, provide a written version or develop a written alternative If you can afford it, develop signed interpretation with subtitles and an English voice over Add subtitles to any videos you produce Provide d/Deaf awareness training for all staff and volunteers Organise events lead by Deaf people as well as providing interpreters Have a mobile phone for text messages Send email alerts to Deaf contacts

Make sure any text you write is simple and straightforward

If you have audio guides, provide a written version or develop a written alternative

If you can afford it, develop signed interpretation with subtitles and an English voice over

Add subtitles to any videos you produce

Provide d/Deaf awareness training for all staff and volunteers

Organise events lead by Deaf people as well as providing interpreters

Have a mobile phone for text messages

Send email alerts to Deaf contacts