Terry: I am hard of hearing and use lipspeakers from time to time. How do I know who to book?
Lesley: Very good question. Every person’s needs are different. You explained to me that you are new to using lipspeakers and that you find some signs being used added to the meaning and that you also found that in turn, this meant the lipreading was less tiring. You would benefit from using lipspeakers who can sign.
Terry: Why do we have two associations and how are they different?
Lesley: There was a growing need to separate lipspeakers who can sign from those who can’t. Lipspeakers would arrive for a booking where lipspeaking with sign was required and they didn’t have the necessary skills to support the deaf person. This meant the deaf person was left without support, the lipspeaker was often left feeling upset or disappointed that the right questions had not been asked at the time of booking to ensure the right support professional had been booked and public money was wasted on having to rebook the correct professional. The impact on a deaf person is huge. Imagine going to an interview for a job. You’ve booked a lipspeaker with sign but the agency hasn’t requested such. A professional lipspeaker turns up but they can’t sign. You can’t continue with the interview. The prospective employer doesn’t understand why the support was incorrect. The interview can’t go ahead. All sorts of ramifications.
The new directory will make it clearer and easier for deaf people who specifically need a lipspeaker who can use signs to support meaning to book the right support; the support professional that best matches their needs. Of course lipspeakers who satisfy the criteria can be members of both associations.
Terry: Who started ALAS?
Lesley: In short, I did. With a great of help and support from many lipspeakers and one in particular; Linzi, my daughter but also a qualified lipspeaker who has British Sign Language (BSL) Level 3 qualifications. I was the former Chair, Vice-Chair, treasurer and a long standing committee member for the ALS (The Association of Lipspeakers) and have over 15 years of committee experience including being the ladies representative at board level for my local rugby club and former registrant member of the NRCPD board. This made me confident of not only the need for change, but that I was able to start the association from scratch, make it a professional association that meaningfully supported lipspeakers and deaf people.
Terry: What happened to the ALS?
Lesley: The ALS is now over twenty years old and well established. Indeed, I was Chair from 2013-2016 and made many improvements. For example, I introduced internet banking, a new dynamic website, an established social media presence, 3 opportunities a year to obtain continued professional development (CPD) points for learning and development and saved the association spending out precious funds on travelling to meetings by introducing committee meetings through Skype. After successfully completing my Chairmanwomanship I soon saw that the incoming Chair had a different way of working and I no longer felt able to support the ALS.
Terry: So the ALAS was all your idea?
Lesley: No. The Association of Lipspeakers with Additional Sign (ALAS) was created as a response to the communication needs of deaf people. A response to the growing demand for communication support in English, with signs borrowed from the complex British Sign Language. Deaf people are relying more and more on a service that on paper doesn’t exist.
Let me quote a deaf person who chooses to use lipspeakers with additional sign. Jane Cordell, explains:
‘Being deaf in a hearing world is challenging and potentially isolating. Innovation which improves the quality of the support we receive is welcome. When you are deaf you have no choice but to use any visual signals you can access to help you understand a situation. There are no rigid boundaries about ‘types’ of deafness – we all need to work hard to understand sound, whatever our preferences for communication. Many English sounds are ambiguous. We join beginnings and ends of words and lipreading without specialist support risks us completely missing important messages. In some cases – for example in health settings -this can be risky and dangerous and in others it can simply undermine us – which reinforces the isolation we can feel. I realised this many years ago when learning to lipread and trying to use my skills to develop my career. I encouraged any lipspeakers I used to add signs when they could, because it provided a crucial extra ‘safety net’ layer of meaning and reduced the risk of me misunderstanding.I have noticed colleagues who had previously used either BSL interpreters or lipspeakers sometimes opting for this type of support because it gave them more accurate understanding.
ALAS is a welcome addition to the family of professional bodies which do such a good job of ensuring standards, security and safety among our superb support workers.”
Terry: Is Signed lipspeaking new or has it been around for sometime?
Lesley: Sign supported lipspeaking is nothing new. It’s recognising in a more formal way a service that will hopefully give rise to a national occupational standard (NOS) and a future qualification to set a standard. This qualification will be based on vocabulary competence rather than on BSL linguistics and will be something to measure against to protect the user and registrant. I was part of the team that created the NOS for the new lipspeaking qualification so feel well placed to take this forward to realisation.
Terry: How do I know what level of lipspeaker to book?
Lesley: You should only book NRCPD registered level 3 lipspeakers who carry a badge. A lipspeaker with level one BSL would be hard pushed to say they can offer lipspeaking with sign support (unless the topic was dates, times and countries) but those who have completed level 2 and are working towards level 3 are capable of providing a service as their knowledge of BSL vocabulary is far better. Some deaf people, however, will require sign competence of level 6. This is easy to identify on the directory and each lipspeaker must declare their BSL skill level; some lipspeakers like me are also trainee (TSLI) and qualified BSL interpreters (RSLI).
This differs from sign supported English (SSE) as interpreters aren’t trained in lipspeaking. A clear lip pattern is essential, hence lipspeaking with sign support comes under the remit of the professional lipspeaker and not an interpreter.
A new website has been developed which includes a directory for members to advertise their skills and contact details. Everyone registered in this directory is a qualified, NRCPD registered level 3 lipspeaker with a minimum skill competence of level 2 BSL. There is now one directory for lipspeakers who can offer this type of support in response to the need for change.
Terry: How do you ensure members are kept up to date, professionally?
Lesley: Training will be available to those on the register to enhance the quality of support they offer. This will seek to promote best practice. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is important for all communication professionals. With so few lipspeakers in the UK, and previously only one association for lipspeakers, CPD opportunities were difficult to find and focused on lipspeaking skills. ALAS started by
Police Workshop – 7th April 2018
providing a minimum of 2 CPD opportunities annually for all members and these have included improving sign language vocabulary for lipspeakers and improving knowledge of public sector bodied such as the police. The training is open to deaf and hearing people. Please do check the website for details.
If you are qualified in lipspeaking and hold a minimum level 2 BSL you can join as a full member. If you don’t have the minimum qualifications you can support the association by becoming an associate member. Student lipspeakers are also welcome to join.
If you are interested in lipspeaker training please do get in touch.
In partnership with Police Link Officers for Deaf people (PLOD), ALAS members attended an informative CPD day at Southampton Police station on Saturday 7th April 2108.
Members were given a comprehensive tour of the police station followed by a Q&A session with PLOD officers. This included the process for those being arrested, victims and witnesses. Lipspeaker Jay even managed to have his height checked in the custody suite.
In the afternoon members were given the opportunity to role-play the interview process with a PLOD officer, solicitor and deaf person. Feedback from the day was very positive and we look forward to working with PLOD again in 2019.
“Well presented programme with very useful handbook.”
“Small group and very interactive comments with police team.”
We are looking forward to welcoming ALAS members to our second CPD workshop. In conjunction with the police link officers for deaf people (PLOD) Chair Lesley Weatherson is hosting this informative day with colleague and fellow BSL Interpreter Glen Barham MBE.
“Many lipspeakers and BSL interpreters do not feel confident or competent to work in the police setting. We hope that by having a tour of the busy station, an insight into policies and procedures as well as an in-depth Q &A session with PLOD, Language service professionals will feel able to accept bookings and provide communication support for deaf people”.
In addition to the information sharing, the station are facilitating a role play exercise for attendees to have a go at lipspeaking an interview.
“It’s often the fear of the unknown. By lipspeaking for a deaf detainee whilst being filmed, looking back on the clip and self evaluating, ones skills and conduct will be enhanced and improved”.
The day will conclude with the inaugural AGM for ALAS.
See you there.
Lesley
Chair
ALAS is celebrating a successful first year! After establishing in January 2017 the association has 18 members and over 800 followers on Twitter.
With growing demand for lipspeaking with additional sign and with more lipspeakers now being trained, there was a need for a register that identifies lipspeakers who can sign from those who can’t.
Until ALAS established, opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD) had been limited for lipspeakers and therefore additional training days are needed. ALAS now offers additional opportunities to gain valuable CPD points. Their first two-day legal training workshop was sold out in a week!
We have had fantastic feedback to say our website is easy to use and clearly demonstrates the differences between lipspeaking, lipspeaking with additional signed support and British Sign Language.
We are excited to see what exciting things are yet to come in 2018!
Nick Oliver writes for Action on Hearing Loss and explains his most recent experience of using a Lipspeaker. Who was this lipspeaker I hear you asking……our very own membership secretary Linzi Weatherson. Enjoy!
Last Word (Action on Hearing Loss mag, Aug 2015)
It’s Lipreading Awareness Week 2017!
It has happened to us all, that moment when we have misheard a word, missed what someone has said, or just completely lipread them wrong. We want to know when has lipreading gone wrong for you? What words have caused confusion?!
Communication professionals, perhaps someone has misheard you, or been mistaken when you have given instruction.
Tweet us your funny stories for a chance to win one free place at our Signs in Context workshop taking place Friday 15th September 2017.
Competition closes 14/09/17 at 18:00 and the winner will be notified on Twitter at 19:00.
Good luck!
Hi everyone,
Please find below a link to DeafATW’s survey (in BSL and English) to get feedback from Deaf people with ATW who are or will be affected by the cap.
If you are capped, or will be capped in April 2018, please take the survey, and if you know people who are or will be capped, please send them the link.
The survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ATW_CAP
The survey mainly looks at what their budget is, why they need it to be that, what the impact of the cap is on their work, and what impact it has had on their thoughts about future work / career.
It builds on the work done with the ten Deaf people meeting with the DWP to discuss the cap in June. The results will be used to help DeafATW and the UKCoD Employment group, to campaign on the issue.
If you want to see more about the survey, the ATW cap, or about the meeting with DWP, in BSL and English, then goto: http://www.deafatw.com/updates
A reminder, the survey is for people who:
Have an ATW award AND
Are capped already, or will be capped in April 2018 AND
Live in England, Wales or Scotland (not Northern Ireland).
The survey is in BSL and English. People can answer in BSL, just need to contact me [email protected]
The survey closes Friday 22nd September.
Any questions,
please let me know.
Cheers Darren Townsend-Handscomb (RSLI, DeafATW)
Diana Barimore’s funeral will be held at 12:00 midday on Friday 22nd September at Mortlake Crematorium, Richmond, TW9 4EN.
Due to number restrictions, if you wish to attend please contact Lynne Dubin at [email protected]. If communication support is required please contact [email protected].
Please see below for a map and directions from Mortlake Station. There is adequate parking on site if you wish to travel by car.
In lieu of flowers for her funeral, Diana’s family have requested donations to be made in her memory to the National Association of Deafened People and MIND.
Dear Friends
With great sadness I am writing to tell you that Di died yesterday evening at 8pm after a great effort to stay connected in the face of huge odds for this past month.
We expect to hear more when her brother Stewart has had time to speak to the consultant and hospital staff.
The beautiful book of messages from you will give comfort to Di’s family.
Thank you for letting her know you were thinking of her and for providing such comfort to all those who loved and respected her.
with many thanks
Lynne and Lesley
Dear Members,
Our friend and colleague, Diana Barimore met with a dreadful accident last Sunday morning, 30th July, when taking her dog Bertie to her local park for his usual walk. Di was somehow in collision with a cyclist participating in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 2017 event. This crash has left Di with critical head injuries and in hospital, unconscious in the neuro ITU unit, where she remains. Her family have come down from Glasgow to be with her.
We all want to make sure Di knows we are thinking of her right now, wishing her a good recovery and sending her our love and support. However, we also know that is not possible for a while yet and so we are setting up ways for all who want to send something to write her a message and post it via ALS and ALAS. She will be surprised and delighted to read what we are writing to her today, once she is back with us and on the mend.
We will certainly send updates when we receive further news, but meantime do leave Di a message via the links below.
http://lipspeakigwithsign.co.uk/get-well-soon-di/
The page will require you to enter a password. This is for privacy of comments; this password is: GetWellDi
This password is one word and it is important that you use lower case and upper case letters.
Linzi Weatherson
ALAS Membership Secretary & Social Media Officer
Saturday 6th May saw NADP (National Association of Deafened People) and EFHOH (European Federation of Hard of Hearing) join forces to host the 2017 conference.
ALAS and ALS (Association of Lipspeakers) were both present to represent lipspeaking. Just like Deaf Day 2017, both organisations worked together to promote the communication preference.
Fiona Walker from ALAS, and Lynne Dubin from ALS were answering lots of questions and using their handy lipspeaking information cards made by Linzi Weatherson.
ALAS Information Cards
Saturday 22nd April saw City Lit host its annual Deaf Day! Our very own Fiona Walker was promoting lipspeaking with additional sign.
Jay weatherson was present to display lipspeaking, and even make a new ALAS recruit!
More and more deaf people are requesting lipspeakers to use some sign language vocabulary to support the meaning of the speaker, when lipspeaking. There are only a handful of lipspeakers who are able to offer this service and they aren’t always easy to find. In a response to the growing demand, ALAS was established.
On Monday 13th March ALAS launched! Keep your eyes peeled for introductory offers and exclusives!
Lesley Weatherson, founder of ALAS, presented the new association to NRCPD board in London 01/03/17. The board had the opportunity to ask questions, clarify aims and objectives as well as listen to Lesley’s pitch!
Lesley was part of a talented group of lipspeakers and deaf service users who created the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the Level 3 Certificate in Lipspeaking and would like to see a NOS created to set a standard for lipspeaking with sign.
“Deaf people are relying on a service that on paper, doesn’t exist”
Lesley would like to see a qualification created to set a standard; a qualification based on signs borrowed from BSL, vocabulary competence.
