BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE

SESSION AIMS

• Raise deaf awareness in order to break down barriers between the deaf & hearing community

• Promote the use of British Sign Language (BSL), as a form of communication with deaf people

SESSION PLAN

• Icebreaker• Deaf awareness• Introduction to BSL• Group work• Games• Certificates• Questions & answers• Feedback

ICEBREAKER

• Age related

• Genetic

• Exposure to loud noise

• Meningitis

• Stroke

• Viral infections

• Perforated (damaged) eardrum

• Multiple sclerosis

CAUSES OF HEARING LOSS

National Health Service (NHS) (2011) Hearing impairment (deafness) - Causes. [online]. United Kingdom: NHS. [Accessed 1 June 2013]. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hearing-impairment/Pages/Causes.aspx

LEVELS OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Mild deafness 25 to 39dB

Moderate deafness 40 to 69dB

Severe deafness 70 to 89dB

Profound deafness 90dB or more

National Health Service (NHS) (2011) Symptoms of hearing impairment. [online]. United Kingdom: NHS. [Accessed 30 May 2013]. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hearing-impairment/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

HEARING EQUIPMENT

Hearing aids Cochlear implant

COMMUNICATION

Deaf First(2013) Good communication tips. [online]. London: Oak Lodge School. [Accessed 1 June 2013]. Available at: http://www.deaf-first.org.uk/comm-tips.html

DO DON’T

Deaf person has your attention

Look away while speaking

Your face is in good light Over exaggerate lip pattern

Make eye contact Shout, talk too slow or too fast

Speak clearly & natural Stand near window or bright light

Keep your mouth visible All speak at once

Check deaf person understands

Change topic without warning

Use pencil & paper if stuck Feel embarrassed or give up

• Visual & gestural communication for deaf people

• Has its own grammatical structure & syntax

• Became a recognised language in (March) 2003

• Is used by 50,000-70,000 people in the UK

• Has regional variation

• Is not a universal language

WHAT IS BSL?

British-Sign.co.uk (2013) What is British sign language?. [online]. Guernsey: British-Sign.co.uk. [Accessed 28 May 2013]. Available at: http://www.british-sign.co.uk/british-sign-language-bsl/what-is-british-sign-language-bsl/

GROUP WORK

GAMES

ANY QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU