Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) is marking Deaf Awareness Week from 7th to 13th May by running British Sign Language (BSL) taster sessions for its staff to raise awareness of communication with deaf and hard of hearing people.

The initiative is being delivered in partnership with Nottinghamshire Deaf Society (NDS) at four different NFRS premises throughout the county. The taster sessions are open to all staff and will cover basic communication skills and awareness, including the alphabet, useful tips and commonly used phrases when dealing with members of the public in a fire and rescue situation. 

Deaf Awareness Week is celebrated throughout the UK with the aim of improving understanding of the different types of deafness and methods of communication used by deaf, deaf blind and hard of hearing people, such as British Sign Language and lip-reading. There are nine million deaf or hard of hearing people in the UK, which represents one in seven of the total population.

Frances Connor, Chief Officer (Services) at Nottinghamshire Deaf Society, said: "We have been working with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service for many years and are delighted to support this latest initiative to further recognise the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people.

"Giving their staff the opportunity to have training during Deaf Awareness Week will not only give them a greater awareness, but will enable them to converse with deaf and hard of hearing people using basic communication skills."

 

For further information visit www.notts-fire.gov.uk 

 

Posted May 8th, 2012 at 1430 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com