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Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network

Adjustments and Aids for Working with Disabled People.

There are a variety of adjustments and aids that can assist people with different disabilities. If possible, always try to find out from the individuals concerned what would be their personal preference before making any adjustments or providing aids. Do not assume that people with the same disability require adjustments or aids, or that they would all want the same thing.

Working with People who are Blind/Visually Impaired

People with visual impairments use a range of mobility strategies – white stick, guide dog, hard won experience – and they vary enormously in degree and type of impairment. Many visually impaired people do have some vision, which can vary according to available light levels.

Your First Contact with a Visually Impaired Person

Phone calls or emails are good for initial contact. If you are giving information such as contact numbers or directions to a meeting place over the phone, don't rush – a visually impaired person might need a bit more time to write it down or record it. Email allows visually impaired people to set their own text size.

Alternative accessible communication formats

These formats include Braille, large print, audio cassette, computer disk and tactile drawings. With any alternative formats, it is unlikely there will be a big demand. It is therefore better to advertise that material can be made available on request, because this would obviously be much more cost effective.

Braille

Braille is used mainly by people who were born blind. This is actually a very small percentage (approximately 5%) of the visually impaired population. Most blind people who use Braille do not necessarily expect to be supplied with Braille versions of text. You could provide a version via computer instead which can be accessed by voice recognition software, or the blind person will create their own Braille version.

Large Print

The size recommended is 14pt. However, if possible ask what would be suitable. Experience shows that many visually impaired people use 16pt or larger. Most large print material can be generated on your computer with very little effort. If, however, your programme is producing glossy publicity material, then you will need to get your designer to produce a comparable large print version as an alternative that need not be in the same glossy materials. If you handwrite anything, try to use a dark felt-tip pen and clear, broad strokes.

Audio Recorded Access to Print

If specifically requested, printed material can also be provided on audio cassette or disc. Think carefully about what kind of document it is before you record it. Obviously the more complex the material, the longer it will take, so allow sufficient time. Audio recordings can be made with bleeps at intervals to indicate chapter beginnings or any reference point when fast-forwarding. This is called tone indexing and should be used in all but very short documents. Anything that is meant to be read and enjoyed by a sighted person should be taped with a human voice for a hearing impaired person, but sometimes very short documents are produced using an electronic voice.

Computer access to print

If you are producing an information leaflet yourself on the computer, remember it is easy to print it in a large sans serif font. Advertise that you have a large print version available. It is even easier to e-mail the document as an attachment. You can also provide material on a computer disk to allow people to either print it out themselves or get it to speak to them via talking software.

Working with People who are Deaf/Hearing Impaired

Your First Contact with a Deaf or Hearing Impaired Person

Deaf and hearing impaired people communicate in various ways. People who are born deaf are more likely to use Sign Language. People who become deaf may use Sign Supported Language, or lip read. Some deaf people use speech and rely on hearing aids. Others use a variety of forms of communication support: sign language interpreters, lip speakers, speech to text reporters, note takers, deafblind manual interpreters and hands-on signing.

Types of Communication Support

If you are interviewing, auditioning, recording or filming with deaf or hearing-impaired people, try to find out their communication requirements well in advance. Access for deaf people (as for all people with disabilities) really begins when you tell people that an event is happening. Try to find out what may be required by asking for feedback from your preliminary information, or advertise what support you plan to provide.

Sign Language and Sign Supported Language Interpreters

You may decide to include sign language interpretation at an interview or programme recording, or at least at some recordings. It is recommended that programmes that are recorded around the country should have full Sign Language provision to ensure that Sign Language users can participate in their own local event. This is necessary in those situations where it is impossible to determine the composition of the audience in advance. This ensures that no Sign Language user is excluded on arrival. If you decide to do this, you should publicise this as far in advance as possible. You should also print on the tickets for an audience the phrase "The recording will be interpreted into Sign Language."

There are two types of sign language, Sign Language and Sign Supported language. Sign Language is often the first language of people who are born deaf. It is very clearly a language in its own right with a grammar of its own. Sign supported language has signs based on the native language and is primarily used by people who have become deaf. Your deaf audience could be mixed. It is very important that you have an interpreter who, if necessary, can provide both versions.

You may find there is a shortage of trained interpreters so leave plenty of time to organise this (4-6 weeks is good, 2-3 weeks should be possible, 24 hours is usually too late). When booking, discuss the type of situation for which you need communication support – check that the interpreter's skills, experience and preferences match the job. Some will have expertise in signing for large groups while others work better with one-to-one or smaller groups. Make sure you brief the interpreter well ahead, giving details of any technical or difficult language which might crop up. Interpreters also appreciate being included at rehearsals.

Prices vary, expect to pay a fee plus travel expenses per day.

General rules

Lip Speakers can used to communicate with hearing impaired people who are lip readers. A lip speaker simply magnifies the lip shapes made when speaking so that the deaf person can lipread more easily.

Speech to Text Reporters

For people who are profoundly deaf, but are unable to use Sign Language or Sign Supported language, you need a speech to text arrangement which provides a text version of all speech happening during the interview or recording. There are a variety of ways in which this can be managed. Speech to text should be arranged ahead of time like sign language interpretation. Possible solutions include delayed autocue, Palantype or Stenography.

Palantype involves a trained Palantypist using a typewriter, which transcribes speech by block of letters rather than single letters. The transcription appears on a screen, which can be any size (a big screen for large gatherings, or on a laptop computer if only one or two people are reading it. Usually the deaf person sits next to the palantypist so that she or he can see the laptop screen). An alternative to the Palantype is a Stenographer who again uses a customised keyboard.

A Palentypist and a Stenographer, both speech to text reporters, essentially do the same thing. Their differences lie in the type of keyboard used (Palentype – a British device / Stenograph –- an American device). Whilst the fundamental principles of these keyboards are the same, there are minor mechanical differences.

Palentypists and Stenographers must be qualified to practice.

It is also possible within studios to set up customised systems depending on whether or not the show is pre-scripted. For instance, it may be possible to provide access to a delayed autocue.

Note takers

Note takers are generally used in meetings or lectures, to provide a set of notes for deaf people who are unable to watch the sign language interpreter and write notes at the same time.

Manual Interpreters and Hands-on Signing

Deafblind people rely on the interpreter spelling out words with the fingertips on the deafblind person's hand; or hands-on signing – the listener touches the hands of the person signing.

Hearing Enhancement Systems

A hearing enhancement system should be provided at events open to the public and at a studio recording. It is unlikely that you will have large numbers of people requiring use of a hearing enhancement system, so ideally you should advertise in advance if possible to get some idea of numbers. If you are unable to do this, remember to put a sign in the entrance area advertising the fact that this service is available. Some venues have seats designated for use by people requiring the hearing enhancement system.

These are of benefit to people who use hearing aids or who have a moderate degree of hearing loss, but do not benefit people who are profoundly deaf. The systems can be permanently installed or portable. New studios are starting to have hearing enhancement systems fitted. You will need to research the system, if any, that is installed at your studio or location. As with structural access, public-funded venues are often more accessible than private ones, and may have a system installed, but remember to ensure that it is working before the day of recording. Private venues are much less likely to have equipment like this.

There are three main types of system:

Induction loops

An induction loop is an insulated cable laid around the perimeter of a room or other space and driven from an amplifier linked to a microphone, PA system or TV. The hearing impaired person switches their hearing aid to the 'T' (receiving) position. The current in the loop generates a magnetic field that enables the hearing aid user to receive direct sound input from the source, free of distortion and extraneous noise.

These are simple and comparatively easy to install, but are probably not the best for use in broadcast situations. There are also portable loops available, which are not too expensive to buy. The important thing to remember when using a loop is that those using it have to be seated within the area of the loop itself. This is quite often forgotten with predictable consequences.

Infrared

If the venue has no system installed, you may need to arrange to hire a portable infrared system for the recording. Each person is given an individual receiver unit. You need to have sorted out a system for giving out and collecting the receiver units before and after the show. You also need to ensure that the batteries in the receiver units are fully charged before the recording, and that the receiver units are clean.

An infrared system converts sound into infrared light signals and beams it at the audience from a 'radiator' or transmitting panel (200 mm x 300mm) that covers an area of about 800 square metres. There is no real difference in sound quality between an installed system and a portable system. The signal is picked up through a special receiver worn by the user. These are available in two versions, one for use with a hearing aid (fitted with a 'T' receiving switch) or another type for use without hearing aids. Unfortunately in using an infra-red system, switching the hearing aid to 'T' (receiving) position will switch off the wearer's hearing aid microphone and so they will only hear sound introduced via the infrared system.

Radio systems

A radio system is the answer in a one-to-one situation where infrared is not effective, for example, if a hearing aid user were to be interviewed on location. Radio systems are also good for more advanced hearing aids and cochlear implants.

A radio system sends sound on a set regulated frequency via a radio transmitter to a special radio receiver worn discretely by the user, who is able to hear his/her own voice as well as the voice of the other person.

Deaf people as interviewees

Try to find out in advance the interviewees preferred method of communication and arrange the appropriate support.

Phone-ins

Whenever the public is given an opportunity to voice opinions in a programme such as a phone-in, it is crucial that disabled people are not excluded. Phone-ins not only present a barrier for deaf people, but also for people with speech impairments and for people with learning difficulties. This can be overcome by use of fax and e-mail, but remember that, when a fax or an e-mail is being used as a substitute for speaking on the phone, the producer has to think carefully before editing the message. It should be treated as far as possible in the same way as the spoken word, vetted for expletives and cut off if it is too long. To help people judge how much to write, clear instructions should be given as to length, based on the longest contribution that could reasonably be included in spoken form.

Of course, if people are being canvassed for views, or being asked to respond in some way during or to a programme, an alternative to the telephone such as fax and e-mail should be available as an accessible option. A text service can also be provided for hearing impaired people to send messages via their mobile phones. Or use Typetalk Relay Service.

Deaf People as Contestants in Game Shows

Fax, e-mail, post and text are the three main ways deaf people are most likely to register their interest in becoming a contestant in a programme. These should always be available. The gameshow "Who wants to be a Millionaire (WWM)" needed to find another way for deaf people or people with a speech impairment to become a contestant, (because the regular phone-in method of becoming a contestant on the show is obviously inaccessible). The solution the producers found was to use Typetalk.

How Typetalk Relay Service works

Typetalk is a relay service that allows a hearing person and a deaf person to communicate by telephone using an intermediary operator. The deaf person also needs to have use of a text phone (often called a minicom). A call can be initiated by either the deaf, or the hearing person, phoning the Typetalk operator, who then rings the other party. When the hearing person speaks, the operator will type his/her words onto a textphone. This typed message is then sent to the deaf person, who types his/her reply. This will be received by the operator and repeated to the hearing person. And so on.

You have to get used to the fact that you should not speak while typing is in progress and that the operator is not the person with whom the conversation is being held. This system is an extremely effective means of communication. It is good practice to have a text phone minicom in your office. However, to initiate a call you have to be registered with the Typetalk.

Please note Typetalk operates between the UK and other countries, but does not operate outside the UK from another country to another country. However different countries have their own similar Relay Services.

To access the game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" a deaf person phones Typetalk and the operator calls the WWM Typetalk number. The operator types the WWM message to the deaf person who types their responses back to operator. These are relayed in speech back to the WWM tape. WWM had to make a tape specifically for Typetalk to use with longer gaps to allow for typing, but that was the only adjustment needed. If a deaf person gets on to the show as a contestant, they would use Typetalk for the 'phone a friend' option. Many deaf people often have friends who are also deaf. A hearing contestant who wished to contact a deaf friend also used the same sort of assistance.

Checklist

Working with People who have a Mobility Impairment

There is a huge variation in degree of mobility amongst people who use wheelchairs or walking aids. You can attempt to ensure the basics of good access in advance but wherever possible discuss individual requirements.

Some people require a high level of accessibility, others will be able to manage a few steps or a short walk but may need to sit at regular intervals; some wheelchair users will find it acceptable to be lifted over or around obstacles, others find this painful, dangerous or undignified. Each person is the expert in his or her own access needs.

If you have invited wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments to be part of your programme, it essential that they are treated in the same way as other invitees. If people are regularly interviewed from their seat in the audience then clearly it is quite acceptable to do the same with disabled contributors. If interviewees are usually invited onto the stage or rostrum then it is not acceptable for their disabled counterparts to be forced to peer up from the audience area at the presenter who crouches down in order to make eye contact.

Try to choose accessible offices, studios, and locations, but where there is no choice, assess the difficulties and do everything possible to remove barriers or find alternative routes/solutions.

Checklist

Working with People who are Learning Disabled

Remember to keep language straightforward. Use simple text, symbols, and images.

Working with People who have a History of Mental Illness

People who have been diagnosed with a mental illness or who have a history of mental illness are often – and with good reason – reluctant to discuss their disability in a job interview. You can ease the process of making contact, meeting and working with people with mental illness in a number of ways, including: