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Deaf people lobby MPs over phones | Deaf people lobby MPs over phones |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Deaf campaigners fighting for equal access to the telephone are lobbying MPs at a reception in parliament. | Deaf campaigners fighting for equal access to the telephone are lobbying MPs at a reception in parliament. |
Consortium group TAG said deaf people are being held back in their jobs and lives because phone technology is no longer easily available or affordable. | Consortium group TAG said deaf people are being held back in their jobs and lives because phone technology is no longer easily available or affordable. |
Chairman Ruth Myers said it was vital services keep pace with technology. | Chairman Ruth Myers said it was vital services keep pace with technology. |
The deaf are able to communicate using phone systems which either turn speech into text and vice versa or use sign language interpreters via video link. | |
Another system called captioned telephony, which uses speech recognition technology to convert an operatorâs voice into text, closed in December for funding reasons. | Another system called captioned telephony, which uses speech recognition technology to convert an operatorâs voice into text, closed in December for funding reasons. |
Ms Myers said: "No-one can participate fully in todayâs fast-moving society without easy and affordable access to the telephone. | Ms Myers said: "No-one can participate fully in todayâs fast-moving society without easy and affordable access to the telephone. |
DEAF TELEPHONE SERVICES Text relay - allows deaf people to type a message an operator reads out on their behalfVideo relay - employs webcams to allow the deaf to use sign language to communicate via an operatorCaptioned telephony - uses speech recognition software to convert a relay operator's voice into text that can be read by a deaf caller | DEAF TELEPHONE SERVICES Text relay - allows deaf people to type a message an operator reads out on their behalfVideo relay - employs webcams to allow the deaf to use sign language to communicate via an operatorCaptioned telephony - uses speech recognition software to convert a relay operator's voice into text that can be read by a deaf caller |
"Much better access has been shown to be within grasp, but most of the services that deliver it have folded because they are too expensive for deaf individuals." | "Much better access has been shown to be within grasp, but most of the services that deliver it have folded because they are too expensive for deaf individuals." |
TAG's reception for MPs is being held at Portcullis House under its campaign "Bringing Deaf Telecoms into the 21st Century". | TAG's reception for MPs is being held at Portcullis House under its campaign "Bringing Deaf Telecoms into the 21st Century". |
The group represents all the main UK deaf organisations concerned with telecoms and broadcasting. | The group represents all the main UK deaf organisations concerned with telecoms and broadcasting. |
Alan Goldsmith, a European quality manager for a global chemical company, used captioned telephony in the UK until the service closed. | Alan Goldsmith, a European quality manager for a global chemical company, used captioned telephony in the UK until the service closed. |
He told BBC News: "About five years ago, I learned about captioned telephony and it far exceeded my expectations. | He told BBC News: "About five years ago, I learned about captioned telephony and it far exceeded my expectations. |
"Not only could I assess emotions in the call, I could also participate in conference calls - something I could not do previously with the old-style relay service. | "Not only could I assess emotions in the call, I could also participate in conference calls - something I could not do previously with the old-style relay service. |
This is an increasing and unintended form of discrimination that must be rectified Malcolm Bruce MP âAll my European work colleagues contacting me by phone thought my hearing had returned! | This is an increasing and unintended form of discrimination that must be rectified Malcolm Bruce MP âAll my European work colleagues contacting me by phone thought my hearing had returned! |
âTo say I miss captioned telephony is an understatement I'm convinced it has helped my career progress.â | âTo say I miss captioned telephony is an understatement I'm convinced it has helped my career progress.â |
Malcolm Bruce MP - the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness - is hosting the reception. | Malcolm Bruce MP - the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness - is hosting the reception. |
He said: âFour decades after telephones became commonplace in British households, many deaf people still struggle to use the telephone network and some cannot use it at all. | He said: âFour decades after telephones became commonplace in British households, many deaf people still struggle to use the telephone network and some cannot use it at all. |
âDeaf people are bereft of key telephone services that could help them gain social, educational and professional equality with the rest of society. | âDeaf people are bereft of key telephone services that could help them gain social, educational and professional equality with the rest of society. |
âModernised phone relay systems can dramatically improve their telecommunications, but the powers that be are dragging their feet in ensuring they are available and affordable. | âModernised phone relay systems can dramatically improve their telecommunications, but the powers that be are dragging their feet in ensuring they are available and affordable. |
"This is an increasing and unintended form of discrimination that must be rectified." | "This is an increasing and unintended form of discrimination that must be rectified." |