Media & Disability
Guide on media & disability
Working with People who are Deaf/Hearing Impaired
Types of Communication Support
Lip Speakers
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 loop
- Infrared
- Radio