For some reason, I've had a real problem deciding how to write the opening paragraph in this post. Still, I guess that problem has taken care of itself now. Moving swiftly on ...
On Saturday 14th April, I went along to City Lit (the adult learning centre in Camden, London) for the 16th annual Deaf Day. It's a day for a variety of agencies, groups and organisations to get together and talk to Deaf and hearing people about ... well, all sorts of Deaf issues.
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was there a good couple of hours (there were five floors, with innumerable groups on each), and it was an excellent event on a number of levels, the biggest one being that it was brilliant to be in a building where, for one day, the default language was sign language. Whenever I came across people I want to talk to, there was no obvious way of telling whether they were Deaf or not (short of asking them "Are you Deaf?" - even then, you'd have to sign to make sure!). So, signing was the order of the day - although I slipped up and spoke during the event as well (I'm not that fluent yet).
I met a lot of people from different agencies - Signature, Royal Association of the Deaf, British Deaf Association, exam boards, Deaf theatre groups, emergency services (I could go on, but won't - otherwise, it would just be a blatant attempt to increase the traffic to my blog, which would be simply UNHEARD of). It was fascinating to see work being done to increase Deaf awareness in industry, and it opened my eyes to the agencies that are committed to improving services to the Deaf community. Whilst I still think that there's a way to go, I'm heartened by the range of agencies available.
It was a really positive event - and I got to meet a couple of people I've been in touch with before over email for one reason or another (although missed out on a couple as well - sorry, guys!). It really set me thinking about the future and made me more dedicated to work with the Deaf community one way or another in the future. How that will happen, I don't know - it depends on where the need is, I suppose! That's a work in progress ...
Anyhow, after my friends and I had exhausted all the stands and floors, we left City Lit behind, our minds buzzing ... and found a very nice restaurant called Food for Thought (a veggie restaurant, which was like a dream come true for me!). I was tempted by a nearby cafe called Machiavelli, but decided against it as I'm sure someone would have found a joke somewhere!
A positive day; it's given me some more confidence in my own signing, especially as people seemed to understand me as I signed to them ... always a comfort! I've already got my place booked for next year - and I recommend to anyone with an interest.
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