ESquared

This #DeafAwarenessWeek we’re launching our new research which highlights the lack of understanding deaf people and people with hearing loss face in their day-to-day lives. We found that: ▶️ Over two thirds (67%) of deaf people and people with hearing loss have experienced negative attitudes or behaviours in the last year. ▶️ A third (33%) of people with hearing loss, and just under two thirds of deaf people (61%) and BSL users (63%) have experienced people talking to someone who is with them, rather than directly to them in the last 12 months. ▶️ Over half (54%) of our communities report that people tell them ‘It doesn’t matter…’ and change the topic when they are struggling to understand what is being said. Find out how you can make small changes to show ‘It does matter’: https://bit.ly/3UFAFOp #ItDoesMatter

Research over the last few years has highlighted the difficulties the d/Deaf community has faced in communicating with banks and financial services. This has included a key report published by the Lending Standards Board (LSB), which explored these challenges and the service offered by firms. These difficulties have led to a poor customer service experience and high risk of financial vulnerability amongst the community. See BSL Translation at https://lnkd.in/eK-A5RGB SigningBanks UK is built on the belief that everyone, regardless of their hearing ability, deserves seamless access to financial resources and services. Through innovation, advocacy and collaboration, we are determined to bridge the gap between the financial sector and their deaf customers. Our new website, which has been sponsored by Nationwide, will provide resources for both deaf people and financial services firms. These should help deaf people navigate the financial services sector, and help financial services improve the experience of deaf people who are engaging with banks and lenders. We will be working hard to promote the needs of deaf customers, share existing good practice and technological innovations, and to highlight outstanding gaps in service provision. We are very grateful for the support of the Government Disability Ambassador for Banking, @Kathryn Townsend, who has gathered together an industry working group with 22 members. The group members have shown significant progress in the last 12 months on deaf accessibility, both in terms of recognising the challenges that deaf customers face and with more banks taking concrete steps to improve access. Following on from last year’s LSB report, Access for d/Deaf Customers in Banking & Credit, is an updated report. There is still much more progress to be made, and we’re excited for SigningBanks UK to be part of that. Kathryn Townsend, Nationwide’s Head of Customer Vulnerability and Accessibility, and the UK Government Disability and Access Ambassador for Banking, said: “We believe in making banking accessible, inclusive and fairer for all, which is why we are delighted to be sponsoring the new SigningBanks.UK website. The ethos behind the website and the support and content it aims to provide means it will be a crucial resource in helping to achieve that ambition. Collaboration is key to ensuring that deaf customers have access to all the vital financial information they need, and so we are pleased to be working with the wider financial services industry on this new site.” ESquared would also like to extend thanks to our Advisory Board and supporters The Lending Standards Board, British Deaf Association, Deafax, deafPLUS, MyBnk, Royal Association for Deaf people, The Royal National Institute For Deaf People and Signly. Rachel Vann is an indomitable support, James West , Alistair, Tamzin Bayne We are just at the start of journey. See BSL Translation via QR code.

[𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑒𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑓 𝑃𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 2023] 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟐 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑: 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥 The legal recognition of national sign languages is an important step towards achieving basic human rights for all deaf people. 60% of State Parties to the CRPD still have not achieved legal recognition of their national sign languages.  Legal recognition is a process that allows for greater awareness of deaf people's linguistic and cultural rights and paves the way for social change. Today, we encourage the sharing of stories of what the legal recognition of sign languages has meant for you and your communities. ➡ Read more about the International Week of Deaf People: https://lnkd.in/gEPbwaQZ #IWDP #IWDP2023 #SignLanguageRights #deaf

🎉 Happy International Week of Deaf People! 🎉 This special week, initiated by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), commemorates the first World Congress of the WFD held back in 1958 in Rome, Italy. Celebrated annually during the last week of September, it's a time for the global Deaf Community to come together, celebrate, and raise awareness. Join us at the British Deaf Association in marking this occasion and participate in various activities held by Deaf Communities worldwide. Use the hashtags #IWDP, #IDSL, and #IDSignLanguages to show your support!

Hello, If you are d/Deaf or hard of hearing can you help us by completing this survey. ESquared are working with some of the UK banks who want to improve their access for d/Deaf customers via our SigningBanks.UK programme. We have enlisted some students from Kingston University to help. They are exploring which technology solutions work best for d/Deaf customers trying to communicate with service providers like banks. https://lnkd.in/ejDb3NKi BSL version available. closing date 12th August. Please feel free to pass this to any of your contacts who may be able to help. Thank you #signingbanks #deafawareness #deafcommunity #deaf #accessibility #BSLally