BSL Cochlear implant user..

Why does this happening??

Its all stupid!!

I was told by other BSL CI user about what was happening at Adult day at Ears Foundation, that made me fuming mad..

A speaker from Hearing Concern told all the CI user there, that they SHOULD NOT use BSL or sign language at all, because they could hear and should learn to talk properly..

Good grief!!
It like telling the Spanish person that they are not allowed to speak Spanish when they in England.. nor does the Chinese people!!
Does it means... the Spanish person who wear Cochlear implant are not allowed to speak Spanish at all??

It should be up to the person whatever language they are using. Its up to deaf person if they want Cochlear implant or not.. No one should ever stop the deaf person from speaking whatever language they want to speak or sign.

I chosen to use both Sign Language and speech because then I have best of both world..

I was brought up oral - I relies on lipreading. I went to mainstream school (Ashgate Junior school in Derby, Longcar Junior School in Barnsely, and William Sharpe school in Nottingham)

I wanted to use sign language to communicate.. no matter BSL or SSE.. for 2 reasons..
1. why should I force deaf friend to speak because I have CI??
2. do I want to lipread and listen 24/7? no thanks!!!

I rather relax and enjoy myself by using my hands.. its so " visual and creative" no one who can sign should ever give up.. its really useful in noisy places like pubs and nightclubs! I like watch people in the pub who "stove" their ear up the speaker mouth to hear.. Urghhh! do I want to allow my mouth "taste" whatever in their ear?? (think of ear wax...)

There is no shame in using sign language.. if you can sign.. then wonderful.. it make some situation like the workshops so much easier because it so hard work watching 10 different people talking.. and so many different lip pattern to translate..

Yes I can talk.. my speech is okay.. of course I have deaf accent.. nothing I can do to change at the moment.. not without any help.. but why should I want to talk to other deaf person if they want to use sign language?? It so much fun using sign language..

CI users should be able to have a choice to use sign language and speech..
When battery go flat.. I hear nothing.. I cannot even lipread at all!!
other point is how do I lipread at swimming bath?? my CI is not waterproof and I cannot wear when I swim!!
There are quite a few times that I cant wear CI which can make a problem when involve communication.

Its alright for some who can wear CI and Hearing aid together.. (Thats a cheat!) But that's no excuse for tell the CI user that they CANNOT use sign language because they can hear!

One thing need to consider... there are thousand and thousand of words in English langauge as well as in any spoken language, some does sound similar for example "Ship" and "Chip" also "Beans and peas"
How on earth do you expect CI user to "click finger" and miracle happen, understood everything that is said to them without any help from sign language or lipreading if they need it?? It take years and years of practise to understand what is said without any help.
Not every CI users can become an expert in listening everything overnight. We all need to be flexiable to everyone needs, so if CI users decide to stick with BSL and not want to use lipreading because they have not got the skill, then we should respect their wishes. This means, provide an interpreter for this person.

I am losing my faith in Ears Foundation because they are not supporting BSL/SSE users by not providing Interpreters at adult days....

So everyone give a thought to people like me and other BSL/SSE users.. stop picking on us.. go and pick on someone your size!!

we are not living in 1880 where sign language was banned.. we in 2009.. sign language is allowed!! everyone have the freedom and the right to choose.

Going freelance

I need to start looking for different job, because where I work as sign language and deaf awareness teacher, not reliable wage, dont pay me throughout summer! imagine 3 months without pay??
There is not much teaching in Sign Language because everyone now find its too expensive to enrol in classes, thats why alot of classes closed down because not enough people come.

I already working self employment with Derby Bunny Haven, running my own animals holiday hotel, but the money is not good, not enough to help James pay the mortage.

I enjoy teaching deaf awareness, and meet a lot of people who want to be able to communicate with deaf, not just Deaf people who use sign language.
I get a bit fed up, because everyone know I teach sign language, as I have taught since 1992. They assume, because I teach sign language, I cannot lipread or talk at all. so some people get scare and run off to avoid talking to me!!
What people do not know is that I did not learn sign language until I was about 12yrs, so how did they expect me to communicate beforehand? I only learnt to sign, so that I would not feel isolated at the Royal school for the Deaf, with everyone using sign language.

I want to go as freelance, teaching Deaf awareness and basic sign language to businesses and companies.
I going to register with "Signatures" (Its new name for CACDP) to enable me to provide assessments for level 1 and 2 in deaf awareness.