Council's video link will help deaf people

From: Huddersfield Daily Examiner, UK
Oct. 5, 2002

By Jane Yelland, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A VIDEOPHONE service is being set up for deaf people in Calderdale.

The new equipment will make it easier to contact council services.

Twelve videophones around the district will be available from Thursday.

Sites include the Calderdale Council social services centres in Brighouse and Elland.

Users can go into each office and ring for help from either the sign language and interpreting service or a social worker with the deaf.

It will enable conversations to take place between the hearing-impaired resident, an interpreter and a council officer.

Calderdale mayor Clr Patrick Phillips said: "The hearing imp-aired and sign language users are generally hard to reach.

"It is wonderful that with the introduction of new technology we will be able to integrate this group into our social network even better."

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