Olusegun Babatunde says:

“YouMeSign is a unique product that allows Deaf and hearing people to communicate.  For years I have experienced many communication barriers and on completion of my graphic design degree decided to take action on this. I have combined all my expertise as a graphic designer and my experience as a Deaf person to develop my products”.

“YouMeSign products are unique to the market and they are colourful, artistic, exciting and easy to use.  Our main aim is to improve Deaf people’s access to all public services i.e. libraries, public houses, cinemas, hospitals, schools, police stations, universities, receptions, bus station areas and fire services as well as airports, cabs and taxis through the use of animation. This is to encourage hearing people to use some basic British Sign Language (BSL) skills”.

“YouMeSign products can be produced in many formats such as posters, banners which can be produced in A2 and laminated. We can also supply mouse mats in A3 and A4 and jigsaws, which are useful for children.  The products are used in situ and provide an easy reference for hearing people when trying to communicate with Deaf people.  All these are useful tools for when language learning and can assist the acquisition of BSL vocabulary. Our products can be tailored to your exact needs, using our bespoke service where we can create a product that totally meets your needs”.

Olusegun adds: “Being Deaf can create many barriers within society. Our products help overcome some of those initial barriers around communication and are simple to use. It also means you can efficiently deal with your BSL customers and give them an equal service. A bespoke product would include all the BSL vocabulary you need to make that first impression much more satisfying.  Front line staff would have immediate access to a basic vocabulary reference product to enable them to signpost their customers. Our products can be produced with your organisation/company logo and also be developed with your business in mind. We will work closely with you to guarantee the product meets your needs. The products are offered in a colour of your choice and your personal font.  Please feel free to view my website for more information about the products I offer. I have recently added some new animations that you may be interested in. Hopefully you can use this sample to learn a bit of BSL yourself too!  I look forward to hearing from you”.

Olusegun Babatunde
Email: segun@youmesign.co.uk
Website: www.youmesign.co.uk

Leeds is still recruiting for volunteers to help support the Olympic Torch Relay as it makes its way through Leeds in June. If you are interested in volunteering as a Torch Ambassador and are available at any of the dates and times below, please contact: steve.crocker@leeds.gov.ok

• Tuesday 19th June 10.00 am – 1.30 pm, Boston Spa, Wetherbyand Harewood

• Sunday 24th June  4.30 pm – 8.00 pm Headingley, Harehills and Richmond Hill

• Monday 25th June. 6.45 am – 9.30 am Leeds city centre, Hunslet, Beeston and Morley

Rob Young, Chief Executive of coHearentVision says: “this is a great opportunity to become actively involved with the Olympics in our great city and we are actively encouraging people with a sight or hearing loss to volunteer”.

coHearentVision Logo, Click here to find our how you can donate money to coHearentVision

coHearentVision fully supports the work being done by our 3rd Sector Colleagues at Action on Hearing Loss, click this link to take the simple hearing Test.

“coHearentVision fully supports the great work going on over at the Doncaster College for the Deaf, have a read of the information below and see just what fantastic work they do”

We would like to inform you of two things this month from the COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST COLLEGE in Doncaster (also known as Doncaster College for the Deaf).

The last OPEN DAY for this academic year is on Wednesday 9^th May 2012.

The day is for potential learners, their parents or carers and for yourself, to see first hand our individualised learning environment which offers a unique approach to learners who have Deafness/ hearing impairment and/or specific communication and language needs. We cater for all abilities and learning styles, offering a range of programmes to suit every ambition.

Simply complete the form at http://www.deaf-trust.co.uk/college/open-day and we will send you full details of the day. Alternatively, if you wish to speak to one of our staff in person, please call Julie Wright on 01302 386 700 ext 236.

New Interactive prospectus with course information

We have developed an interactive prospectus using some of the latest technology available, it includes links to full course information, the many benefits for learners to study here and can be found by selecting http://www.cscprospectus.co.uk

Please save this link in your internet favourites box, so as we update the prospectus you will also get the new information straight away.

We look forward to hopefully seeing you on the 9^th May.

Yours faithfully

Alan Robinson

Alan Robinson

Executive Principal

Kenton Robbins, Chair of coHearentVision, says: “Whilst all the Directors/Trustee’s have contributed our Vice Chair, Mike Gerwat, has done a great job in getting this critical piece of work implemented.  With 50% of the Board having a Deaf or Blind impairment, it is yet another example of our commitment to sensory impaired people making a genuine contribution to the operational direction, ethos and charitable objectives of our organisation”.

Rob Young, Chief Executive of coHearentVision, says: “I am particularly pleased that every Director/Trustee has been involved in this process and has each contributed personally to the formulation of the final version.  We are also grateful for the contribution of past trustees who contributed to the drafting process, during which we consulted widely with interested parties.  We now have a modern governance platform, which I can refer to on a daily basis, to keep our activities on track and totally inline with our charitable Objects”.  “The new document is available at our website and I am sure will be of benefit to beneficaries and stakeholders alike, in helping to clarify who we are and what we do in the”future“.

The Chief Executive reiterated the Vice Chair’s comments regarding the subject of “membership” and drew attention to statistics for the period 2007-2012 which can be found under ‘Any Other Business’ of the Minutes of the AGM.  He also said: “Disappointingly, during the combined subscription period 2009-2011, the Society had only three Deaf Members (two of these being Directors/Trustee’s and the other person was a member of staff who was also a service-user).  During the final ‘subscription year’ (2011-2012), despite reminders being sent to all existing Members (and membership being freely available to all); the only four (4) applications received for Membership were from the current Directors (Mike Gerwat (DeafBlind), Steve Goulding (Blind), Kenton Robbins and Andy Preston) and these had all been granted”.

The revised Memorandum and Articles of Association were adopted unanimously by the Members/Directors/Trustee’s at an AGM held on 18th April 2012. The document is readily accessible to everyone by clicking on the word “Memorandum”.  The Minutes of the AGM are also readily accessible to everyone by clicking on the word “Minutes“.  Copies of both these documents have been lodged with The Charity Commission for England and Whales.

The statistics from the survey will be used by a group of organisations who support deaf people to represent the needs of BSL users who use healthcare services including: ASLI (Association of Sign Language Interpreters), NRCPD (National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People), BDA (British Deaf Association), Signature, and the British Society for Mental Health and Deafness (BSMHD).

Here’s something you never hear: “He’s a deaf rapper.”

That’s how Marko Vuoriheimo (a.k.a Signmark) is often introduced, not that he can hear the description. Most of us associate music with our earsm but not long after he was born deaf in 1978, Signmark recalls feeling music.

Growing up in Helsinki, he “translated” Christmas carols into sign language so that the entire family (his parents are deaf, his grandparents are not) could perform together — a bilingual affair uniting singing with signing.

Somewhat improbably, Signmark then discovered hip hop.

Fast forward a couple of decades and he is now a deaf rapper. This isn’t just a hobby or unusual self-identity. Signmark has a global following and a record deal with Warner Music. On Friday, you can see and hear him perform in Toronto.

Here at coHearentVision we support any Deaf individual that overcomes the barriers that sometimes surround some most Deaf people, if you would like to read the Full Interview click here!!

President Obama surprises Deaf student by signing to him

US President Barack Obama has surprised a Deaf member of the public by signing back at him.

The exchange happened during a college event in Maryland when a Deaf student named Stephon signed “I’m proud of you” to Mr Obama as he passed by shaking hands with people.

The president used American Sign Language to sign back “thank you” which was met with cheers from the crowd.

Click here to see the full story and Video

A blind marathon runner from the Black Country, who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, has become an honorary freeman.
Dave Heeley, 54, from West Bromwich, who is known as Blind Dave, became Sandwell’s 11th honorary freeman.
In 2008 he became the first blind person to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.
The ceremony took place in the council chamber at Sandwell Council House, Oldbury, at noon.

Click here for the full story, or Visit the BBC news website

coHearentVision Logo, Click here to find our how you can donate money to coHearentVision

coHearentVision strongly suggests a visit to the Living Paintings website for some truly spectacular paintings designed to enable partially sighted people to get a real feel for art!!!

At Living Paintings we help blind and partially sighted people ‘feel’ visual images.  We make special versions of pictures with raised surfaces that come to life when fingers feel them. Our sound recordings direct the fingers, telling the stories of the pictures and describing their features.  In this way, the senses of touch and hearing combine to make up for the missing sense of sight.  We also include colour versions, so sighted friends and family can share the exploration of the pictures.

For adults, we present subjects such as ‘Animals in Art’, ‘The History of English Garden Design’, ‘British Birds and their Habitat’ and “A City Tour of Edinburgh”.   

For children, we adapt popular books such as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “The Gruffalo” and have a range of topical packs including “The Victorians”, “The History of Space Exploration” and “The Olympics”.

For Groups we have a brand new range of Touch to See Book Club titles – including Mysterious Women, Town & Country and A Great Catch.  These are designed to be used in a group setting with multiple copies of the same image, audio descriptions and guidance notes to help the group leader incorporate the materials into a session.

We also have guidance notes on setting up a group so please let us know if you require further information.

We’ve put these Touch to See packs into an extensive postal library and best of all the service and loan of all items is absolutely free, everything is delivered to your door.

If you know someone who might like to borrow from the library please tell them about the service. If you would like to join the library or volunteer your help in the creation of new packs, either at our base in Kingsclere, Berks or at home, please contact Living Paintings on 01635 299771 email lpt@livingpaintings.org or visit our website www.livingpaintings.org Registered Voluntary Charity No 1049103