Deaf Awareness Week: Cambridgeshire charity highlights benefits of employing people with disabilities

Of the people who work for the CDA, 85 per cent are deaf or hard of hearing and many of them are carers who are protecting other deaf people during the coronavirus crisis.

The unique experiences and life skills that they possess allow them to better understand the needs of the county’s deaf and hard of hearing.

All staff at CDA have access to video interpreters on demand on their phones, as everything is communicated by text with video sign language through a messaging system which records more than 18,000 messages per month.

Video is also used for internal memos and all meetings are held in sign language.

Jo Maddocks is a deaf British sign language user and moved from Birmingham just to work for the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association. “I am delighted to have a permanent job with CDA who I can communicate with easily in British Sign Language. I love my job and really enjoy developing my skills with a team who believe in me,” she said.

The CDA supports more than 300 deaf and hard of hearing people in the county through advocacy, support, personal care and social and sports activities. Since the beginning of March, it has handled 228 referrals for support, from 110 deaf people in the county.

Andrew Palmer is the chief executive of the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association and is proud of the work his staff undertake.

He said: ”What we have here at CDA is something quite unique – it’s probably one of the few places in the UK where British Sign Language is the most used language across the organisation.

“The association has long worked to unlock the potential of local deaf people and that’s why we invest in training for our staff, including regular management development. I feel really proud to be part of it.”

No other organisation offers the support and expertise that CDA do in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire and it is working hard to support those that need help in these incredibly stressful times.

Some of the things that CDA is doing during the lockdown include:

. Providing volunteers to deliver food and medication

. Organising online events to beat isolation with more than 120 deaf people getting involved

. Creating online content to encourage exercise

. Supporting deaf people facing financial hardship

. Keeping in touch with hundreds of isolated deaf people

. Handling record numbers of referrals for its services

. Providing emotional support and signposting to those in crisis.

Like many charities at this time CDA is struggling for funding and would welcome any donations. To donate, visit: https://cambsdeaf.org/get-involved/give-now/.