The Sensory Engagement Programme and Action on Hearing Loss
Wishing for the Moon
Interested in being involved in an arts project known as 'Wishing for the Moon'?
Be part of a piece of Art to be exhibited in Derry/Lderry City of Culture 2013.
To find out more come to the Foyle Deaf Centre,
2nd Floor Embassy Building, Derry/Lderry
12.00pm - 3.00pm
Thursday 21 February and Thursday 28 February 2013
£5.00 donation from each person to help fund local arts group
BSL & ISL Interpreters funded by SEP.
Contact the SEP office in Derry/Lderry to confirm attendance.
Sensory Engagement Programme and The Playhouse Present
'SenseAbility'
You are invited to attend an event showcasing drama pieces and personal stories by people living with sensory loss.
This drama event will be audio described and translated by British and Irish Sign Language Interpreters. Followed by a question and answer Session and Discussion on Accessible Arts.
Tuesday 27 February 2013
1.00pm - 5.00pm
The Playhouse, Artillery Street, Derry/Lderry
Admission Free
Buffet Lunch provided
RSVP by Wednesday 20 February.
Contact the Sep office Derry/Lderry
Tel: 028 7136 6060
Text: 075 8777 0650.
Email: sep@rnib.org.uk
Benefits Advice
Action on Hearing Loss, through the Sensory Engagement Programme (SEP), held an event in the City Hotel, Derry/Lderry on 10 July 2012 to give information about proposed changes in Social Security benefit, through the Sensory Engagement Programme (SEP), held an event in the City Hotel, Derry/Lderry on 10 July 2012 to give information about proposed changes in Social Security benefit.
From 2013 the government is proposing to introduce a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for eligible working age people aged 16 to 64 to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Following this event SEP now works in partnership with the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) to offer benefits advice to anyone who is Deaf, hard of hearing or has tinnitus.
Stephanie O'Kane, SEP CoOrdinator, said "We want to make benefits advice more accessible for people who are deaf or have hearing loss who live in the cross border areas. SEP work in partnership with your local Citizens Advice Bureau and provide funding for BSL/ISL interpreters, not only in NI but in the Republic of Ireland to."
If you would like more information on how to access benefits advice, please contact:
Stephanie O'Kane
Tel: 028 7136 6060
Mob: 075 8777 0650
Book an appointment
You can book individual appointments for advice on Social Security Benefits between:
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Mondays 9.30am to 12.30pm - CAB Office, 3 Strand Road, Floor 5 Embassy Building, Derry/Lderry, BT48 7BH.
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Wednesdays 9.30am to 12.30pm - CAB Office, 17 Dock Street, Strabane, Tyrone, BT82 8EE
Training for Apple's iPad
The Sensory Engagement Programme (SEP) held an Apple iPad training session in our Derry/Lderry office in July 2012. Michael Mulvenna, Employment Team Leader, delivered this training to people who have hearing loss and have little or no experience of tablet computer technology.
As part of SEP's confidence building and delivery of IT Training objectives, this iPad training aimed to educate people and develop their confidence when using accessible information technology.
Some of the attendees said:
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"I must say the information given today has been really helpful"
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"Thank you for all your help to all the staff"
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"Very friendly and informative, well done!"
Want to learn more about your iPad?
We will be running another iPad training session in September 2012.
For more information please contact Project Coordinator Stephanie O'Kane
Residential course on overcoming communication barriers
On Monday 28 May, 11 people who have hearing loss and their partners, attended a two day "How to overcome communication barriers" residential programme. The event was held in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, Fermanagh.
The programme was facilitated by Elizabeth Ward, Hearing Therapist and Michael Mulvenna, from Action on Hearing Loss.
Over the course of the two days, the group explored barriers faced in everyday life and the effect this can have on their relationships.
They discussed positive communication tactics and had the opportunity to share their own experiences. Michael Mulvenna provided demonstrations of equipment and ways of using IT to improve communication and personal independence.
SEP participant feedback
"Excellent 2 days. Felt really comfortable in class. Learned lots from our shared experiences. Leaving feeling much more informed and confident. "
"This training experience was very interesting and helpful. It highlighted many of the difficulties and problems experienced by people with hearing loss and also addressed the problem of people who have perfect hearing but have partners with hearing loss. Thank you to the organisers and facilitator of the training"
Confidence building for deaf ISL/BSL users
On the weekend of the 10-11 September 2011, ten people from the Sligo and Donegal areas came together to take part in a residential course led by Damian Barry, a confidence building trainer.
They thoroughly enjoyed a two-day residential in the beautiful surroundings of the Mill Park, Donegal.
Damian is a trainer who is deaf himself and has successfully delivered this programme for people in Derry/Lderry, Donegal and Co.Down.
During the weekend the participants dealt with questions such as:
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What can I do to improve my life and confidence?
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What makes us work well together?
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What are my rights?
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How can I be more assertive/positive and confident?
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What are my strengths?
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Where do I want to go from here?
Congratulations to all of you who went through that journey and left feeling much more confident:
Quotes from participants
"Enjoyed weekend, enjoyed with new people, enjoyed training. Thank you!"
"I would like thanks to Damian for telling me everything, it helps my feelings, it help me to be positive this time."
Eight week email and internet course
Congratulations to Alan, Bernie, Declan and John for completing their 8-week internet and email course!
The Sensory Engagement Project focuses in making our local colleges, libraries and banks more accessible and this is another great example of how partnership working can create new opportunities and educate all in being accessible for everyone in the community.
Gary Barnett the group's tutor said:
"The group have enjoyed the course and they have learned a great deal about IT with a deaf tutor like me using the sign language as their first language… This course will help them to build up their confidence on the use of IT technology"
Performing arts course
The Playhouse in Derry/Lderry, has partnered with the North West Regional College and deafness charity Action on Hearing Loss to deliver a 12 week OCN Level 2 accredited performing arts course through the medium of sign language.
Sharon McLennan, Education Officer with the Playhouse says, "This intensive Improvisation course is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long term partnership to train deaf people in performing arts. The aim is to then tour a full theatre production in 2012."
Stephanie O'Kane, Project Co-ordinator with Action on Hearing Loss' Sensory Engagement Programme says," This is a unique opportunity for deaf people to access accredited training, gain new skills and increase their confidence, through their first language. We would encourage other training providers to ensure their services are fully accessible to all."
Contact us
For more information on the Sensory Engagement Programme in the Derry/Lderry and Donegal area, contact: Stephanie O'Kane, Action on Hearing Loss Project Coordinator.
Tel: 028 7136 6060
Mob: 075 8777 0650
Email: sep@rnib.org.uk
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