'New special needs sign language course for families, carers and friends'

A bespoke sign language course is being started for families, carers and friend of children with special needs.

The Plymouth charity Friends and Families of Special Children and the Plymouth School of British Sign Language have collaborated on the project.

The debut course begins on Monday 1 June, from 10am at the Pilgrim Centre, at Plymouth Argyles Home Park stadium.

Paul Craven, the school's administrator, explained that the school started last September and the course had been designed by two profoundly deaf teachers - Sue Bevans and Jean Lethbridge.

He said, "The school is well aware, through its involvement with the Deaf community, of the difficulties and frustrations that can arise from the inability to freely communicate with and between adults and children.  So it has designed a course for families, carers and friend of children with special needs, with the aim of enabling and improving their communication skills to the benefit of the children."

He said, "The school is committed to upholding the principles of the British Deaf Association, and teaching British Sign language in accordance with the BDA's curricula and guidelines."

The BDA has therefore accredited the school.

The six-week course, which is not examined or certificated, will be taught in two-hour lessons, with either a morning or evening class being provided with prior arrangement with the Pilgrim Centre.

The cost is £80 per student with a minimum of 10 students preferred.

Subjects covered include: an introduction to British Sign Language, signing with baby and toddler, with nursery school children, primary school children and teenagers and health issues.

After completing the course people can continue their studies on one of the School's Introduction to British Sign Language courses.

For information visit www.bsl-plymouth.org.  To book contact Kay O'Shaughnessy at Friends and Family of Special Children on 01752 204369 or email info@friendsandfamily.org.uk.

Students pass their sign language course

Students from the Plymouth School of British Sign Language receive certificates. From left to right Amy O'Melia, Lynda Craven, Sue Bevans (teacher), Cherlyn Brown, Simon Bevans, Alison Cox, Lynne Booth, Margaret Codognotto, Karen McKee, Jo' Hook, Anneka Vowden, Sue Vowden, Paul Craven (School Administrator) and Debbie Lake

THIRTEEN women and a man have passed an introduction to British Sign Language course in Plymouth.

The 14 students passed their sign language exams at the Plymouth School of British Sign Language, which opened at the Pilgrim Study Centre at Home Park last year.

They are the first people at the school to pass the introductory course. School administrator Paul Craven said they had done 'exceptionally well'.

He said: "We are very pleased with how the students progressed through the 11-week course. We were so thrilled when they all passed. They are aged between 16 and 60. A good many of those on the course are going into the higher level courses at the school now."

The school was set up to help provide skills and qualifications for people who want to communicate with the deaf.

Mr Craven said there had been a 'lack' of providers for teaching British Sign Language in Plymouth – and he was really pleased with the success of the school so far.

He said: "It is not just an important skill for families and friends – it's now an important skill for people in customer services."

NEW SIGNING

(Aug 28 2008)

THERE is a new signing at Home Park.

Ten members of the Plymouth Argyle staff are embarking on a course to learn British Sign Language so they can assist Pilgrims’ fans who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The course is being provided by the Plymouth School of British Sign Language, an exciting new teaching initiative that is based at the Pilgrim Centre in Home Park.

An Argyle spokesman said: “We are always conscious of our need to be in a position to provide as much assistance as possible to our fans and members of the public who suffer with a disability.

“Last year, the club’s head of communications, Rick Cowdery, started learning BSL and will shortly be embarking on a two-year intermediate course.

“This new course will ensure that all areas of the club will have staff that can cater for the needs of deaf or hard of hearing fans.”

The course being provided for the Argyle staff has been customised by the Plymouth School of British Sign Language to suit the club’s own particular requirements. These customised courses can be arranged for any business where employees come into direct contact with the public.

The public-facing staff will include those who work in the Pilgrims’ Box Office, the Home Park Superstore and in the club’s bars and function rooms.

Although all members of staff will not be trained, it is hoped that there will always be someone available who will be able to sign.

The spokesman said: “We are pleased that our course is being provided by the Plymouth School of British Sign Language. This School is committed to upholding the high principles and aims held by the British Deaf Association and to teach British Sign Language in full accordance with the curricula and guidelines laid down by the BDA’s BSL Academy.

“By so aligning themselves, the school is proud to have received the BDA’s accreditation for their courses.”

The Plymouth School of British Sign Language’s teachers, Jean Lethbridge and Sue Bevans, who are both profoundly deaf, are qualified through the BDA’s BSL Academy, while the school is administered by Paul Craven.

The school provides courses for beginners with the Introduction Course and Foundation A and B Courses – this course has a BSL Awareness component incorporated which is not always available elsewhere.

The BSL Awareness component is designed to assist the student in finding out more about the language of the deaf community in the United Kingdom. It will raise awareness of BSL, its history, and its place within the lives of deaf people.

For those who are more advanced in BSL, the School can provide courses at Intermediate A and B level, and they hope in the future to be able to provide the Advanced Course. All of these courses are subject to assessment and certificated through the National Open College Network.

Full details about the school, their staff, the courses provided, and the teaching venue, the Pilgrim Centre at Home Park, may be found on the School’s website, www.bsl-plymouth.org, or by telephoning 01752 838742.