Deaf in Tayside feel “patronised”

Deaf people in Tayside feel like second-class citizens as a result of the “patronising and parental” treatment they receive at the hands of Tayside Association for the Deaf’s social workers (writes Stuart Johnstone).

That is the claim of the Forum, which represents local deaf people and helps them fight for their rights, and Dundee Deaf Sports and Social Club who organise leisure activities.

They feel the association has an antiquated attitude in dealing with people with hearing difficulties.

The groups have a long list of complaints and are writing to the Equality and Human Right’s commission and taking legal advice on where they stand in relation to premises in Roseangle, which DDSSC and the Forum say the association is taking from them “bit by bit”.

The Tayside Association for the Deaf has had new management in place for over a year now and in that time, it is claimed, more of the deaf community has become dissatisfied with the way they are being treated. The association provides services for deaf people in Dundee, Angus and Perth and Kinross and receives funding from the three councils.

A spokesperson for the Forum and club said, “Deaf people are not being treated equally or fairly and feel they are being patronised and told “they wouldn’t understand” in matters relating to the running of their club. The association is making deaf people feel stupid.

“They are also not satisfied and voiced their concerns on numerous occasions regarding the use of social workers as interpreters.

“They feel they do not need a social worker to communicate with their GP, or at hospital appointments, job interviews, housing meetings etc.

“They need a registered interpreter. If they require social work assistance then they should get that the same way as any hearing person. The association does not even employ a registered interpreter.

“What we often end up with is someone who does not have the necessary skills, which makes our life even more difficult.

“We are not being given a fair chance to express our views. There is little or no representation of deaf people on the board of directors and younger deaf people have been fighting for years to be represented on the board to no avail.

“We are simply told this is the way things have to be. We are basically just ignored and are tired of being treated this way.”

One of the major points of contention is the use of the building in Roseangle. DDSSC has used the premises for decades.

Now the group claims the association is taking over the building a room at a time, meaning DDSSC has less and less space.

The spokesperson said, “The association is renting out rooms to make money and again we basically have been told to go along with it. We are told it is because of financial crisis at the association, but we know they are funded by the three councils and also from charitable trusts.

“We want to know where the money has been going because it certainly hasn’t been spent on services or facilities the deaf want.

“The building has been our home for decades and has been used for generations, yet we are being sidelined. We have been told if we do not agree the building will be closed.

“It has got to the point where we are going to seek legal advice. We feel we are being wronged here and DDSSC and the Forum are not going to let it happen.”

Tayside Association for the Deaf was asked to comment on the claims, but declined to do so.