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20-11-2008
National charity Citizens Advice launched today its first ever YouTube advice video for the Deaf Community.
Signed in British Sign Language (BSL) and with subtitles, by a profoundly deaf CAB adviser Ernesto Bueno Del Carpio, the four minute film is a basic introduction into what Citizens Advice does and how it can help advise on debt or discrimination issues.
Ernesto Bueno Del Carpio, who is based at Wolverhampton CAB said:
"This video is an important step in reaching the Deaf Community, who do not necessarily get access to advice from broadcast mediums such as radio and TV. We made this film because we wanted to make sure the Citizens Advice Service had a presence on the internet and specifically for the deaf community."
In the video, Ernesto talks about general debt advice and how to find your local Citizens Advice Bureau. He also talks about the difficulties some people in the Deaf Community experience in getting advice, particularly on discrimination:
"A lot of deaf people have no promotion prospects – they spend many years in the same role. Very often I see deaf clients who are frustrated in the work place. They face discrimination as employers refuse to provide a sign language interpreter. Some deaf people do not know it is their right under the disability discrimination Act that an employer should provide access to meetings, training courses."
Citizens Advice is committed to making its services of free, independent impartial advice available to as many people around England and Wales. Many bureaux have a mini com service and over 300 have an induction loop facility. Citizens Advice also manages the FIF Disability Project. This is a partnership with Royal National Institute for Deaf People, Royal National Institute for the Blind, Contact a Family and Mencap. This provides specialist face-to-face debt advice for clients, including home visits and support on the telephone and email facilities for deaf or hard of hearing clients. While a permanent signing interpreter may not be present in a bureau, many offer access to a signed language interpreter.
Ali Harris, Programme Manager, Equality and Diversity, said:
"It is important that Deaf people and those with hearing impairments feel able to use their local bureau and get advice - whatever their problem. We hope this YouTube video will help that happen".
Cheryl Cullen, director of employment, training and skills services, RNID, said:
"Communication barriers and difficulty accessing education, training and services mean people with hearing loss can struggle to manage their money – with knock-on effects on their job prospects and likelihood of falling into debt.
"Many mainstream financial literacy-training programmes are inaccessible to deaf and hard of hearing people due to language or communication barriers. The technical vocabulary often used can be difficult to translate into sign language and can create extra difficulties for those who don’t have English as their first language.”
The video, which is launched on YouTube today, will be available on YouTube at  uk.youtube.com/CitizensAdvice and on the Citizens Advice website, www.citizensadvice.org.uk/what_we_do_how_we_help. It will also be available to send via mobile phone from the YouTube website.
If you are deaf, and need free independent, impartial advice from Citizens Advice, or want to volunteer, you can find information about your local Citizens Advice at your local library, the yellow pages (under C) and online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Notes to editors on Citizens Advice
- The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
- Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
- Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
- Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
- Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
- Follow Citizens Advice on Twitter: twitter.com/CitizensAdvice
- Subscribe to Citizens Advice press releases via RSS news feed: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/pressoffice
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