Current action point

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  Tell your friends about our online Hearing Check

  You can help us by telling people you know who may be worried about their hearing to take our free online Hearing Check. We have also recently launched a free RNID Hearing Check Facebook application (external link, opens new browser window). For those of you not on Facebook you can email your friends the link (external link, opens new browser window) and encourage them to check their hearing for free.

  Our Hearing Check made a real impact in 2009. Watch Stan’s story (external link, opens new browser window) about how it changed his life, plus other inspiring videos about our work last year.

  
  

Past action points

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  Get involved with our new Hearing Matters campaign!

  Did you know it can take up to 15 years for someone to seek help when their hearing deteriorates? We are working with The Co-operative throughout 2009 to reach out to more people who have hearing loss as well as providing support for people who are already getting used to living with hearing loss.

  Take action! If you can help during the year then please get in touch. To register your interest in supporting the campaign and getting involved in any of these activities please email co-operative@rnid.org.uk or write to Campaigns, RNID, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL. There is also more information at www.rnid.org.uk/cooperativevolunteer.
  

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  Tell Ofcom when you cannot enjoy television

  Television access services in the UK are often considered to be the best in the world. However, the quality of access for deaf and hard of hearing people can still be improved. Do you ever encounter problems when using subtitles? Are you unable to enjoy a programme because of high levels of background noise? Is the British Sign Language interpreter always big enough to use?

  We know that deaf and hard of hearing people often experience problems accessing television programmes. Though Ofcom do regulate the output of the broadcasters they regulate they need to know when specific problems happen.

  Take action! If you feel that a particular programme is inaccessible, contact Ofcom and tell them. If you do want to complain make a note of the programme, the channel, the time and exactly what the problem was. You can use Ofcom’s online form  (external link, opens new browser window)to let them know every time you are unable to access a programme.

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  Tell your MP to support lipreading!

  Our campaigning has already helped to raise awareness of the problems faced by deaf and hard of hearing people trying to access lipreading classes. We have been highlighting the issues of high fees and class closures with education providers. We are also encouraging MPs to sign up to our campaign by asking them to sign a motion in Parliament. It’s really important that MPs know how important lipreading is as a communication tool for deaf and hard of hearing people.

  Take action! The action relating to the parliamentary motion is now closed. If you want to support our lipreading campaign please visit our campaign page for other ideas about getting involved.

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  Campaign at the click of a button

  You can help to spread the word and recruit more campaigners. This month we're giving out reusable earplugs at music festivals, enouraging employers to promote hearing health and supporting local lipreading classes.

  Take action! Support our campaigns and tell five people you know to do the same. Take action, then send this week's email (external link, opens new browser window) to festival goers, lipreaders, employers or anyone you'd like to turn into an armchair activist.

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  Are you making the most of your rights?
   
  We want your help to make the Human Rights Act more useful. Tell the The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about barriers you face and good practice among public authorities.

  Take action! Visit the EHRC website (external link, opens new browser window) to add your voice, or email campaigns@rnid.org.uk You can also read our briefing (word doc, 35.5KB) for more information about the consultation.

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  Subtitles: Tell your MP why 100% is worth it

  MPs are celebrating Deaf Awareness Week by supporting a motion in parliament calling for 100% subtitling on main TV channels. Five million people use television subtitles frequently. Tell your MP why they're so important and ask them to support the motion.

  Take action! Use our standard letter (Word doc, 31KB) to ask your MP to support the parliamentary motion calling for 100% subtitling across main TV channels. Find out how to contact your MP.

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  Read my lips: no more class closures

  Lipreading class fees are rising and many people can't afford the extra cost which has resulted in classes around the country closing. Some lipreading class fees have increased from £10 to over £160. Take action today to save your classes!

  Take action! Use our standard letters and campaign hints to call for action. Let us know what responses you receive by emailing us at campaigns@rnid.org.uk.

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  Tell us your communication support nightmares

  Have you experienced problems accessing public services, work or social events because communication support was not provided? Or maybe communication support was provided but it was the wrong sort or the interpreter wasn’t properly trained? We want to know so that we can tell politicians, employers and public services about the difference communication support makes to people’s lives.

  Take action! Email us at campaigns@rnid.org.uk and tell us about your experiences. Your stories will help us to campaign for change.

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  Parliament debates new law on IVF

  The Government has introduced the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to clarify the law about genetic testing and in-vitro fertilisation. The Bill will ensure that people cannot genetically screen in order to select embryos with certain attributes over others. Specifically this means that a deaf embryo cannot be selected for implantation over a hearing one.

  The Bill is likely to be discussed by MPs in February.

  More information about the Bill.

  Take action! This action is now closed.

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  Recruit your friends and family to our Campaigns Network

  Thousands of campaigners around the UK have suceeded in making crucial changes to the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people. Help us grow the Campaigns Network so we can make an even bigger impact. Ask three people you know to sign up to our campaign e-newsletter.

  Ask your friends and family to join online by clicking here.
  

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  Keep us in the loop!

  For the past year, you’ve been sending us your experiences of public places that aren’t providing suitable induction loop systems. We’ve had some really great feedback, but we’d like to know more!

  With the information we have received so far we have contacted some major chains and smaller independent shops to help them improve their services. We want to contact even more venues, so when you’re out and about, at the Post Office, bank, hospital or theatre, make sure you take note of the venue’s loop facilities and how well they’re working. Hand them one of our induction loop cards (external link, opens new browser window) designed to let staff know that their induction loop system is not working properly.

  Take action! We are particularly interested in finding out more about post offices. So when posting your parcels and buying stamps this Christmas, ask your local Post Office about their loop facilities.

  If you have a bad experience give one of our complaint cards to a staff member or write to the manager using one of our sample letters. We also want to hear if you have had a good experience too!

  You can let us know your experiences by writing to us at campaigns@rnid.org.uk or returning your induction loop complaint cards.

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  Party conferences

  At this year’s political party conferences we will be talking to MPs about a range of issues that matter to deaf and hard of hearing people. If you would like us to raise a particular subject which is bothering you in your part of the country then please let us know.

  Take action! Email us at campaigns@rnid.org.uk and tell us what the issue is and who your MP is (or where you live and we’ll find out).
  

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  Tell us about lipreading in your area

  Following our success earlier this year in Essex, we travelled to Lincoln to highlight the importance of lipreading in a county where no classes were available. We hosted a free one-off class, in partnership with local charity DEAF Lincs, to demonstrate that there is a demand for classes to Lincolnshire County Council.  We are now working with the Council to encourage them to set up regular classes throughout the region.

  Take action! If you feel lipreading is an important skill that you could benefit from and you are struggling to access classes because there are none available or fees are too high, please complete our form (external link, opens new browser window) to show your support and request a revamped campaign pack (external link, opens new browser window).