Social Care

Award-winning Signs4Life is leading efforts towards a society in which people with disabilities have full access and are working to raise the public and political awareness of disability provision.

Our workshops might be of interest to your staff and volunteers, in their work with vulnerable service users, families, and colleagues. We can come to you, or alternatively, we also offer remote learning via Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Deaf people’s experience of communication when they interface with service providers is often disappointing. Staff need to be aware of the isolation and frustration many Deaf people experience in their dealings with the various services that make up the private, voluntary, and public sector.

Testimonials

 “We really enjoyed the taster course and then the longer 6-week program with John. This training has been invaluable in giving our deaf volunteers First Aid training in sign language.” (Valerie May, British Red Cross, Paisley)

“It was very informative and interesting. Learning some sign language was fun and practical. It was great to have a tutor who was deaf, and learn about how hearing impairment affects lives, yet Audrius our tutor, sees it in such a positive light. Very inspiring.” (Mary Nash, social care and early years, Bromley Council)

 “Hi Sara, yesterday was great thank you and went very well. I took part in the afternoon session and it was really useful, thought provoking and challenging (in a positive way). Audrius and Cathy were spectacular. Please pass on my thanks to them both and I hope we can invite them back again soon!” (Paul Allum, equality, diversity, and inclusion officer, Kensington and Chelsea borough council)

“Just to let you know that today’s session was absolutely fantastic. Everyone was really involved, and Memnos was so engaging in his delivery.” (Judith Joyce, learning and development partner for High Secure Services and Broadmoor E&F, Broadmoor Hospital)

“I attended the five Thursday zoom sessions. I thoroughly enjoyed each week. I did one half-day course on Makaton many years ago and like all languages if you don’t use it you forget it. Theresa’s course reminded me of all the signs I’d forgotten and added on a few hundred more. I am using signs on a daily basis with children with additional needs. I also find signing helpful for children with English as an additional language. I have found other children within the setting are curious as to what I am doing, and so I have been sharing my new skills with them too. I have passed on some of the basic signs to a couple of parents as well. I am trying to make sure that signing is part of my everyday practice and is second nature.” (Wendy Gray, Walthamstow Early Years)