Make Covid Accessible UK

A concerned deaf citizen who wants equal access to covid information and services as hearing and other disabled people

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

CONFIRMED: If you've been made redundant, you can be rehired and furloughed by your employer if you were employed as of 23 Sept, and on the payroll on or before 30 Oct.

It won't work for many, but many be worth asking for some.

PLEASE SHARE.

[Sayed Tabatabai, M.D. @TheRealDoctorT]

The elevator doors slide open.

There’s already someone inside, one of the hospitalists. He moves over to one side as I enter, subconsciously distancing.

I look at him and smile, “Coming or going?”

He doesn’t answer right away.

Instead, he pauses, as if trying to remember. 1/

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

As a deaf lipreader who does not know BSL, the @BBCBreaking broadcast continues to be inaccessible with lack of captions online.

I know this is the last of the briefings, but I haven't been able to access any of the briefings at all.

#MakeCovidAccessible

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

@Joblosses1 @BorisJohnson @BritishAirNews @Ryanair @easyJet @UKHofficial I disagree, we need to ensure the virus is no longer dangerous regardless of job losses. I, myself, have lost my job and am struggling, but I'd rather be jobless than have many more deaths.

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

@doogleblue17 I'm glad your daughter is able to help you! Hopefully you can work something out which satisfies both you and the doctor. I know how difficult it is to get the right access. My GP did a face to face appointment which was better because I couldn't hear him on the phone

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

Being deaf during a global pandemic is difficult. Social distancing makes it harder to lipread or even hear someone is talking to you, masks make it impossible to lipread and isolation has created social anxiety. We need to remember that not everyone can hear

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

Essential spaces, like supermarkets, need clear signs explaining what to do. I've been to some shops that expect you to take a trolley from the carpark, and others that wipe the trolley before you go in. Signage is important. Don't rely on oral communication.

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

@Sunita83737600 @LNWH_NHS I have no idea, I'm sorry this happened to your fiance. How is be doing now?

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

Putting medical staff and deaf people in danger because they haven't considered us in their strategy is irresponsible and clearly not well thought through.

Can we #MakeCovidAccessible

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

I just registered at a new GP who said their policy was to only have telephone consultations. This is not accessible and is as a direct result of the virus.

They could offer to use a video conference service with captions, or have a system set up to include deaf/HoH people.

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

Can we make zoom and other video conference platforms accessible for deaf and HoH people?

#MakeCovidAccessible

Videoconferencing Participants: Pledge to make Videoconferencing more Inclusive - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/lGzJ7dmFAo via @UKChange

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

@Inclusive_Zoom Absolutely!!

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

Hi! My name is Lily and I'm a deaf 22 year old in the UK.

I recently had a Covid19 test in a test centre where there were no signs and the people all wore masks which made it impossible for me to hear or lipread them.

We need to make #CovidAccessible.

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

@NickInEngland @DisabledTimes @SkyNews @Twitter @TwitterA11y Brilliant! I loved the bit where he was like "no, I haven't considered resigning nor have I offered to" (also paraphrased).

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

It's a shame that @SkyNews
And @Twitter and @TwitterA11y have not considered putting subtitles on this. I do not have a TV and I want to have access to information at the same time as everyone else. https://t.co/k2mV9zTbec

[Lisa Nandy MP @lisanandy]

If Dominic Cummings turned up this late to the job centre he’d be sanctioned

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

Video description: recording of Cummings' update to the country on BBC with no subtitles or options for subtitles.

I cannot hear if well enough to transcribe the video, so apologies.

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

Excuse me, @BBCBreaking, could you consider using subtitles on your website. I do not have a TV, I cannot access this any other way.

I am deaf and cannot hear him over the background noise.

#MakeCovidAccessible

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

I suggest that we continue using masks, but be more forthcoming with written communication and to be ready to write down what you're saying at any given moment.

Remembering that this is an option will immensely help many people, not just deaf and hoh people

#MakeCovidAccessible

[Make Covid Accessible UK @CovidUk]

There are different levels of deafness, and different people have different issues. The way society relies on hearing and oralism means that many deaf people do not sign and cannot hear, meaning we rely on lipreading and contextual clues.

Increased masks = less lipreading