Bobby & the Leicester Deaf Centre deliver CPD for the LEBC Team
LEBC’s neighbour, the Leicester Deaf Centre, delivered an Introduction to British Sign Language workshop for LEBC staff. Louise, the trainer, brought along with her, Bobby her service dog and Averil, her translator. Together the team taught the LEBC staff how to sign common phrases such as ‘how are you’ and ‘good afternoon’ and introduced the team to the alphabet.
LEBC makes the most of the summer break for schools and colleges by encouraging ongoing professional development for all LEBC employees and providing opportunities like the British Sign Language workshop. Opportunities like these help the staff team grow and acquire new abilities that they may apply in their work with young people, in schools and colleges, with businesses, and in the community we serve.
The team were surprised to learn approximately 12 million people in the UK are deaf or experience hearing difficulties. Louise, from the Leicester Deaf Centre explained that only 30% of the English language is distinguishable/readable on the lips (lip-reading) highlighting the need and impact of British Sign Language. The team also discovered the best ways to assist participants who lip read when teaching in environments like classrooms. All staff members would greatly benefit from this information, but especially our school events staff and career advisors who conduct one-to-one meetings with children in mainstream and SEND schools and deliver careers workshops in a variety of settings.
The Leicester Deaf Centre work in partnership with the local universities in Leicester to offer Level 1 and Level 2 British Sign Language courses. To find out more about the fantastic services they offer in the community, visit their website – Leicester Deaf Centre – Leicester Deaf Centre
Thank you to Louise, Bobby and Averil for the fantastic and insightful workshop.
