4:40pm Thursday 6th December 2012
By Chris Hewett
TIMES NEWS, UK
Deaf and blind people are becoming victims of the recession as organisations struggle to afford sign language interpreters.
The Jewish Deaf Association (JDA) has set up its own weekly drop-in sessions to plug what it says is a gap at advice and advocacy services in Barnet.
Photo: Interpreters can help out with a range of problems at the new drop-in sessions organised by the charity
Charity directors have raised £140,000 to pay for sign language interpreters to come in once a week to help those in need.
Among the problems encountered by the deaf and blind community are difficulties communicating with people and organisations like landlords, councils and utility companies.
Interpreters can help fill in forms, speak on the phone to service providers or offer help and advice on letters and emails.
So many people turned up to the first session at the end of November that the charity was unable to fit everyone in.
Executive director Sue Cipin said:
