When handling issues related to communication impairments, inclusion can easily become a difficult aim to achieve. However, the key issue may be more than clear speech and good hearing.
The Initial Story: - As someone who has severe communication impairments, both hearing and speech, I regularly use an “interpreter” to assist me with communication on the telephone. This can produce interesting discussions, where the person I am speaking to does not understand what is happening. It is accepted that speaking to someone where their dialogue is being spoken by someone else is not an everyday occurrence, but it is not unique. The obvious example where this may happen is during a bilingual conversation. I would like to think that in these days of disability inclusive/equality training, people who are expecting to get phone calls from disabled people would be aware that this situation may occur and how to respond.
Clearly this is not always the case. One day I had two telephone conversations with my Council, where my helper was simply repeating what I was saying. During the first conversation I found myself being pushed into the third person. By this I mean that the person I was speaking to, in their replies and questions, was addressing my helper and not me. Apparently, there was a fourth person in the discussion, and his name was Paul!!! Whilst I felt irritated during this conversation, with the finance department, I became particularly angry when I found the same type of behaviour coming from the Duty Social Worker.
We obviously have a long way to go before we can be included as equal participants in telephone conversations. Interestingly, although similar behaviour happened during my time in Kenya, it was not such a big problem. Perhaps because having a conversation via an interpreter was a more common occurrence.
After my attempts to communicate with my Council, I had to phone an airline about a journey that I was to do later that month. At first the person taking the call was a little confused as to whether he was speaking to me or my helper. He said as such. However, as the conversation progressed, he began to understand that he was conversing with me whilst hearing my helper’s voice. We finished the conversation on a remarkably positive note.
Personal Reflection: - This story has led me to reflect on the struggle we have before we can be regarded as fully included. If people who we hope can be trusted to have a more supportive attitude towards those of us with speech and communication impairments, adopt this type of behaviour, how can we expect other people to do any differently? I would appreciate any comments from other participants.
Com 1:-
I absolutely agree with you. This is why I would like us to do some work together to campaign for every civil servant. in Government or Local Council to take disability awareness training, I feel if they did the situation, you have highlighted, would not have happened.
Com 2:-
When the speaker is reduced to the fourth party, then the whole conversation lacks meaning. I'm worried that this is happening in the UK. In Kenya we have borrowed from the UK and to us, this is a developed country which should lead from the front.
Com 3:-
Third world countries like Kenya, and others look upon the UK for directions.
Com 4:-
I think we have a long way to go. Your story has ignited my desire to learn more about disabled people in the UK and other developed countries like USA, Australia, Japan just to mention a few.
Com 5:-
The reason that countries such as the UK, USA , Australia and so on, have an image of being ahead in terms of disability services and support is ultimately because they have greater economic power. It is not because they know more about the needs disabled people or are necessarily more inclusive. Having services and support initiatives is good and very helpful but if the basic agenda does not promote disability inclusion and equality, they are not fit for purpose.