Deaf people in Forth Valley are getting an extra helping hand, thanks to Administrator Co-ordinator Stacey Gourlay, who works with the Disability Equality and Access Service.
Skilled in British Sign Language (BSL) and with a long career working with sensory- impaired people, Stacey has developed a range of new services including drop-in sessions at Forth Valley Sensory Centre, ‘face-time’ BSL signing calls and text messaging updates.
Face-time signing calls enable Deaf BSL users to call the Disability, Equality and Access Service during office hours. Stacey explained: “People can sign directly to me. This may be to ask questions regarding a health appointment, or confirm or cancel an appointment they can no longer attend. I will also be sending out further information about contactScotland, a Government funded service which connects Deaf BSL users to public authorities via a video relay service. This allows them, for example, to contact GPs to make an appointment or get in touch with NHS 24 for health information – options which have not been available until now.”
Stacey, with the support from our webmaster, has also introduced BSL video clips on the NHS Forth Valley website including information about the Disability Equality and Access Service, Accessing Interpretation Services and the ‘Know Where to Turn To’ leaflet which is also provided in six minority languages.
