London Euston launches UK’s first British Sign Language station announcements.

[Elderflower14]

HERE
Ds2 has had many stressful experiences travelling on the train so he will be very happy!
His BSL tutor is one of the people involved so that will please him too!! ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺

That’s fantastic. Is it going to be rolled out across the whole rail network?

I am travelling via Euston later in the week so look forward to seeing this. I presume the first sentence that most hearing people will know how to sign will be 'We are sorry to announce that the train has been delayed'.

@DrunkenKoala

That’s fantastic. Is it going to be rolled out across the whole rail network?

It's going to be added to more stations... Poor ds2 was travelling home to Margate one night and the assisted travel put him on an earlier train... At 9pm he messaged me "Mumma, I not want to worry you but I did nearly end up in Dover!" My poor Mum sat with me and said "DOVER?????!!!" Apparently he was sitting minding his own business when a guy asked him where he was going... He replied "Margate" and the guy said "Not in this half of the train you're not,, this is going to Dover! " Poor ds had to grab everything and move quickly... He was so upset and I was furious. This was the last straw after several travel mishaps! I rang his MP on the following Monday... He put the wind up the train company and they arranged for ds and I to tour Stratford International station and meet the staff. He had great fun whizzing the CCTV in and out and went on a security tour checking bins etc.. We now have a named person to contact when ds travels and we get on brilliantly!!

Please excuse my ignorance, but how are the destinations communicated in sign language?

Some places have individual signs London Manchester Other places are fingerspelt! ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺

This is great and I hope it has a lot of benefit for those who need it.

Please excuse my ignorance - what is it about the current system of LED boards which is not as accessible to deaf people as it should be?

@ClaudiaWankleman

This is great and I hope it has a lot of benefit for those who need it.

Please excuse my ignorance - what is it about the current system of LED boards which is not as accessible to deaf people as it should be?

That's a question I can't answer sorry.. 💙

I'm going to guess that last minute platform changes are a problem for deaf people. They tend to be announcements, and any change in the led boards is likely to go unnoticed as it's just one number on a board that might have ten different trains and destinations on it.

@ClaudiaWankleman

This is great and I hope it has a lot of benefit for those who need it.

Please excuse my ignorance - what is it about the current system of LED boards which is not as accessible to deaf people as it should be?

It's the announcements not the boards. How many times have you seen a board simply say 'Delayed' and has to listen for an announcement to tell you which alternative route you should use.

There is also the announcement that a train is ready coming sometimes before the indicator changes.

At Euston particularly when you are waiting for your platform to be announced it's really difficult to see the small writing on the LED boards.

The Deaf community, on average, also has lower levels of literacy. You can imagine how hard it is trying to learn to read in a second language, when you can't "sound out" the words in your head. So it can be more difficult to get information from the LED boards.

Also, you might arrive at a station and the train is shown as on time and it is only the tannoy announcement that lets you know it is now cancelled and prompts you to check to find out where you're supposed to go now.

Yes, you are all right. Thank you for explaining.

I heard someone from the RNID being interviewed on the news this morning. He was saying how scary it is for deaf people when places are evacuated due to emergencies and they don't know what is happening...

☺

I'm taking it you are W's mum, by such another positive post about inclusion
It's certainly a step in the right direction
I strongly believe that signing should be taught in all schools though

@MrsAudreyAlfredRobertsOBEHmm

I'm taking it you are W's mum, by such another positive post about inclusion It's certainly a step in the right direction I strongly believe that signing should be taught in all schools though

I am! ☺ During lockdown he took all his Makaton workshops and now assists his tutors in teaching others.. He is currently in the middle of taking his BSL Stage 2 exams. His tutor is one of the signers employed by the BBC to sign the Government briefings on the News 24 Channel. Don't even start me on the government not having a signer in the briefing room!! 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡 😡

@Elderflower14 I trust you are very proud of DS2.

The government not having a signer in the room is disgraceful I agree.

What a good idea.
Glad Wilf is doing ok.

[quote newnortherner111]@Elderflower14 I trust you are very proud of DS2.

The government not having a signer in the room is disgraceful I agree.[/quote]
I'm bursting with pride. He's recently been made an ambassador of two charities... An educational farm on the Isle of Sheppey HERE Also FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺