The Limping Chicken

Deaf News: Figures show only 36.3% of deaf children achieve...
The Limping Chicken Only 36.3% of deaf children in England have left secondary school having hit national GCSE benchmarks, according to the Department of Education (DfE) figures released today. This compares with 65.3% of their hearing classmates, highlighting a disturbing widening gap. Alongside these results, a recent report issued by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) on be...
Fri, Jan 30 2015 · 3 hours ago

Andy Palmer: 6 clips from deaf films that will teach you...
The Limping Chicken In my last job I used to train new recruits working for the nation’s largest deafness charity, Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID), on a whole range of topics to do with deafness. Occassionally, I’d show film clips by some of the UK’s fantastic deaf filmmakers during training sessions to illustrate important points. Why? Because […]
Fri, Jan 30 2015 · 7 hours ago

Catherine White: My memories of growing up as a child of...
The Limping Chicken There are moments in life that can change you forever. That moment for me happened in July 1987 at the World Federation of the Deaf Congress in Helsinki, Finland. A small little man approached me in the middle of thousands of Deaf and hearing people from all over the world and said “You come from […]
Thu, Jan 29 2015

Go see: BSL interpreted performance of Out Of The Cage at...
The Limping Chicken This is a paid-for post. The Park Theatre (nearest tube Finsbury Park) have a BSL interpreted performance of OUT OF THE CAGE on Friday 6th Feb, 7:45pm. OUT OF THE CAGE is the story of women’s courage, dignity and hope in World War One. This performance will be interpreted by Jeni Draper, and there is a […]
Wed, Jan 28 2015

“I’m always looking for a hook.” Meet: Award-winning...
The Limping Chicken Samuel Dore is a big name in Deaf cinema. He’s produced pieces of film that have won awards, he’s worked with the BBC, Channel 4, and Maverick Television to mention but a few. He’s also not only a film-maker, but a graphic designer, a photographer and illustrator. Having long been intrigued by somebody who has the […]
Wed, Jan 28 2015

Watch: The song Let it Go from Frozen – signed in...
The Limping Chicken If your kids are anything like my kids, you’ll be very very excited about showing this to them, thanks to America’s DPAN (Deaf Performing Arts Network) and director Jules Dameron:
Tue, Jan 27 2015

Charlie Swinbourne: What it’s like to record a podcast...
The Limping Chicken I first got to know Simon Minty and Steve Best – the chaps behind the Abnormally Funny People comedy show – a few years ago. When I worked at Soho Theatre in London, part of my job was booking a sign language interpreter or palantypist to make their show accessible to deaf people in the audience. All […]
Tue, Jan 27 2015

Deaf News: Study is published in two medical journals...
The Limping Chicken The world’s first large scale study of the health of Deaf people, compared with the hearing population, has been published in two medical journals today. BMJ Open and the BJGP (British Journal of General Practice) both carry the results of the research. It revealed shocking inequality in treatment, which means that some Deaf people are […]
Mon, Jan 26 2015

Emily Howlett: Why are deaf actors still being sidelined?
The Limping Chicken The new Stephen Hawking biopic, ‘The Theory of Everything’ caused heated discussion before it was even released, with the announcement that Eddie Redmayne, an able-bodied actor, would be playing the main role. Once the film hit cinemas, the controversy only escalated, with some praising Redmayne’s performance, while others questioned whether the role should have...
Mon, Jan 26 2015

Rebecca-Anne Withey: A response to Brian Duffy’s film...
The Limping Chicken Every weekend, we are publishing popular articles from our archive, which you might have missed the first time round! Tell us which articles you think should be reposted by emailingthelimpingchicken@gmail.com I’ve just got round to watching Brian Duffy’s short film ‘Strangers’. Using dialogues led by a young deaf guy and his parents, it showed its audience j...
Sun, Jan 25 2015

How many do you know? 15 amazing deaf sports stars!
The Limping Chicken Every weekend, we are publishing popular articles from our archive, which you might have missed the first time round! Tell us which articles you think should be reposted by emailingthelimpingchicken@gmail.com On Sunday, Derrick Coleman became the first deaf American Footballer to win the SuperBowl. Let’s take a look at him and some other well known (and some […]
Sat, Jan 24 2015

Charlie Swinbourne: Why you should watch the brand-new Deaf...
The Limping Chicken Before Christmas, I had the pleasure of watching a very new kind of Deaf programme being created – a Deaf sitcom, performed entirely in BSL, called Small World. You could say Small World is like a Deaf version of the TV comedy Friends, a snappy, punchy comedy about a group of people around the same […]
Fri, Jan 23 2015

Deaf News: Missing Deaf man in Sussex found after BSL...
The Limping Chicken We reported yesterday on a missing Deaf man called Thomas Swan in Sussex, who hadn’t been seen since Friday last week. Sergeant Glen Barham, who is the Hampshire Constabulary Police Link Officer for Deaf people, signed an appeal for information as to Thomas’s whereabouts (see below). We’re pleased to report that in a comment last night […]
Thu, Jan 22 2015

Jen Dodds: 5 tips for making your own BSL video for Limping...
The Limping Chicken So you’re thinking of sending a BSL video to Limping Chicken, but you’re not feeling very confident, or aren’t sure how to do it? We at Limping Chicken would love to have more articles in BSL. So, we’ve put together a few tips to hopefully encourage you to send one in! To watch this article […]
Thu, Jan 22 2015

Deaf News: Motor dealer Arnold Clark partners with...
The Limping Chicken Motor dealer Arnold Clark has partnered with our supporter SignVideo to enable them to communicate with members of the Deaf community using SignVideo BSL Live. BSL Live is a secure and easy-to-use British Sign Language (BSL) online video interpreting service. By simply clicking on a BSL Live icon on the Arnold Clark website, Deaf BSL users […]
Wed, Jan 21 2015

Watch: Signing policeman appeals for help finding missing...
The Limping Chicken A Deaf man called Thomas Swan from Hove, Sussex, has been missing since Friday last week. In this video, Sergeant Glen Barham, who is the Hampshire Constabulary Police Link Officer for Deaf people, signs the appeal for information as to Thomas’s whereabouts. If you can help, please use the contact details in the video.
Wed, Jan 21 2015

Ian Noon: Legal action on Disabled Students Allowance
The Limping Chicken A member of the NDCS Young People’s Advisory Board, Zanna, has initiated legal action against the Government over proposedchanges to Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). Disabled students who need support at university can apply to DSA to help cover the costs of things like note-takers or flashing fire alarms in halls of residence. For many deaf […]
Wed, Jan 21 2015

Deaf News: New device created which will enable Deaf people...
The Limping Chicken At first glance, this story looks like a practical joke. But it’s been reported in the Telegraph, so there must be something in it. It seems the next breakthrough in enabling deaf people to hear may involve not our ears, but our tongues. Read on… Extract: Cochlear implants have had great success in restoring hearing […]
Tue, Jan 20 2015

Lee Robertson: Food for thought (BSL)
The Limping Chicken You know what? I’ve had enough of the world we live in. I want to go on a journey, far away, to a distant planet, and I’d like you to come with me. To watch this article in BSL, signed by Lee, click play below: On this planet the population is hugely varied. They have […]
Tue, Jan 20 2015

Deaf News: ODEON partners with the National Deaf...
The Limping Chicken ODEON – Europe’s largest cinema group – has announced a partnership with the National Deaf Children’s Society which will see subtitled kid’s film screenings for children trialled at cinemas across the UK. Last weekend, 14 ODEON cinemas around the country hosted subtitled kid’s film screenings, so that young people who are deaf or hard of hearing […]
Mon, Jan 19 2015

“It’s the first time I’ve performed in my home...
The Limping Chicken What’s the play about? Light is set in a future world where a totalitarian regime monitors the thoughts of its citizens through implants. It tells the story of a young government agent whose job is to hunt down ‘terrorists’ who try to illegally disconnect their implants. I can’t say too much but he ends up […]
Mon, Jan 19 2015

Matt Dixon: Ten essential things to know about being a...
The Limping Chicken Every weekend, we are publishing popular articles from our archive, which you might have missed the first time round! Tell us which articles you think should be reposted by emailingthelimpingchicken@gmail.com My name is Matt Dixon and I’m the grown-up child of deaf parents. My parents, my brother and sister are all deaf and use sign language – […]
Sun, Jan 18 2015

The Question: Is it easier to start wearing hearing aids...
The Limping Chicken Every weekend, we are publishing popular articles from our archive, which you might have missed the first time round! Tell us which articles you think should be reposted by emailingthelimpingchicken@gmail.com I was born deaf. Although both of my parents were deaf, because I responded to some sounds, nobody realised that I was partially deaf for around a […]
Sat, Jan 17 2015

Deaf News: Gloucestershire Deaf Association to launch Deaf...
The Limping Chicken Deaf charity Gloucestershire Deaf Association have received funding to make a series of Deaf awareness videos, which will released online in the next few weeks. The videos are possible thanks to a grant awarded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation Trust in 2013 to fund a two-year project to help Deaf and hard of hearing people […]
Fri, Jan 16 2015

Review: Listen, Even When Your Heart is Crying, a...
The Limping Chicken Grief is a taboo subject in family groups. It is not a popular topic of conversation; but here grief gets explored and, in the context of this documentary, grief is not caused by the death of a loved one. Everyone is still alive. This is about the grief parents of deaf children may experience upon […]
Fri, Jan 16 2015

Kimberly Brown: Trying to sleep through tinnitus
The Limping Chicken Sleep is what rejuvenates you and help you get through the day, keeps you healthy, and keeps you SANE. As a chronic insomniac it is a wonder I am not a crazed, drooling, needing a padded room and straightjacket person every day. I am sure my toddler is grateful that his Mommy somehow manages to […]
Thu, Jan 15 2015

Deaf News: Boost for Deaf and disabled actors as Channel 4 ...
The Limping Chicken The chance of a Deaf actor appearing on your TV screen is set to increase with the news that Channel 4 have launched a new Diversity Charter. Programmes ranging from dramas to factual series will now be judged on the diversity of the people shown in them,  and if Channel 4’s executives miss their targets, […]
Wed, Jan 14 2015

Diary of a Deaf Filmmaker, Month 7: Why aren’t more Deaf...
The Limping Chicken As I sit here, writing this mildly entertaining drivel, we are literally DAYS away from the all important shoot! We decided to cancel any New Years celebrations, as we simply didn’t have the time for them. It’s not happening as far as I’m concerned. Don’t get me wrong. I love a good “shindig”, but we’re […]
Wed, Jan 14 2015

“I make what I do accessible to everyone, regardless of...
The Limping Chicken Could you tell me about your background? Where do you come from? I was born in a small rural village in South India. Later at a very young age my family moved to Singapore. Their decision was made in an attempt to ensure both my sister and myself got access to education that would cater […]
Tue, Jan 13 2015

Deaf News: Actress Rachel Shenton helps NDCS encourage...
The Limping Chicken Former Hollyoaks star, Rachel Shenton, is helping the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) encourage young deaf dancers and musicians to showcase their performance skills and enter Raising the Bar, a new music and dance competition which launches today. Raising the Bar was developed by NDCS to make dance and music more accessible for the 45,000 […]
Mon, Jan 12 2015

John Cradden: “Phenomenal” signing choir from Irish...
The Limping Chicken This article by John Cradden for the Irish Times has been shared here with the kind permission of the author and the publisher. It’s often assumed that when profoundly deaf children are involved in any kind of musical performance it’s mainly for their therapeutic benefit: a worthy attempt at confidence-building or something that might help […]
Mon, Jan 12 2015

Kimberly Brown: 12 tips to help hearing people communicate...
The Limping Chicken Every weekend, we are publishing popular articles from our archive, which you might have missed the first time round! Tell us which articles you think should be reposted by emailingthelimpingchicken@gmail.com Every Deaf or HOH person is different and has different needs and strengths dealing with their communication requirements on a daily basis. The strategies sugg...
Sat, Jan 10 2015

“We should use our lipreading skills for solving...
The Limping Chicken So, we’ve been in 2015 a little while now. Long enough to have made and broken a whole heap of ridiculous New Year’s Resolutions, making now the perfect time to make our New New Year’s Resolutions. The ones we might actually stick to… Right, here we go. Top five resolutions for Deafies. #5 – Only […]
Fri, Jan 09 2015

Nikki Heywood: Have you ever heard of Cholosteatoma? Read...
The Limping Chicken Yesterday, I was picked up by Ambulance Transport at 7.15am for an appointment at Manchester Royal Infirmary at 8.55am. I live approximately 11 miles away. We arrived at 9.20am. Hospital staff are used to the lateness, so it wasn’t a problem. I was the only one in the waiting room and I thought, ‘Great. What […]
Thu, Jan 08 2015

Read: Rebecca Atkinson’s Guardian article about the...
The Limping Chicken Just in case you missed this Guardian article by Deaf journalist Rebecca Atkinson, which was published shortly before Christmas, we suggest you read it without delay. The article is about the reaction to the French film La Famille Belier, the story of a deaf family with a hearing daughter with a talent for singing. The […]
Wed, Jan 07 2015

Judy Perry: How I made three lipreading mistakes in one...
The Limping Chicken Every now and then I make an effort to socialise, and it is a big effort. I used to look forward to meeting new people but, like many who have gradually lost their hearing, this has become more and more of a challenge. I’d get to a party and within an hour think to myself […]
Wed, Jan 07 2015

Deaf News: Star British cyclist to boycott Deaflympics in...
The Limping Chicken The Two Big Ears blog, run by Stuart Harrison, Vice Chair of UK Deaf Sport, has revealed that the Deaflympics silver and bronze medal winning cyclist Tom Smith is set to boycott the next games in protest at the way the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf is being run. The website recently revealed controversy after […]
Tue, Jan 06 2015

Jason Sharpe: 10 ways BSL users could have a bigger...
The Limping Chicken I’m Jason Sharpe. I’m looking back at 2014 and there are a few things that I’ve noticed during the year that I wasn’t satisfied with. There’s quite a lot of information that I wanted to share so I thought I thought I would do an article for Limping Chicken! The things I want to talk […]
Tue, Jan 06 2015

Diary of a Deaf Filmmaker, Month 6: Do Deaf filmmakers have...
The Limping Chicken During the build up to the shoot I was thinking the other day about what the final quality of the film will be like. Hopefully, it should be of quite a high standard as not only myself, but a ton of wonderful people have been working very hard on it, which I am HUGLEY grateful […]
Mon, Jan 05 2015

Quiz: What kind of deaf person are you?
The Limping Chicken Every weekend, we are publishing popular articles from our archive, which you might have missed the first time round! Tell us which articles you think should be reposted by emailingthelimpingchicken@gmail.com What kind of deaf person are YOU? Work out if your answers are mostly a, b, c, d. Your answers will help you find out… 1. When […]
Sat, Jan 03 2015

Kim Webster: How to get involved in Christmas family...
The Limping Chicken Christmas time is a time for exchanging gifts, good food, an abundance of plastic and cardboard everywhere and cinnamon vodka. That’s the true spirit of Christmas. And of course, family get-togethers – which lead to Great Christmas Arguments. Those arguments that are the reason Great Aunt Maud can’t face coming to family parties any more, […]
Fri, Jan 02 2015

Jen Dodds: My personal review of 2014! (BSL)
The Limping Chicken Happy new year to all our readers from the Limping Chicken team. Here’s an article published just before Christmas, which you might have missed the first time round!  As 2014 has come to an end I thought it would be good to celebrate by doing my own little video review of the year (all views are mine, […]
Thu, Jan 01 2015

Imagine a World – Leah Kalaitzi’s powerful poem about...
The Limping Chicken Imagine a world without speaking your language Your language is English To watch this poem in BSL, signed by Leah, click play below: Imagine you are very ill you go to the doctor you try to explain what’s wrong Your doctor doesn’t understand you No English interpreter booked A few weeks later you are critically […]
Sun, Dec 28 2014

Review: The perfect comedy for the Christmas break – Jean...
The Limping Chicken When a deaf actress Mabel Morgan (Caroline Parker) is forced by her agent to lose weight to get a role, she is faced with a stark life choice. Stay fat and unemployed or lose weight and keep a hearing and thinner actress from getting the role. If I don’t lose, I’ll lose is actress-turned-director Jean […]
Sat, Dec 27 2014

Merry Christmas from the Limping Chicken team!
The Limping Chicken Thank you to all our writers, readers and supporters for helping this website make an impact this year! In 2014, we added BSL articles to our regular output, once again clocking up over 1 million views by covering news and views from the deaf world we all live in. We look forward to laying more eggs in […]
Wed, Dec 24 2014

The Secret Deafie: “At Christmas, everyone around me is...
The Limping Chicken Here’s a Christmas article from our archive, which you might have missed first time round. Check out our Christmas tips for including deaf people here. The Secret Deafie is a series of anonymous columns written by different writers. Our Christmas eve blog is from one Deafie who finds added challenges get in the way of […]
Tue, Dec 23 2014

“There were tables, chairs and TVs floating in the...
The Limping Chicken It’s now ten years since the Indian Ocean earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed. Alexy Dury, a Deaf scuba diver, was on holiday in Thailand at the time. Here she writes (and signs) for the first time about her experience. It was around 11am on Boxing Day, 2004.  I remember the time well because […]
Mon, Dec 22 2014

Teresa Garratty: 15 steps to being a Deaf Christmas Scrooge!
The Limping Chicken Here is a popular article from our archive, which you might have missed the first time round! Tell us which articles you think should be reposted by emailingthelimpingchicken@gmail.com Ah, Christmas! The “Marmite” of all seasons, you either love it or you spit it out in disgust. So for all the anti-festive readers out there, here’s how to […]
Sun, Dec 21 2014

Charlie Swinbourne: 12 tips to ensure deaf people aren’t...
The Limping Chicken Christmas is a special time of year, but for deaf people, it can also be a tricky time, because we often find ourselves with people who are not very deaf aware. I still remember one Christmas when my brother’s deaf friend asked if he could drive over to our house for a few hours on Christmas Day – […]
Sat, Dec 20 2014

Access to Work report criticises government for...
The Limping Chicken The Work and Pensions Committee’s Access to Work report, published today, has heavily criticised the government’s Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for changes to how the scheme has been run. The report bluntly states that the changes have “threatened the employability” of Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users. To watch this article in BSL, […]
Fri, Dec 19 2014