DISHING THE DIRT ON THE R.N.I.D.
Below was taken from Dans website
DISHING THE DIRT ON THE R.N.I.D.
THEY STEAL OUR VOICE; THEY STEAL OUR CASH;
THEY LOCK US AWAY.
RNID (otherwise known as Really Not Interested in the Deaf)
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People is basically a million-pound charity that is strangely unpopular with the very people it claims to serve.
For example, the Government recognised British Sign Language (BSL) as a language in its own right. The RNID showed very little interest in the 5-year BSL recognition campaign, which was led by community based BSL users, until BSL was finally recognised and the Government put up £1 million for bidding.
Suddenly, they were ‘experts’, despite being led by hearing people who can’t sign! The RNID with their wealth of resources are actively bidding against the deaf campaigners and their organisations for the government’s money despite being asked not to.
We want rights, not charity. We don’t want to see ‘Deaf Pounds’ going straight into the pockets of the RNID’s fat cats. If they couldn’t support the campaign why should they get the cash?
This is typical of how these charities operate.
SLOW TO ADVOCATE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE
BUT QUICK TO TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE.
Their Chief Executive is hearing which sends a clear message to Deaf People and the wider world that they (deaf people) are not capable of running their organisation. Deaf people say that they are ready and willing to take over the organisation and work with the disability movement for concrete change.
If they seriously want to advise the government on employing deaf people they could start with themselves.
The RNID is the main culprit for keeping Deaf people locked in ‘care homes’ that they have set up all over the UK. Until the RNID is GOT RID OF deaf people will not have the chance of full inclusion into our society.
Despite all this the RNID is still whispering in the ear of government and is recognised by this government as a leading advisor.
We call on the government to listen to Deaf People
not the RNID
We call on the RNID to get our of out lives.
Yes, the new CEO is hearing, but RNID’s record is far worse than that - they also have no deaf or hoh people on their entire senior management team! That has remained the case for years, despite deaf people complaining about it. Such an insulting vote of no confidence can only mean that they are not the best people to represent us.
Sorry for sticking my nose into your business, but your comments really cause a visceral reaction in me. Such a situaton is intolerable in an advanced nation such as the UK! If you were in some underdeveloped 3rd world country, perhaps it would be more understandable, but there are MANY qualified Deaf people in the UK who can fill such leadership roles. If, in fact such people dont exist, then the RNID is to blame for not adequately preparing Deaf people for leadership responsbilities.
This is the 21st Century, not the Middle Ages!!! Deaf people, as well as other minority groups, have a RIGHT and a RESPONSIBILITY to manage the affairs (and the money) that directly impacts their lives!
I think its time to develop some healthy relations with the news media, and start becoming more visible and angry, a la Gallaudet demonstrations in 1988 and 2006… Neither of those would have succeeded without the support of the media…
Good luck and best wishes.
Lurking_Canada,
Thanks for commenting and no you are not sticking your nose in.:-)
I welcome any comments or ideas.
Gallaudet was watched with interest,we knew about it and some have lent support although I wasn’t one of them.
However they have shown it can be done,I think we all are waiting for the straw that breaks the camels back… but who is going to organise this?
Who is going to lit the fuse?
Hear, hear (!).
I totally agree. I honestly feel that the RNId (and other hearing-led deaf organisations) is the reason why there has been so little progress in the UK with regard to the recognition of BSL as a language in its own right (none of that DWP-palaver please) and the general apathy of the Deaf community.
Now, Fintan, you need to tell us how we’re gonna get rid of the RNId. Not easy, huh? IT HAS TO BE DONE.
The RNID exists as a ’supportive’ deaf charity, that’s its bread and butter and source of all funding, deaf people campaigning for the money to be given to them direct to ‘buy in’ their own services/support, would defeat the RNID, whether Government wants to do something as radical as enabling us to Do it ourselves reamins to be seen.
Whether the deaf community can display the ability to manage their own care seems in doubt, now I wonder who suggested to the Government we cannot do this ? Couldn’t be the RNID could it ?
RNIT GOT FLAT HEART MEAN NO HEART SELFISH YOU KNOW HEART SAID 50 PERCENT AND 50 PERCENT GOOD BALANCE HEALTH HEART FOR DEAF NOT 75 PERCENT HEARING AND 25 PERCENT DEAF YOU KNOW EQUAL ADA LAWS MUST BE FAIR FOR JOBS RNID CAN GET TROUBLE WITH ADA LAWYERS
What did RNID do in response to the Government’s emergency response to an attempted terrorist attacks in the UK in 2005, did you remember that terrorists tried to blow up the US-bound planes once they left London Heathrow using the cocktail of different liquids?
Department of Transport imposed emergency controls that all passengers are not allowed to carry anything else apart from passport, travel documents, money, medical-related essential things etc. Everything had to go into the luggage.
Regarding Deaf people, they usually use paper and pen to communicate as well as some use hearing aids etc.
RNID liaised with the Department of Transport (DoT) in pleading that hearing aids are considered as essential thing to help “deaf people” to hear etc and the DoT decided that hearing aids were allowed to be carried with the passengers.
What about paper and pen? They’d still be taken away from Deaf passengers - leaving them with absolutely nothing to communicate with. Shame on RNID for regarding Deaf people as if they live “in a total silent world” - especially in the “state of emergency” events, in such responses to possible terrorist attacks.
Also, the Government is drawing up other emergency legislation, such as imposing controls on every individuals’ movements in the events of terrorist attacks, what is RNID doing? Yes I do pick on RNID because the Government always rely on RNID for advice on the social policies in relation to the deafness. Unfortunately RNID narrowly focus on those who “can hear - with the residual hearing aids”.
Perhaps, RNID could set up the partnership with the Government to invest in the BSL classes for essential personnels such as the British Army, armed police etc. This will enable they to communicate effectively with Deaf people in the state of emergency whenever they will be imposed by the Government.
SOME of hearing staff within RNID London can use BSL at any levels. I have met some of them, may I kindly suggest - let’s not take out personally at RNID staff. Staff do BSL practice ONLY for interaction with Deaf colleagues and does NOT affect the Deaf people outside the RNID workplace.
Suggest we focus on RNID’s policies and philosophy regarding deaf people who use sign language as the first/preferred language. The most critical point is how can the Army, the armed police, government officials communicate with Deaf people during “the state of emergency” event? I’d be very interested to know a response from RNID.
No DO let us take it out on RNID staff ! How many colleagues actually use BSL at featherstone street daily ? and shouldn’t, RNID staff working with deaf people ALL have an ability to sign ? Of course it affects deaf people if RNID staff cannot communicate properly to the people the represent.
That’s the whole issue, they operate on the basis most can hear or use a pencil… something they have ensured by hiring hearing staff instead, anything else hire a terp ? Any idiot firm can do that, but we are talking about a ‘Deaf’ group, with £50m of our money, and one claiming to represent all of us….
I`m a simple soul. All I want is a review of T.V. sets presenting info. on which sets produce good sound. Our Toshiba has great pix. but crap sound, it cost one and a half grand and has to go, but what to replace it with? That is the question.
Help!!!!!
Ron.