A choir that gives deaf children an opportunity to practice their love of music by performing through sign language was invited to launch an equality and diversity event.
The children, who attend Royal School for the Deaf Derby, in Ashbourne Road, performed at the University of Derby to launch its Disability Month.
The event was held in the atrium of the University’s Kedleston Road site and followed an introduction from Paula Holt, the Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of Health and Social Care.
After the choir’s performance there was a workshop so the audience could learn how to say a few simple greetings and introduce themselves in British Sign Language (BSL).
Head teacher Helen Shepherd said: “The choir thoroughly enjoyed the performance and it was particularly pleasing for them to see hearing people learning some BSL – even a simple greeting can mean such a lot to a deaf person.
“The work the university has carried out to celebrate, recognise and support people with disabilities is excellent and we were delighted to be a part of it.
“Although our students are deaf they are keen music makers and deafness is certainly not a barrier to making or appreciating music.
“You can appreciate musicality in a multitude of ways, through vibrations, gestures, body movements, rhythms and even by reading music on the printed page.”
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The diversity month also involved several training courses and awareness workshops for university staff on dementia, autism and BSL and deafness and staff role models for disability were featured in the monthly newsletter.
The university’s Sunflower Campaign was also launched at the event. Based on a similar initiative run by Sainsburys and Marks and Spencer, staff, students and visitors are invited to wear a sunflower badge to notify those around them that they have a hidden disability.
This ensures they will not be challenged when using accessible lifts, parking spaces, barriers and toilets and frontline staff at the university have all received training around the campaign.
Mrs Shepherd added: “Although our children are united in experiencing a loss of hearing many have other disabilities too and we applaud any scheme which helps make life easier for those who may not have visible issues but still require support.”
ENDS
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