DEAF and hard-of-hearing Warwickshire residents will get better access to Warwickshire County Council (WCC) services, information and support thanks to a new British Sign Language (BSL) relay service.
The council has teamed up with SignLive, a BSL relay service, to enhance accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing community across the county.
The video relay service connects BSL users with hearing people via a qualified interpreter.
Using a smartphone, tablet, or computer, BSL users can access an interpreter through the SignLive app or website, who will then relay the conversation in real time to a WCC staff member.
This service is available free of charge to BSL users and can be used to contact any Warwickshire County Council department.
Coun Mike Bannister, WCC’s Customer and Localities spokesman, said: “This partnership marks a significant step forward in making council services more inclusive, supporting BSL users to engage with WCC services and access information and support independently and confidently, without needing to rely on friends or family to interpret.”
The SignLive service is available during the operating hours of WCC’s Customer Service Centre – Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, and Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHk8vhccmJk to watch a BSL video which explains more about the service.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/yvcjvdfs for more information about services for deaf people in Warwickshire.
