Social Enterprise - Breaking Down Barriers to Communication

Denise McConnell-Dillon, Client Services Manager

Hands That Talk - Mission StatementHands That Talk is a cross-community, voluntary organisation which seeks to engender a pride in the Deaf Community, its culture and language and promote a greater interest in and awareness of deaf people, whilst acknowledging the valid contribution

that they make to society.

Aims & Objectives of Social Enterprise

To break down the barriers to communication that are faced by Deaf people every day

What do we do?-Translate web based information and paper based information into sign language visuals up-loadable to various web platforms as well as available on DVD- Providing training in Sign Language and Deaf Awareness- Development, distribution and sale of sign language learning resources

Key StakeholdersDeaf Community Public Health Agency Western Health & Social Care Trust Community & Voluntary Sector Private Business Sector

Innovation Vouchers Aims-Provide comprehensive video skills to employee-Train employee skills to produce sign language adaptations of DVD’s- Provide a comprehensive list of hardware and software to set up and efficiently run social enterprise

Innovation Experience-Access to an experienced professional with a wealth of knowledge- Excellent training and mentoring- Improving our practices and equipment

What happened next….- Received a start-up grant from Invest NI- Have applied for funding for an upgrade in equipment to DARD- Finalists in the Arthur Guinness Fund- Working with Public Health Agency & Western Health & Social Care Trust on various signed information projects-Developed new learning resources to add to our online shop

Examples of what we produce:

• http://vimeo.com/26601485

• http://vimeo.com/26601337

What happened next….- Received a start-up grant from Invest NI- Have applied for funding for an upgrade in equipment to DARD- Finalists in the Arthur Guinness Fund- Working with Public Health Agency & Western Health & Social Care Trust on various signed information projects

Conclusion

- Innovation vouchers have been invaluable - Huge thank you to University of Ulster

- Any Questions?