Overview of a comms cock-up

‘Ere. I Wanna tell you  story (that’s my Max Bygraves impersonation, by the way…)Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.This is a story about a massive telephone billing cock-up, distressed and angry deafies (myself included), Twitter power and – oh the irony – the utter failure of a telecommunications company to communicate effectively.

Is ‘handicapped’ ever acceptable?

This is a quick post. I have to get something off my chest…

Yesterday, on Twitter, someone I follow used the term “aurally handicapped”.  This was in relation to a story about deaf children in Sri Lanka.

Now, obviously, the acceptable terminology used in different countries to refer to disability is a wide and varied thing. But here in the UK (and, I would have thought, in the US where this Tweeter is from) ‘handicapped’ is a word you just don’t use – isn’t it? Is it ever acceptable?

As someone with hearing impairment (a term some people disapprove of, but my chosen descriptor) I was stunned to read that clunky phrase. It was clearly something repeated from the Sri Lankan press. But from a deaf advocate, it was insensitive to say the least.

Oh Lordy. Am I over-reacting? Am I turning into some kind of dreadful PC word watcher?

I don’t think so. I think I was just shocked. It just shows how powerful words can be. I can’t recall the last time I heard the word ‘handicapped’ being used in this way.

Things have changed a lot since the 1970s.

 

 

 

Get networking with me

Sometimes, if things don’t exist you have to create them yourself.

Well, that’s what I think anyway. So – I’m going to try and set up a networking group for working professionals who happen to be hearing impaired.

The idea initially is that this would be a place to share tips, skills, ideas, moans…

If it gained any ground, then I’d like it to be somewhere that people could find support or advice on working-type things.

God knows, I could’ve done with this kind of thing at the start of the year but couldn’t find anything – hence my attempt to set something up.

I’ve bored a few people with this already on Twitter and LinkedIn and there seems to be little bit of interest. But surely there must be more?

I am going deaf…

What’s the most challenging aspect of running a successful business in these economically challenged times?

Attracting new clients? Getting people to actually pay for work done? Charging the right fee?

For me it’s simple: going deaf.

Yes, you heard me.

It’s been a pretty dreadful few months as I have rapidly lost the ability to use a regular phone, can no longer hear the radio (it’s just noise) and have to watch tv with subtitles – something I only only used to do if there was a fancy foreign film on.

Day-to-day living is hard enough – but what about the business? I have to earn a living and I have to get on with it. But how?