The Role of the Internet in D/deaf People ’ s Inclusion in the Information Society Presenters: Dr. Tracey Skelton (Loughborough University) and Dr. Takao Maruyama (Leeds University) Project Team: Tracey Skelton, Takao Maruyama, Dr. Phil Levy (Sheffield University) and Prof. Gill Valentine (Leeds University) Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

INTRODUCTION What the AHRC project is finding out Why are information and communication technologies (ICTs) important in society? What can the Internet offer D/deaf people?

Methodology and Context for this Paper D/deaf people who use the Internet are called ‘users’, those that don’t are ‘non- users’. 2 data sets: 1.Quantitative questionnaire (421 in total, 307 users, 114 non-users) 2.Qualitative interviews (42 people, 32 BSL as preferred language, 16 of these are Internet users)

Methodology and Context for this Paper Interviews in the following areas: the North West (2); Yorkshire (8); the Midlands (14); the South West (7); London and the South East (11). Described identity: Deaf = 20; deaf = 13; hard of hearing = 4; deaf and hard of hearing = 5.

Key questions this project addresses, some of which we explore in this presentation: What do D/deaf users of BSL perceive to be the consequences for them of the use of Internet communication and information resources? What factors facilitate/ constrain D/deaf people’s access to, knowledge about, and effective use of, Internet communication and information resources? To what extent are D/deaf people using the Internet to connect with the hearing and/or D/deaf worlds, and how does their use of the Internet affect their integration of off-line hearing and D/deaf worlds?

“I don’t think it’s really affected the Deaf community but it has improved their lives. Cos’ when it started it definitely affects the Deaf community, all changes in technology [do]…[The Internet] makes the Deaf community more confident. It means they’re more equal to hearing people, they get access to the same information access to jobs and sport, things like that. So it’s definitely been a big improvement for the Deaf community” (Adam, age 36, had specific training, also self-taught, uses computers and the Internet for work and at home).

“I am a Deaf person and I feel like, you know, I’m equal to hearing people when I’m on the Web, there’s no difference to us. I mean I know I’m deaf, definitely, but I think, you know, it’s kind of really good because you know we can move on, we can advance in the same way as hearing people can do, on an equal footing.” (Carol, 23, learned to use computers and the Internet through her father, currently unemployed, uses the Internet at home).

“If you think about it the aim of the Internet, , chat rooms, are based on communication and passing information, and for deaf people they can communicate using web cams – it is so easy to do that with MSN chat as well – it is really important for deaf people and I think that the Internet achieves its aim in that way.” (Derrick, age 34, first introduced to computers through school and college but self taught for the Internet, uses the Internet at work but mostly at work)

INT: “why do some deaf people not connect with the Internet?” SAMUEL: “Fear, I think. There are lots of rumours on the Internet about on-line fraud, also a lot of deaf people don’t know about computer viruses. They are scared because they don’t know what they are. They don’t know what to do and they don’t go online because of that, so it’s mainly fear.” (Samuel, aged 39, always interested in computers, taught himself, now a trainer so uses computers and the Internet at work and home).

“It would be good if there were more deaf web sites…some people don’t have such good communication [English] so it would be good to improve that” (Carol) “When people sign with each other on the Internet they need good quality equipment as some of the signing on the web is not very clear, it can jolt and look jerky, but I think it will improve with the years to come.” (Derrick)

“Maybe some deaf people don’t have very good English, reading English. Maybe it would help more in vision on websites so they could see the text, but press a button and download it. But sometimes if it’s too slow it’s a bit annoying when the signing’s slow”. (Danielle, aged 32, learned to when travelling, learned the Internet through her first job, training with an interpreter, uses the Internet at home and sometimes at work).

“I prefer face-to-face training, you know, hands on, so that if I don’t understand the information then I need to ask questions, I prefer to do this face-to-face so they can show me. The English on the Internet can be very heavy and in-depth so that can be a barrier…on the Internet there is a lot of writing and I prefer to learn through pictures as aids and hands-on experience…They should have some websites that use basic English and maybe use pictures as well. It can be difficult to see a page if there is a lot of fuzzy background or too much information there.” (Esther)

“There’s a lot of information in the written English language now and I feel that we need more in BSL, more clips in BSL, for example you can have the written language, the text and then a hand sign and if you could click on that it would bring up the information in sign language which deaf people could access a lot easier…also a lot of web sites need to be kept up to date” (Jennifer) “Better web cam!! There is one thing I have always wanted. Blind people have a thing which turns text into a voice. I want deaf people to have the text turned into sign for every website, I think that would be nice”. (Samuel)

“The problem with the Internet is that when something goes wrong you have to phone a help line! I can’t do that I’m deaf – I have to get my neighbour across the road to help me and phone them to sort it out – I don’t like that, I want someone to come and help me in my own language” (Alistair, aged 43, learning about computers and the Internet through BSL taught courses at his Deaf Club, only uses the Internet at home).

Conclusions There are a range of benefits that the Internet can bring to D/deaf people The Internet can be useful for D/deaf identity The Internet is not yet accessible for all D/deaf people Relatively small improvements will make a big difference