Tech Helps Visually and Hearing Impaired During Pandemic

Communities across North Yorkshire help vulnerable people with sight or hearing loss during pandemic.

09:33 20 October 2020

People and various groups in North Yorkshire have come together to support their friends, family and neighbours, particularly those who are visually and hearing impaired, during the pandemic. 

 

Members of RVS Sight Loss, Yorkshire Coast and Ryedale Diability Forum and Scarboccia All Inclusive Sports have distributed IT kits to provide access to audiobooks, songs, jokes and voice-controlled calling to friends and family members. 

 

Antonio Mollica, a member of all the groups, said: “We’ve been in touch with our members and community since day one to make sure they didn’t feel isolated and were getting help with the things they needed, like shopping or health care.

 

“But it was difficult – at first in lockdown, when the supermarket shelves were already empty and tensions were high, some of us couldn’t lip read, especially as people began to wear masks.

 

“So we began to think about how we could help people and make a difference to members who were visually impaired or deaf.

 

“With the help of Stronger Communities, we started to apply for some grants.”

 

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Other members of the community are also trying to address other problems faced by the visually and hearing impaired, including the use of lanyards with cards explaining different disabilities and why people might be exempt from wearing face coverings. 

 

Marie-Ann Jackson, Head of the Stronger Communities programme, said: “The response from charities like these to ensure people have access to support and help during this pandemic has been incredible.

 

“Their inventiveness, creativity and resourcefulness to adapt their services to continue to meet people’s needs during these extraordinary times really is inspiring.

 

“We at North Yorkshire County Council want to thank people like Antonio, who look out for others within their community.

 

“The Stronger Communities team is on hand to support any groups in North Yorkshire that are interested in adapting their activities to enable them to continue to safely support people.”