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Many people in local communities have found the Web provides them with the means to communicate and maintain contact in a way that was not possible previously. For attendees at Sign's centre in South West London a day without surfing the Web or firing off a few emails or texts has become a thing of the past.
Sign works to empower deaf people with mental health problems to live independently and the charity's Bridge day centre offers a place of learning, working, socialising, relaxing and receiving information or advice.
Recognising that online tools such as email and text messaging play a crucial role in services for deaf people, Sign used its 2004 AOL Innovation in the Community Award to fund a communications skills course at The Bridge. A specialist trainer from deafax, an organisation that uses technology to help improve the lives of deaf people, was brought in to help.
As Nadine Ardati, Sign's training manager at The Bridge, explains: "Our trainees learnt about faxing, typetalk, text messaging, email, chat rooms and much more. These technologies are such a valuable alternative to using the telephone for deaf people and everyone was really enthusiastic about learning new skills."
One participant, a 51-year old who is deaf and has learning difficulties, previously relied on other people to communicate for her. The course soon changed that. She now has a fax machine at home, her own email address at The Bridge's internet café, and is learning to text message.
"Some of our trainees are now so confident that they are doing basic computer work here at The Bridge, typing up letters and helping staff with other administrative duties. They are contributing to the running of the centre, which is very much part of our ethos," adds Nadine. "Computers, the internet and other technologies are really helping them to get involved and lead more independent lives."
Sign repeated its success in the scheme in 2006, using its second award to install videophones and webcams in its centres and some clients' homes.