Disability

[Shamal]

If his only issue is that he can't hear, then it's down to the 34 year old man what he does. Not his sister.

If there's more than the deafness things might be different, but there's nothing to suggest that.

I mean his mum, your sister....

His deafness isn't an issue is it? Reasonable accommodations can be made, visual signs rather than audible etc. It's no big deal in something like Airsoft.

If he can read, he can understand a briefing, or perhaps lip read. Most Comms issues I've seen with the deaf are the non deaf persons issue.

Worried about him not calling his hits?

A proper briefing seems like a good idea.

Some of the stuff above is patronising rubbish.

Hi and thanks for your input ?

Well yeah I guess his deafness is the issue really. If he was hearing there would be no issue.

Yes he is a grown man and able to make his own decisions but you have to understand that from a kid he has had to grow and learn in a different world,a silent world, relying on certain people to teach him a special language. He lives and works in a deaf community so pretty much everyone talks the same language and he is in his comfort zone, obviously he does have contact with hearing people who do not sign but it's difficult for him as it is for me to communicate with him. 

I don't think any of the posts have been patronising and I don't think he would either. There have been some great replies with things I hadn't thought of which was the purpose of the thread.

I shall take every one's advice and ideas on board and will speak to my site again and put some of your suggestions forward?

Thanks guys ?

Regards 

the site should have a written brief for the safety brief , always print it out for him to read , apart from that they shouldn't have a problem. 

Good idea. Thanks

There are legitimate concerns with not being able to hear or convey safety-critical information. These can be overcome, but it's hardly patronising to consider and enumerate what adjustment need to be made, and the reasonableness of them (and I think they are reasonable, and it is doable).

Perhaps it might be an idea to ask the chap what information he needs, and how he'd prefer to receive it.  As you say, he's been dealing with this all his life.

You are spot on.... Ask him what he needs......see I'm too busy thinking about myself and how I will handle it. Yeah good call.

 

[Sewdhull]

I'm not deaf, so i can't say how it affects someone. 

Here we are( sorry) ranking the problems we perceive that a deaf a person would have in our game and how it affects us and them. Only the deaf person can say really.

One of the main issues I have seen is social isolation, get him out playing a game, if he cant hear his hits (that tickled me) shoot him again for example. Speech to text is widely available so he can read the chat going on around him at lunch or whatever. I'm sure he can figure stuff out, its clunky compared to just speaking but perfectly serviceable.

Nothing wrong being out of a comfort zone... unless you don't want to be.

 

[Pseudotectonic]

Actually, why not invite him in here for a chat

 

[Shamal]

Actually, why not invite him in here for a chat

That's not too shabby an idea bud ?

Now I'm armed with a few pointers, I will talk to my site again and if they are ok I shall get him to join up.?

 

[Sewdhull]

Actually, why not invite him in here for a chat

Yes this.

 

[THE CHIEF]

On the subject of disability there was a player at awa (didn't get his name unfortunately) who played in the woods in a wheelchair. I saw him fall sideways off a pallet bridge once when his wheels slipped on moss. I watched him throw himself out the chair to the ground and pull the chair Infront of him as cover. I watched a complete wanker call this out as cheating, no seriously... He can't do that! He's using his wheelchair as a shield! 

Great attitude and had a blast. 

Everything has a work around if you speak to the site. But I'm sure there will always be that one dick that claims somehow it's an advantage.