Deaf Services Team (DST)

We provide services to Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing, and Deafblind adults.

This is under an agreement between four Berkshire local authorities: Bracknell, Reading, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.

This also includes offering help to those who, in addition to their hearing impairment, may also have a physical disability, learning disability, mental health or who are elderly.

How can we help?

We aim to provide the right help and advice for each person, as each individual has different needs. The team consists of specialist workers who can communicate in a variety of ways and are able to use sign language.

Services provided include:

Support from a social worker
Advice, guidance and assistance on a wide range of issues, to help support positive independent living
Information about essential equipment to assist and improve daily living in the home
Information on deaf issues
Information on deaf clubs and where to meet other people
Information on interpreters

Registration

The team holds a voluntary register of deaf and hard of hearing people in Bracknell, Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham. It helps us to keep accurate statistics (which are sent to the Department of Health) and also to plan, develop and finance the services provided.

There are three official registration categories:

Deaf with speech
Deaf without speech
Hard of hearing

Registration process:

There are three ways in which we can complete the process of registration:

Obtain a copy of your most recent audiogram from the Audiology Department of your hospital
Obtain information from your GP regarding your hearing loss
If we know your needs have been assessed by our Equipment Officer your name can be added to the appropriate register

Benefits of registration:

Qualification for a British Rail disabled persons railcard
Travel concessions (depending on your Council)
Possibility to claim VAT exemption on some specifically designed products for deaf and hard of hearing people
Reassurance of having our laminated green registration card available to show people you have a hearing loss

Please contact us for more information about the register.

The team also has access to equipment to help if you are assessed as eligible for this service. For more information about equipment, please contact the team.

Contact information

DST is managed by Jenny Harris. For further information about DST, please contact:

Deaf Services Team (Optalis) The Old Forge 45-47 Peach Street Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1XJ

Tel: (0118) 974 6548 Fax: (0118) 908 8190 Minicom: (0118) 908 8201

Email: deafservices@optalis.org

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