Bridging the Gap – 6

SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2019***

Click here for information in BSL: https://youtu.be/FrPPvy-GVSI

Call for abstracts:

BSL: https://youtu.be/58JGNUsLe5g

English: http://tiny.cc/kyq89y

This conference to be hosted at the University of South Wales in Cardiff is the sixth in the Bridging the Gap series. The conferences were established to ensure that discussions about research ‘bridge the gap’ between academia and the UK Deaf community. They aim to encourage collaboration and discussion between (Deaf and hearing) academics and Deaf people.

The sixth conference will take place on Saturday 16 November 2019 and the theme is ‘Deaf people’s rights: is research working to advance them?’.

See https://bridgingthegapdeafstudies.files.wordpress.com for more information about previous conferences.

We would like to encourage as many Welsh and UK-wide Deaf people to come along as possible – so please promote the information about this event through your networks!

Places are limited so registration is essential.

The languages of the conference will be BSL and English. Interpreters will be provided.

The venue is wheelchair accessible. If you have any specific access requirements, please email Rob Wilks (rob.wilks@southwales.ac.uk) to ensure that suitable accommodations are made.

The conference

Lectures

There will be a keynote lecture about Deaf people as ‘citizens’ of society and how important it is for them to have:

• rights;
• responsibilities as members of a community to each other, and of those who work with and for them;
• a place in the UK (residency);
• recognition of the Deaf identity and sign languages; and
• the resources available and needed to achieve all these.

These themes will run throughout the whole conference.

Members of the Welsh Deaf community will then identify the gaps and issues experienced by Deaf people in Wales, and what responsibilities the Deaf community and academics have to address these.

Rob Wilks will then explain how his research into equality law will benefit the Deaf community and what rights a BSL Act in the UK would bring to Deaf people.

The lectures will be followed by a Q&A session.

Workshops

After lunch, there will be twelve workshops for delegates to attend about the rights, responsibilities, residency and/or recognitionrelating to the Deaf community and sign languages, and the resources available or needed to achieve these. This way, delegates can find out what research has been done or is being done to advance Deaf people’s rights.

The workshops will be an opportunity for postgraduate students, doctoral researchers and post-doctoral researchers to disseminate their research findings to the Deaf community and fellow academics. We will be calling for abstracts to fill these sessions in due course.

Bridging the Gap Manifesto

At the 2017 Bridging the Gap conference in Heriot Watt University, delegates worked together to draft a manifesto for research with the British deaf community. Those leading this initiative will be presenting the Manifesto to you during this conference for further discussion and feedback.

Refreshments

Tea, coffee and water will be provided throughout the day.

As the conference is free, for lunch delegates can either choose to bring their own food, or they can buy food and refreshments at (the Atrium café) or from local outlets in the vicinity.

Social

From 7pm till late, a social event will be held at Cardiff Deaf Centre, 163 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 1AG, about 15 minutes walk from the conference venue.

Accommodation

Allocated rooms

Citrus Hotel Cardiff, Bute Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 2FE

They are holding 50 rooms for bed and breakfast at £99.00 per room per night for sole occupancy, and £105.00 double/twin occupancy.

Email: sales@citrushotels.co.uk, giving the code 2311Uni. Bookings must be made by 23 October 2019 to secure these guaranteed rates.

Mercure Cardiff Holland House, Newport Road, Cardiff

• Classic Single Occupancy, Bed and Breakfast £135.00 per Room per night
• Classic Double/Twin Bed and Breakfast £145.00 per Room per night

Prices include Vat, Wifi and full use of spa and leisure facilities

Can book at these rates until 5 October 2019. Email: H6622-RE@accor.com.

Park Inn by Radisson Cardiff City Centre, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff CF10 2JH

Standard bedrooms for single occupancy person for breakfast @ 20% off their best available rate + £10 per person for breakfast

Email: reservations.cardiff-city@parkinn.com, giving the code SWU231119. Bookings must be made by 2 October 2019 to secure the discount.

Other options

If you would like to stay in Cardiff, here are some options we would recommend:

Sleeperz – https://www.sleeperz.com/cardiff

Clayton Hotel – https://www.claytonhotelcardiff.com

Travelodge – https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/81/Cardiff-Central-hotel

Premier Inn – https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/wales/glamorgan/cardiff/cardiff-city-centre.html