Local leading deaf historian, John Hay, a lecturer from the University of Wolverhampton, offered his experience by guiding the pupils in methods of exploring and recording local history. Lisa Davies from bid services supported the project by teaching the pupils how to use the necessary video equipment. Izzy Mohammed from Birmingham Central Library was able to show the pupils a range of archived information and artefacts linked to industry in Birmingham during this period.

The Chosen Title of the DVD: Hands at Work appropriately describes Deaf people’s use of manual skill not only in terms of using gestures and hand shapes within their language; sign language, but within their place of work too.
The DVD Cover design includes pictures drawn by pupils from Longwill School.

James McLean said ‘I am glad that the project provided an opportunity to show what conditions were like for deaf people at work during this era. The lottery funding was invaluable as no research project has ever recorded material such as this in the West Midlands before. Without the support from the people involved, this project could not have been completed. The DVD covers have been designed by the pupils at Longwill School and the pupils from Braidwood School have been excellent in filming and interviewing older deaf people.’

The launch event was an opportunity for the project to showcase its work and celebrate deaf people’s working lives in the West Midlands.

Published 24th September 2009