§ Mr. HealeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how guidance interviews with deaf people will be conducted; and if the additional communication costs for interviewing deaf people will be provided centrally. [51142]
§ Dr. HowellsCareers services are required by contract to meet all the information and guidance needs of their clients. This particularly includes those clients with disabilities such as hearing impairment, who stay within the client group until they are settled in their careers intention.
Learning Direct, the national telephone helpline, which provides free information about learning and careers, launched earlier this year, includes a minicom facility to enable those with hearing impairment to access the service. Where a person's needs cannot be met through Learning Direct, they can be referred to appropriate local guidance networks or the careers service for a more in depth service.
As policy on various new Department for Education and Employment guidance initiatives develops, the needs of deaf people will be taken into account.