Sign It! A success: Local MP welcomes report on local organisation for the deaf.

2.26.35pm GMT Fri 25th Aug 2006

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, welcomed the case study in the Parliamentary Ombudsman's Annual Report (2005/6) on Sign it!, an organisation based in the Mid Dorset and North Poole Constituency which supports deaf people.

The study describes how Sign It! helped a number of profoundly deaf people who had been refused disability living allowance incorrectly by the Disability and Carers Service.

Annette Brooke MP and Sign It! have been working together to raise awareness of local cases at a national level.

"I am delighted that the Ombudsman has recognised the problems suffered by many profoundly deaf people when applying for benefits such as disability living allowance and that changes are now being implemented across the whole country."

"Sign it! has raised awareness both of the Disabilities and Carers service duty of care to its users and also the wider difficulties deaf people may have in day to day life. I am so proud that a local organisation has made such a significant national contribution to the provision of services for the deaf" said Annette.