David Hopkins OBE, chairman of Audio Design Services, said that he had been so impressed by a demonstration of a 'Hearing Dog' at his local Rotary Club that the idea of supporting the charity through his company's electronic systems for deaf people was born. Since the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act had compelled companies and authorities to provide such aids there had been a general shift from voluntary support to more of a 'grudge' purchase. It seemed sensible to bring the plight of deaf people to the public's attention and this was one way that Audio Design could help, says Hopkins.
At a special presentation at the Company's premises in Stockport, Joan Walker brought her dog 'Senti' to officially launch the imitative. The Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Shan Alexander, was present at a special ceremony where the company embarked on new areas of activity, including conference and translation systems as well as electronic voting and digital recording services for councils, conference centres and police establishments.
Perhaps one of the most unusual aspects of the Mayoral visit was the attendance of local residential neighbours who, over the last 15 years, have created an informal Neighbourhood Watch. Neighbours have often telephoned the police when any out-of-hours suspicious activity has taken place. In a similar vein, the Company has maintained a close contact with them providing practical help when needed, and generally creating a local family atmosphere. David Hopkins commented that we spend most of our waking hours in work and as a consequence, it is important to ensure that we support those who are our closest neighbours. When the factory was broken into a number of years ago, at least four neighbours telephoned the police and were able to give descriptions of the intruders.
The Company's Induction Loop and Infrared Systems interact with standard hearing aids, creating an acceptable level of intelligible sound - such systems can be found in places of worship and auditoria.
(Lee Baldock)
