More about the Bus

Latest technology 

In the ten years since the service was started, the NDCS Listening Bus has travelled all over Britain, notching up over 160,000 miles on the clock. So popular has the bus been with its 56,000 visitors to date that it was replaced with an updated version in 2004, packed with even more technology for deaf youngsters and their families to try out.

This unique service is free to deaf children, young people, families, friends and professionals and visitors have the chance to try out a wide range of the latest technology ranging from ipod and MP3 loop systems to vibrating alarm clocks, flashing doorbells and video and text phones. Louise Cox, Roadshow Coordinator, has been with the service for two years.

“I have travelled all over the country on the Listening Bus and have lost count of the number of stops we have made! I think I have one of the most interesting and varied jobs available as I get to meet so many deaf children and see for myself what a difference the right technology can make.

“It's great to be able to give deaf children a chance to have a ‘real’ telephone conversation with their friends and family on the bus. Often they have never tried a specialised phone with the volume boost or the ‘T’ switch facility before. It's wonderful to see their faces light up and to hear them chatting and listening with ease.

"The Listening Bus is very big, and lots of children we meet are always interested to know where we sleep and often ask if we have bunk beds on the bus!”

The right technology and equipment can make a huge difference in improving a deaf child’s communication, confidence and independence, as well as helping them learn at school.

Dedicated tour team 

The bus is always manned by a team of two. The latest Listening Bus recruit is Damian Ball, who joined in early April.

“I have always enjoyed working with deaf children, so this is a fantastic opportunity. Being deaf myself, I can use my experience and help them learn about all the technological advantages available to them,” he says as he prepares for his first outing with the bus.

Community visits 

Most of the bus’s work is with schools and nurseries, but increasing numbers of visits are being planned to secondary schools, sixth form colleges, audiology clinics and ethnic minority communities.

“Where possible we go wherever we are invited,” says Louise. “And give families and individuals in remote areas or those who don’t know about the NDCS the chance to see the technology on board as well.”

Interactive equipment 

The Listening Bus carries equipment suitable for all ages and includes:

• flashing and vibrating alarm devices

• radio aids

• video phones for sign language users and lip readers

• amplified phones and phones that work with inductive loops

• DVDs with subtitles and interpreters

• loop systems for TVs

• phones for people who have bone-anchored hearing aids

• minicoms

• portable alarm clocks

• Blue Tooth loops which work with mobiles

• ipod and MP3 loop systems

• sign language software

• toy corner and signing puppets

• books related to deafness

• information about deaf accessible cinema and theatre

• a quiet room for talking privately

• NDCS publications

• information about the Blue Peter Loan Service

The Listening Bus team also offer technology talks and workshops. “We like to get the message across in an interactive and fun way,” says Louise. “Access to the bus is wheelchair and pushchair-friendly, and we use British Sign Language and Sign Supported English. We have also got a sound field system on board. So come along and spend the day with us, we’d love to see you.”