Editorial: New Beginnings

Editorial: New Beginnings

Dear reader, you might have noticed the previous issue of Signal (Jan-Dec 2019) was available only as an online PDF file. Yes, we had gone fully digital. But this time and in future, we are not even doing PDFs anymore.

Instead, we are relaunching Signal as a fully online newsletter using the blog format.

Why? We want to make it convenient for you, go green (and do our part to save the earth) and be financially prudent.

Convenience: For important news, updates and announcements, SADeaf has been posting these on our Facebook page and website as well as via EDMs (also known as.. emails).

With the vast majority of our clients, members and volunteers already online via mobile or computing devices, this ensures they receive vital information fast – as in, immediately! – and easily. Such news items have been completely shifted to these social and online media platforms. 

Because of this, Signal’s focus will no longer be on the above. Instead it will be a place for longer and more in-depth pieces, such as human interest stories – on people, news and happenings in the community. Kicking off the revamped Signal is a feature on the grassroots-led organisation Deaf Hiking Singapore Group – do check it out!

And if you know of any Deaf/hard-of-hearing people and Deaf-related groups or organisations or businesses which you feel should be in this series, do let us know. We’ll be happy to shine a well-deserved spotlight on them.

Another advantage of going online: Signal will be able to roll out SADeaf post-event reports and photos more quickly on an as-needed basis, under the new series “Dispatches from SADeaf”. This means no waiting for the next issue of Signal to be published three or five months down the road. In this issue, we focus on how SADeaf staff coped with circuit breaker measures and working remotely to serve our clients as best as we could!

Eco-friendly: Put simply, no more paper is used in printing the newsletters! We save trees and reduce the usage (and wastage) of paper. Since newspapers, magazines, bills, bank statements are all becoming e-copies only, why not us too?

Cost: We save on design, printing, postage fees – without having to compromise on the content and quality of the newsletter. This is especially important as we face cost-cutting pressures as the economy (and donations) falter.

If you have been wondering when this issue would appear, thank you for your patience! We also apologise for the lengthy wait and hope you enjoy this latest edition.

We welcome your feedback, tips and contributions (and also story ideas)! Just email us at ca@sadeaf.org.sg.

Happy reading!

From the editorial team,
Alvan Yap
Teo Zhi Xiong

p/s: If you are a member or client of SADeaf and are not unable to access online versions of Signal, please write in to ca@sadeaf.org.sg to let us know.