Charity welcomes support for families of deaf children
Cathy Wallace
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The National Deaf Children's Society has welcomed a government announcement to help families of deaf children learn communication skills.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is inviting proposals for funding to run projects to improve sign language provision and status for families with deaf children.
Susan Daniels, chief executive of the National Deaf Children's Society, said: "It is a basic right for every parent to be able to communicate with their child.
"But for parents with deaf children who use sign language, communication can prove impossible."
A survey by the society showed 76 per cent of parents of deaf children have been to sign language classes.
But the parents felt classes were more focused on communication between adults, rather than between adults and children. And half the parents surveyed said they had paid for classes themselves.
The DCSF announcement follows a meeting between Daniels and Prime Minister Gordon Brown to talk about the issues facing deaf children.
Susan Daniels, chief executive of the National Deaf Children's Society, said: "It is a basic right for every parent to be able to communicate with their child.
"But for parents with deaf children who use sign language, communication can prove impossible."
A survey by the society showed 76 per cent of parents of deaf children have been to sign language classes.
But the parents felt classes were more focused on communication between adults, rather than between adults and children. And half the parents surveyed said they had paid for classes themselves.
The DCSF announcement follows a meeting between Daniels and Prime Minister Gordon Brown to talk about the issues facing deaf children.
