National Deaf Children's Society

In October, we joined Signature to challenge the Welsh Government’s decision to suspend work on the Made-for-Wales BSL GCSE. The Welsh Government has now responded, highlighting challenges that would need to be addressed to make the new qualification a success. We’re deeply disappointed to not have been included in these discussions, especially given the work both Signature and the National Deaf Children’s Society have done to get the GCSE to this stage. We’ll be meeting with Qualifications Wales in early 2025 to keep pushing for progress. We know there’s strong support for a BSL GCSE in Wales, and we’ll continue to keep pushing to make this a reality – so no deaf child or deaf young person in Wales is left behind. Access the full update in English and BSL: https://lnkd.in/e7ftjcfP

"The thought that there might be families without the same support we've had from a Teacher of the Deaf is utterly heartbreaking." Ros knows how life-changing a Teacher of the Deaf can be for deaf children and their families. Tomorrow is the last chance for parents of deaf children and deaf young people to share their experiences of accessing a Teacher of the Deaf in our survey. These stories will help influence our upcoming work and make a real difference for future generations. If you're a professional who supports deaf children and their families, help us spread the word by sharing our survey: https://lnkd.in/emTap2SP

Good luck Tasha and Aljaž for tonight's BBC Strictly Come Dancing final! Watching you dance week after week has been pure magic. You're an inspiration to so many deaf children, and we can’t wait to see you dance again tonight 💜 You've shown that deafness shouldn’t stop you from achieving your dreams, showcasing your strength and resilience – as well as some fabulous cochlear implant sparkle! ✨ Here’s a message from deaf children across the country, our supporters, and followers on social media, to wish you good luck 🤞 #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly #KeepDancing

✨ Highlights from the BAA Conference 2024 ✨ It was great to attend the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) Conference in Telford this November and talk directly to audiology professionals about how the National Deaf Children’s Society can support their work with children and families. Over two days, we shared hundreds of resources and introduced delegates to our new parent app, My NDCS, which helps parents stay informed and track milestones. We also launched a new video series, created with UCL and Aston University, featuring parents sharing their journeys following their child’s diagnosis of unilateral or mild hearing loss ➡️ https://go.ndcs.org.uk/q37 A highlight was the inspiring talk by Samantha Lear, our Senior Audiology Advisor and Abbi Brown, our Senior Content Editor on Deaf Awareness and Deaf Identity, which sparked meaningful conversations about creating positive experiences for deaf children in clinics. It was lovely to support so many audiologists and see the clear passion they have for their work. We discussed ideas for future initiatives to improve deaf awareness in clinics and look forward to collaborating with audiologists across the UK to bring these plans to life. Roll on BAA 2025!

This Christmas, let's make inclusion part of the celebration 💜 Here are our top tips on making Christmas celebrations deaf-friendly, whether it's at home or in the workplace. What would you add? For deaf young people, feeling included at festive events makes all the difference. With just a few thoughtful changes, you can make this season magical for everyone ✨ Find more tips and inspiration on our website: https://lnkd.in/d_7-4nqj #deafawareness #deafchildren #inclusion #inclusionmatters #christmastips #christmastime

Huge congratulations to our CEO, Susan Daniels, who has been awarded the Lifetime Achiever Award at the prestigious 2024 Inclusive Awards, hosted by Inclusive Companies. This award recognises Susan's lifelong dedication to improving the lives of deaf children and young people through her commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Reflecting on the award, Susan said: "It’s humbling to see so much work going on to bring us closer to a genuinely inclusive society. While great progress has been made, it’s crucial that we continue to work together to create a world without barriers for deaf children and young people, and ensure that they are supported, included and able to reach their full potential.” Susan's tireless work continues to make a meaningful impact for deaf children and young people, and we're beyond proud of her achievement – congratulations, Susan! 💜

"Deaf young people need to share their views, especially since there are so many barriers to our lives." Meet Daniel. Earlier this year, he visited our offices in London to share why it's vital for deaf young people to get involved in our campaigning work on Teachers of the Deaf. We're asking deaf young people and their families to share their experiences of accessing Teachers of the Deaf, to help shape our upcoming work and campaign for every deaf child to have access to the right support. If you're a professional who works with deaf young people, help us spread the word and share our survey: https://lnkd.in/dCph8TGA

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Make the most of the day and spend some time reading up on how to make your meetings more deaf-friendly. We’ve put together ways to make both remote meetings, and face-to-face meetings more deaf-friendly, plus some handy tips for using Zoom and other video conferencing tools. Take a look here, plus download deaf awareness flyers for your office! https://lnkd.in/ezjgmXWr #InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities #DeafFriendly #DeafAwareness

Looking for a team-building activity this December? 🎅💜 Encourage your colleagues to step away from their desks and take on 5K, 10K or even 100K for our Santa Walk challenge – whether it's laps around the office, a lunchtime stroll, or even weekend team walks. Every step you take helps raise vital funds to break down barriers for the 50,000 deaf children across the UK. Plus, when you get your first donation, we'll send you one of our signature purple Santa hats to wear with pride! The more you raise, the more prizes come your way – think water bottles, socks, beanie hats and more to help you stay snug on your winter walks. Ready to make an impact this Christmas? Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/eMYiNZSq

We’re so happy to share that our brilliant Market team has been named one of the top three finalists for the ‘Team of the Year’ award at the Dotties 2024! 🎉 This prestigious award recognises excellence in marketing, and to stand out among hundreds of organisations is an incredible honour. Darren, the team's email marketing lead, said: "We're proud to be recognised for prioritising deaf children and their families in our communications, ensuring they receive the guidance and support they need, exactly when they need it, to navigate their unique journeys with confidence." Congratulations to Darren Kunar, Tanya Kumar, and Ciara McPake. Your hard work and dedication have made a huge difference to deaf children and deaf young people, and their families. We couldn’t be prouder! 💜 Dotdigital #Dotties2024