Parky backs bid to support deaf kids
Talk-show king Sir Michael Parkinson is calling on grandparents of deaf children in England to get actively involved in an innovative project set to give them much-needed support and encouragement to form a strong bond with the deaf child in their family.
During the two-year All Together project, run by NDCS and funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund, grandparents from across England will share their experiences of having a deaf child in their family, and contribute to new resources that will help other people in this situation.
“As a grandfather to eight wonderful children, I know how important it is to be able to communicate with them – that’s why we have such a good relationship,” Sir Michael Parkinson explained. “If they were deaf, it could be a struggle to communicate with them, and therefore hard for me to help them learn about the world.
“It is great that the NDCS All Together project will support grandparents with deaf grandchildren, and that they can take part in a number of exciting ways,” added Parkinson. “I am thrilled to be backing this important project, and grandparents across England should get involved today!”
Valerie Copenhagen, All Together Project Manager, said that there is generally a lack of support available to grandparents in order to help them build strong relationships with their deaf grandchildren.
The project will also help fathers and siblings of deaf children and there are a number of ways for all three generation groups to take part.
“Over the next two years the All Together project will produce a range of essential new resources that aim to provide these groups with the support and encouragement they need to help the deaf child in their family,” Copenhagen said.
Story courtesy of Hearing Times
