Parents offer support to deaf children in Grantham, Lincs
The parents of a deaf child have set up a new society to help other children and parents in a similar situation.
Matt and Kim Sherwood of Grantham, Lincolnshire, moved to the town a year ago with their five-year-old son Konrad, who wears two hearing aids. The couple will host the first meeting of the Grantham Deaf Children's Society this Saturday.
Mr Sherwood said: "There's a lot of information out there and help, but you don't get that when first diagnosed. You worry about getting help at school, and things like that.
"Speaking to other parents in the same situation and sharing experiences can help ease your worries. It also makes you feel better about the situation and more comfortable with where to go to get help and support."
"At first we thought we wouldn't want Konrad to feel different and just have him playing with other deaf children but it has actually been beneficial to him because he realises that there are other deaf kids in the same situation. It has also helped him with his confidence at school so now he has friends at school and in the deaf community."
The first meeting is at Swingbridge Sure Start Children's Centre in Trent Road this Saturday (March 21), between 10am-12pm. It is hoped that the group will enable deaf children and their families to get together and relax and chat, and share experiences and information.
For more information contact Matt and Kim on 07599412901 or 01476 570674.
Comments
Hi Our group is going very well we have 15 famlies who have attended the group. Matt and I have started going into schools we have used Konrad's school as our 1st one and St Anne's school are now members of the NDCS.
When we started the group we were meeting once a month but the parents and us thought it would be better to meet more often. We now meet the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month still at swingbridge children's center in grantham, 10 till 12.
We have had a few events to raise funds to enable us to have trips out and a chritmas party for all our famlies. Our next event is on 22nd August we are open to all and it is to be sponsored to were wedding Dress for the day. In the evening of the 22 August we are having a charity dinner at the Ramada Hotel in grantham, for any information on this event or the group our contact details are gdcs@sky.com or tel 07599412901 or 0476 570674.
We have parents from all over Lincolnshire and even a famliy from Leistershire.
Our board of trusttees have decided to have a drop in with various proffesionals on the 1st meet of each month. the 3rd Meet of the month we will have various activities for the children. So far we have had the hearing dogs for the deaf along which was very well attended.
We have good contacts with the NDCS and are an associated group with them. We are also in good contact with Deaf Lincs and attend the CHSWG meetings.
Posted by: Kim Sherwood | July 25, 2009 02:24 AM