Latest news with #NationalDeafChildren'sSociety
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Deaf football manager shares heartfelt message to younger self
George McGowan, who is also the assistant manager of Great Britain Deaf Women and chairman of Glasgow Deaf Athletic Football Club, recorded the message as part of the National Deaf Children's Society's Deaf Awareness Week campaign. He said: "When you have dreams, please don't let other people stop you because you are deaf. "On your journey through life, there will be times where you face barriers and obstacles. "The best way to overcome these barriers is to let people know that you are deaf. "The first time you tell people you're deaf can be nerve-wracking, but you will get more confident." George, who has severe to profound hearing loss and wears hearing aids, was not diagnosed until he was four years old. The 49-year-old, who was brought up in Glasgow but now lives in Paisley, delivered advice he would like to have heard when he was younger. He said: "Always remember if you're feeling less for support. "Many people out there are not very deaf aware. "Don't let that make you feel embarrassed or let it affect your confidence. "Be confident. George has given advice to his younger self (Image: Supplied) "Sometimes being nervous isn't a bad thing. "You might be going to an interview or doing a talk at school. "If you're feeling nervous, that's normal. "That really means that you really, really want to do it.' George's message is one of a series of videos from deaf people to their younger selves, shared by the National Deaf Children's Society on social media during Deaf Awareness Week. Arran Masterman, from the National Deaf Children's Society, said: "We want deaf children and their families to be inspired by these stories and messages of empowerment. "We're encouraging deaf children to embrace their deaf identity and see their uniqueness as a strength. "It's also about raising awareness of deaf experiences. "Whether it's overcoming barriers, finding confidence, or embracing sign language, every story is a celebration of deaf pride and resilience, for deaf children, young people and the wider deaf community. 'The National Deaf Children's Society wants deaf children and young people to keep believing in themselves, keep aiming high, and achieving whatever they want to do.' Anyone looking for advice, support, or information about deafness is invited to visit the National Deaf Children's Society's website or call the society's helpline on 0808 800 8880.
Belfast Telegraph
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis tells younger self being deaf is ‘your advantage'
Former Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis has told her younger self being deaf is 'your advantage', in a message recorded for the National Deaf Children's Society's Deaf Awareness Week.
Irish Independent
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis tells younger self being deaf is ‘your advantage'
The 30-year-old actress spoke about applying for her first job in the message, conveyed through sign-language. The former EastEnders star said in the video: 'Don't worry too much. I remember you were nervous for your first job interview to work in a supermarket. You will have an amazing time, just believe in yourself Rose Ayling-Ellis 'You were worried and concerned, and you told mum that you didn't know if you would get the job because you are deaf. Forget that, you will get the job. 'When you get the job you will realise your confidence will grow, you will learn that being deaf is actually your advantage. 'It will give you so many opportunities, just learn how to make the most of those opportunities. 'Before you know it, you will have an amazing time, just believe in yourself.' Ayling-Ellis became the first deaf Strictly competitor in 2021, and won series 19 with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice. The Bafta-winning actress is supporting Deaf Awareness Week, which runs from May 5 to 11, alongside last year's Strictly finalist Tasha Ghouri, who spoke about her experience on the show. Former Love Island contestant Ghouri, 26, said: 'You also had struggles with it (a cochlear implant) falling out while you were dancing. 'But you stayed positive and found ways to get through it and to adapt, you managed to find double-sided sticky tape was the way to keep it on. 'Many people send you videos showing them decorating theirs and that's the power of the deaf representation you did on Strictly Come Dancing. 'Your deafness does not define you. It's a part of you that's special and unique. Embrace your differences it's your superpower and that's what makes you truly magical.' The National Deaf Children's Society's A Message To Younger Me initiative aims to celebrate deaf identity, resilience and community. Arran Masterman of the National Deaf Children's Society said: 'We want deaf children and their families to be inspired by these stories and messages of empowerment. We're encouraging deaf children to embrace their deaf identity and see their uniqueness as a strength. 'It's also about raising awareness of deaf experiences. Whether it's overcoming barriers, finding confidence or embracing sign-language, every story is a celebration of deaf pride and resilience, for deaf children, young people and the wider deaf community. 'The National Deaf Children's Society wants deaf children and young people to keep believing in themselves, keep aiming high and achieving whatever they want to do.'
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘The only thing we can't do is hear': the deaf pupil who beat Fife council in court
The slogan on Niamdh Braid's powder-blue sweatshirt puts it plainly enough: 'I define my own deaf identity.' 'We're in a world that's built for hearing people,' says the 16-year-old from Glenrothes in Fife, 'and we have to navigate through it to find what works best for us.' Earlier this year, the teenager won a legal battle with her local council to have a British Sign Language interpreter in lessons, after she realised how much of what was said in class she was missing out on. Niamdh, who has been deaf since birth, wears hearing aids, but can struggle to follow in noisy environments and her preferred language is BSL. As a younger child, she didn't have any deaf people she could look up to on TV or on the news. Now she hopes that through her advocacy 'younger deaf kids can look up to me and see that they can achieve anything'. 'A lot of people think that because we can't hear we can't achieve high-earning jobs and go into good professions,' says Niamdh, whose favourite subject is modern studies and who hopes to get into teaching then politics when she grows older. 'But the only thing we can't do is hear – there's nothing actually wrong with us. We can do anything that we put our mind to.' Yet deaf children are eight times more likely to leave school with no qualifications, according to the National Deaf Children's Society, which financially supported Niamdh's legal action. Niamdh was talking in advance of a report by MSPs that will reveal a significant fall in the number of specialist teachers of deaf people in Scotland. It is prompting the NDCS to warn of a 'growing crisis in deaf education' and lack of guidance from local authorities about what kind of support they should be providing deaf children in schools. At high school, she explains, there was an assumption that she did not need support because she was still achieving decent grades. But at Niamdh's tribunal, an independent assessment by a deaf education specialist found she was only accessing 70% of what was being said in class, even when her teacher wore a microphone transmitting to her hearing aids. Her dad, Steve, chips in: 'If she was accessing 100% at the teaching, imagine what she could be achieving. Why should she settle for average just because she's deaf?' Constantly struggling to hear came at a heavy price, and Niamdh was increasingly exhausted. 'I was always tired, asking to go to my bed at four o'clock before I'd had anything to eat.' At weekend she was too tired to go out with her friends. After her request for a BSL interpreter was turned down, first by her school and then by Fife council, Niamdh felt she had no choice: 'At this point it was getting close to my exams and I'd missed so much class already. I wanted to launch the action under my own name because it was for me, and I can voice my needs without the help of my parents.' Giving evidence, she explained that 'it's always a hearing person that makes decisions for the deaf person, and it shouldn't be the case. Because hearing people don't know what it's like to go through life in a world that's not built for them.' Early last year the tribunal ruled that Niamdh was being placed at 'substantial disadvantage', but the appeals process was only concluded this spring. 'When the last appeal got thrown out, it was the biggest relief I've ever felt,' says Niamdh. She went out for a Chinese buffet meal with her parents and younger brother to celebrate. The teenager, who takes part in taekwondo competitions and is a devoted fan of the hospital drama series Grey's Anatomy, says she's very lucky to have a close group of friends she's known since nursery school. 'It's all they've known with their friendship with me: if we're talking they need to face me, make sure there's not too much noise in the background.' She feels strongly that young deaf people should be allowed to make their own choices about what support they access, and that they are not a homogenous group: 'Everyone has their own way of communicating. It's not up to anyone else to decide that. 'It's the kid's choice of what they want to be as a deaf person. If they want to go without aids, if they want to have the hearing technology, if they want to be involved in the deaf community, let them decide.' Fife council's head of education and children's services, Angela Logue, said: 'We are continuing to work very closely with Niamdh and her family to meet her needs as identified by the outcomes of the tribunal.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Minehead man raises over £2,400 by running London Marathon
A Minehead resident raised over £2,400 by running the London Marathon. Edward Cleere took on the challenge on Sunday, April 27, to help the National Deaf Children's Society. He chose to support the charity because he was born profoundly deaf and is passionate about their work helping deaf children. The National Deaf Children's Society supports 50,000 deaf children and their families around the UK. Edward said: "It was an honour and a privilege to run the London Marathon on behalf of the National Deaf Children's Society this year, as it meant so much to give back to a charity so close to my heart. "I'm grateful to all those who donated towards my fundraising efforts, as well as those who supported me on the day." Anyone wishing to make a donation to Edward's page can do so at Melissa Jones, who helps fundraisers for the charity, said: "I want to say a huge thank you to Edward for taking on this challenge for us. "To conquer the London Marathon is a fantastic achievement. "We're so proud of what you've achieved. "The efforts of selfless fundraisers such as Edward will help us to keep on doing our vital work, now and into the future."
