National Deaf Children's Society

Learn British Sign Language (BSL) together 💜 Children, young people and families can start learning BSL basics with our new flashcards, created in partnership with @signaturedeaf . Each card includes: a hand-drawn illustration of a sign; a clear written description; and a QR code linking to a video demonstration from a BSL user. You’ll also find 10 top tips for being deaf aware. Topics covered include: • colours • everyday life • family and friends • feelings • food and drink • greetings Order your free pack to start learning and practising BSL at home, link in bio 👆

"They're already visible, already part of me, so they might as well be beautiful." Adi shares how her own deaf identity journey led her to create an Etsy shop. "I've worn hearing aids since I was 2. They're just part of me – as normal as my hands or my hair. I've never really understood why some people want to hide theirs. I've met young people my age who tuck their aids under their hair so nobody can see. I understand that those feelings are real for them, but I've never felt that way myself. For me, my hearing aids are just me – part of my identity, something I'm proud of. When I was very little, I needed chemotherapy to get rid of a brain tumour. The treatment I needed to get better affected my hearing, and it's been getting worse over the years. I started out with moderate hearing loss, and now, I’m profound in one ear, severe in the other. Right now, I'm going through assessments to see whether a cochlear implant might help me. It's a big thing to think about. But my deaf identity – that's not something I'd ever change. It's me. When I started making things with resin – colours, glitter, tiny shapes set inside clear resin – it felt completely natural to start making something for hearing aids. Not because I wanted to make them less visible. But because they're already visible, already part of me, so they might as well be beautiful. The first charm I made was for myself – a little crescent moon in deep blue resin with tiny stars set inside it. I attached it to my hearing aid and loved it immediately. Not because it changed how I felt about my hearing aids, but because it was fun. And it made me smile. I recently opened an Etsy shop called Glitter Glow Resin. I make handmade resin charms that clip onto hearing aids and cochlear implants, as well as jewellery and keyrings. Every charm is unique – no 2 ever come out exactly the same, which is my favourite thing about making them. In fact, I do my best to make each one special. I particularly love it when customers ask me for their favourite colours, a bit of extra sparkle or a detail that means something to them. The hearing aid charms are ..." Read the full blog by tapping the link in our bio 🔗

Deaf children cannot continue to be left behind by the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. Our response to today’s SEND reform announcement in the King’s Speech.

The National Deaf Children's Society is heading to @deafexpouk ! We’re excited to taking part in the brand new DeafEXPO event at the Birmingham NEC later this week on 15 and 16 May. Come and visit us at our stall (441 in Hall 10) where we'd love to connect with you and share more about who we are and what we do. We'll also be sharing: • Information and guidance • Details on how we support deaf children, their families and professionals who work with deaf children • Practical support on how we can help you To find out more about DeafEXPO, head to their website, link in bio 👆 Whether you’re a parent, professional, deaf, or just want to learn more, come and say hello, we’d love to meet you there. #DeafEXPO #DeafCommunity #BSL #DeafChildren

“A deaf child has no limits. They can achieve absolutely anything.” As Deaf Awareness Week comes to an end, we asked @jodieounsley and other deaf role models during the #LondonMarathon weekend: what would you say to a parent who’s just found out their child is deaf? These answers say it all 💜 @youleanmeup #DeafAwarenessWeek

Talking to your deaf friends 💜 Peppa's little brother George has moderate hearing loss in one ear. These simple tips help him feel included in conversations and they can help your friends too. 1. Get their attention first - try waving or gently tapping their shoulder. 2. Speak normally - don't talk too slowly, loudly or quietly. 3. Ask, "Am I in the right place?" Face your friend, or stand on the side they hear best. 4. Keep trying - use your hands, gestures or point to what you're talking about. Every deaf person will have their own communication preferences. The most important thing is to find out what your friend prefers. You can download or order 'George and Peppa's tips for talking to your deaf friends' from our website - link in bio 👆 @OfficialPeppa #DeafAwarenessWeek

It could be the case that after your first audiology appointment the outcome isn’t clear. This could be because the test wasn’t completed fully or because your child wasn’t comfortable with the test. It could also be because more testing is needed to help create a clearer picture of your child’s hearing. This is completely normal, and there are things you can do to support your child. Sarah takes us through her tips and advice for you and your child. If you have questions or want specific support for your child, get in touch with our Helpline who can talk to you about your child’s hearing. We hope you enjoyed this series! Thanks to @sarahadedeji.x and @christa.the.audiologist for your fantastic content. We recognise that audiology support services are different across the UK, and we’re here to support you. Take a look at our website for more details. #deafawarenessweek

Use a personal passport to share what matters most 💜 A personal passport is a simple way to share key information about your deaf child. It helps people like childminders, nursery practitioners, teachers, Teachers of the Deaf, school staff and club leaders understand your child and how best to support them. Personal passports are designed to be quick to read and easy to use. They're a helpful starting point for ongoing conversations. A personal passport might include: • Level and type of hearing loss. • Communication needs. • Information about hearing technology, such as hearing aids and radio aids (including how and when to use them). • What helps create a positive experience. • Situations that may be challenging. • Important safety information. You can find out more and download our templates, including a brand new Peppa and George version on our website - link in bio 👆 @OfficialPeppa #DeafAwarenessWeek

You’ve had your first audiology appointment, and you now understand more about your child’s hearing loss. What happens next will depend on your child’s age and their type and level of hearing loss your child. The important thing is don’t worry, there’s support available for you no matter the type of hearing loss your child has, and we’re here to help. If you have questions or want specific support for your child, get in touch with our Helpline who can talk to you about your child’s hearing. You can also find more information here. Thanks to @sarahadedeji.x and @christa.the.audiologist for supporting parents through this experience. We recognise that audiology support services are different across the UK, and we’re here to support you. Take a look at our website for more details. #deafawarenessweek

Learn some fingerspelling with Peppa and George 🐷💜 If you're new to sign language, learning to fingerspell is a brilliant first step and a great way to start communicating. You can download or order copies of our fingerspelling postcards to help you practise. Link in our bio 👆 @OfficialPeppa #DeafAwarenessWeek

During the wait for your first audiology appointment can be the perfect time to look into some of the hearing tests available. Depending on the age of your child, there are several different hearing tests that your child might have. Sarah shares more in the latest video in this series. Don’t worry if your child is unable to complete the full appointment. It can take a series of appointments to get a full picture of your child’s hearing. For more information about the different hearing tests available and preparing for your first appointment, head over to our website for more details. Thanks to @sarahadedeji.x and @christa.the.audiologist for sharing this advice with us. We recognise that audiology support services are different across the UK, and we’re here to support you. Take a look at our website for more details.

New to deafness, Hannah felt unprepared – until their Teacher of the Deaf became a strict, steady lifeline. "We waited a long time for Niall and assumed there would be another long wait for a second baby- There wasn’t! Henry came along only 18months after his big brother. He was a huge surprise and has been surprising us ever since. His moderate bilateral deafness was another of those surprises. Like so many parents new to deafness, I was completely unprepared. I felt confusion, disbelief and fear all mixed together. I was stepping out of my comfort zone, faced with unfamiliar terminology and grappling with unexpected decisions. I’m a nurse. People assume you’ll understand because you’re medical, but I didn’t. I didn’t understand decibels, what ‘moderate’ really meant and I couldn’t remember anything about the anatomy of the ears. I was completely overwhelmed. Somehow, we made it through those early days, and when he was 8 weeks old, Henry was fitted with his first pair of hearing aids. They looked enormous on his tiny head. Once I met Julia, our Teacher of the Deaf, she became my lifeline. I don’t know what we would have done without her. She was strict, stern and honestly a bit scary – and she was exactly what I needed! I wanted to be told what to do, as I had no idea what I was doing. Julia was firm in helping us understand the importance of persevering with Henry’s hearing aids. She said, “If they fall out or if he takes them out, they go straight back in. No excuses. They're not under his control.” She promised me it'd be worth it, and it was the only way to give him full access to speech and sound in his early years when all of that brain development was happening. It was good advice. Keeping hearing aids in a baby is hard work and it’s tempting to give up. Henry tried to pull them out and pop them in his mouth, they make a great teething toy! I bought headbands, straps, improvised – but in the end, you just pick them up and put them back in, over and over again. I'm very proud to say we've never lost them. Julia was right – all that hard work paid off. His speech today at age 3 is amazing and his hearing aids are part of him. If I could go ..."