Greater London

Our Family Officer for the Eastern Greater London Region is Suzanne Wilkinson (covering Enfield, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Croydon, Lewisham, Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham and Havering).

“In this role, I provide support to families and carers of deaf children and young people in the area in any way I can.

“The support I provide is determined by you and your needs. For example, you may like help with filling in your Disability Living Allowance claim form or appealing against a decision you are unhappy with. Or you may like advice on how to prepare effectively for annual reviews and statement negotiations, or how to deal with problems at school such as bullying.

“I also recognise that perhaps the most valuable support you can receive is that offered by other deaf children and their families. I will therefore let you know of any activities or events I hear of taking place in your area, to make sure you have every opportunity to meet and socialise with others. If you are organising an event, please let me know so that I can help you promote it.

"I am also very aware that there are many areas where very few activities are taking place and families may feel isolated. We obviously want to do all we can to change this and I am therefore currently working with families, services and professionals in these areas, to help them set up and organise these events.

"The NDCS really wants to make sure it is accessible to everyone. We are doing the best we can to work towards achieving this goal. If you have any feedback on this or any other issue, please do get in touch. It is really important to me to know that everyone is included.

"If you live in the area and would like my support, please do get in touch. I will be more than happy to help. If I am not able to help you myself, I will do my best to put you in touch with someone who can.

"I am currently trying to meet as many families in the Eastern region of London as I can, at various meetings and events. If we haven’t met already, I look forward to doing so very soon."

Telephone: 0808 800 8880
Textphone: 0808 800 8880
Fax: 020 7251 5020
Email: helpline@ndcs.org.uk

Our Family Officer for the Western Greater London Region is Angela Risner (covering Barnet, Haringey, Harrow, Brent, Camden, Islington, City, Hillingdon, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Hounslow, Richmond, Wandsworth, Kingston, Merton and Sutton).

"Prior to my role as Family Officer, I worked for NDCS as a Family Caseworker.

"I'm excited about my new role and the opportunities to make our services known to parents who do not currently use them. I’m doing this by going out to all the services in my area to inform them about NDCS, making contact with local groups and spreading the word. I also hope to set up outreach services in several places.

"As a (proud) parent of a deaf child (now an adult) myself, I am very aware of what having a deaf child means and the challenges that many parents face in getting access to education and other services. I also strongly believe that there is no reason why a deaf child cannot achieve at the same level as a hearing child given the right opportunities and encouragement.

"A big part of this process involves the family accepting their child as being deaf which is not easy when there is a general lack of deaf awareness in the world. As a result the child and family can often face prejudice and poor access to services.

"As a Family Officer I enjoy talking to parents and giving them advice, information and emotional support where necessary so that they are in a position to make their own decisions about their child. When parents are informed they can make choices themselves and are not so easily pushed into making decisions when they are not ready. This is particularly important at times when they are vulnerable, such as when they have only just found out that their child is deaf and have to come to terms with this.
 
"I look forward to continuing with my work with deaf children and their families and to contributing to our overall aim of making sure that every family with a deaf child is aware of and can access services."

Telephone: 0808 800 8880
Textphone: 0808 800 8880
Fax: 020 7251 5020
Email: helpline@ndcs.org.uk 

Local deaf children's societies are run by parents and carers of deaf children, working together with local health and education professionals. They give emotional and social support to families with deaf children, and give deaf children the chance to meet outside of school.

Our What's On section lists events, family days, signed and interpreted performances, and much more.