Big Lottery Fund supports project for deaf teenagers in Scotland

‘Who am I?’ will consist of six residential information weekend events, where 90 deaf teenagers and 270 family members will participate in both separate and communal workshops and activities. Teenagers will explore together the impact of deafness on their social and emotional development and work to identify solutions to breaking down the barriers they can encounter in a hearing society. Parents and family members will also have the chance to increase their understanding of deafness and confidence in offering appropriate support to their children.

NDCS deaf role models, successful deaf young adults who have received full training from the NDCS, will attend the weekend events to share their own experiences with the deaf teenagers and provide support in the workshops.

Chris Ratcliffe, NDCS Scotland Director, explains the importance of the project:

“We are delighted to have received full funding from the Big Lottery Fund for this exciting project. ‘Who am I?’ will provide deaf teenagers and their families with the much needed time and space they need to better understand one another and to develop the confidence they need to express themselves and get on in the world around them.

“Deaf young people can face particular challenges in expressing their emotions in a hearing world, in developing their own identity and the confidence they need to embrace the world around them.  Through the ‘Who am I?’ project deaf teenagers will develop their self-esteem and confidence, and expand their peer group across Scotland, providing each other with mutual support and forming lifelong friendships”.

During the weekends, deaf teenagers and their families will develop a range of materials to help them understand their own experiences. These resources will include a teenager’s tips handbook written by parents, for parents, and a separate booklet written by deaf young people, featuring tips for parents who have deaf teenagers. In addition to this the young people will have the opportunity to take part in a DVD to highlight their experiences and feelings and, in the final year of the project, will also be able to access a dedicated NDCS blog where they can communicate with each other. At the end of the three year project a book will be produced written by deaf teenagers, for deaf teenagers.

For further information about the ‘Who am I?’ project contact:
Chris Ratcliffe, NDCS Director Scotland

Email: chris.ratcliffe@ndcs.org.uk

0141 248 4457

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