Deaf-friendly Activities Pledge for leisure organisations

There are over 45,000 deaf children aged up to 19 in the UK with a permanent hearing loss. They all have the right to the same opportunities as a hearing child. But communication barriers mean that many mainstream youth facilities and activities are not accessible to deaf children and young people, so they are missing out.

By signing up to the Me2 Deaf-friendly Leisure Activities Pledge your organisation commits to taking small and simple steps to help break down these barriers and become genuinely inclusive for deaf children and young people.

The Me2 Deaf-friendly Leisure Activities Pledge commits you to:

• Being deaf friendly
• Promoting effective communication
• Recognising the abilities of all deaf children and young people and helping them to reach their full potential
• Provide equal playing and social opportunities for deaf children and young people

It is really simple to register your national, regional or local leisure organisation, club or group. Download the registration form here Me2 pledge registration form.pdf (778 kb) , complete and return to:

 Me2, NDCS, York House, 37a Great Charles Street, Birmingham, B3 3JY or fax it to 0121 233 9575 

NDCS will help your leisure organisations achieve your commitments in the following ways -

• offer leisure organisations professional membership of NDCS
• provide leisure organisations with resources and guidance on deafness, deaf awareness and effective communication
• add the leisure organisations' details to our database of deaf friendly activities
• help support and advertise specific deaf friendly activities that the club may organise.
• develop possible links or partnerships with local deaf children's societies affiliated to NDCS
• invite you to free training on "Making activities deaf friendly"

Want to find out how you can genuinely include deaf children and young people in your activities? Then why not attend one of our free training courses.

The Me2 "Making activities deaf friendly" training is available to leaders and coaches working with children and young people.

Topics covered on the training day include:

• introduction to NDCS and the Me2 project
• deafness - what is it and how does it impact on deaf children?
• communication - learn top tips for communicating with deaf children, including the fingerspelling alphabet and some basic British Sign Language
• technology - find out about the aids and equipment that deaf children use
• health and safety
• how to adapt activities - learn some deaf friendly games that you can use with your group

Where and when are the courses taking place?

Details of the courses can be found here Me2 training dates 2011-2012.pdf (802 kb)

All courses run between 10am and 4pm. Places must be booked in advance  

Feedback from previous courses:

"I really enjoyed the course. I learnt a lot of very valuable lessons. Thank you very much!"

"I thought everything was great and especially liked learning some sign language"

"I will be more confident in dealing with deaf children - I won't be apprehensive"

90% of participants told us they are now more confident in working with deaf children and young people

95% of participants said their behaviour would change as a result of the training - they would do things differently

95% of participants told us that the training exceeded their expectations!

For more information about the pledge requirements and what they mean download the pledge booklet here. Me2 Deaf Friendly Pledge Requirements (123 kb)

Contact me2@ndcs.org.uk or the Me2 project on 0121 234 9820 (voice or text)

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