About Deaf Child Worldwide

Deaf Child Worldwide is the international development arm of the National Deaf Children’s Society. We’re the UK’s leading international charity for deaf children in developing countries.

Watch our animation below to find out more about the work we do.

Our purpose

Our purpose is to enable children, young people and their families in developing countries to get the support they need to make informed decisions and choices to overcome barriers that prevent them from realising their rights to education, information, health and economic opportunity.

What we do

There are estimated 34 million deaf children worldwide and 80% of those deaf children live in low or middle income countries.

We have been working to support deaf children, young people and their families internationally since 2003. Often we are working with the most marginalised and poorest of communities.

We are a recognised global expert on childhood deafness. Our ambition within our five-year strategy is that, by 2030, no deaf child will be left behind – at school, in their community or at home.

We work in partnership with locally based organisations in-country. These can be small community based organisations or local and international NGOs. We work with these organisations because they have demonstrated a commitment to improve the livelihoods of deaf children.

Together with our partners we can overcome social and educational barriers that hold deaf children and young people back from reaching their full potential. Find out more about partnering with us.

How do we do this?

• We provide specialist advice and give professional guidance to improve the overall environment for deaf children and young people.
• We work with our partners to develop specific resources and materials to inform and educate.
• We offer training and support partners with technical knowledge and expertise that can be utilised by teams within communities.
• We undertake invaluable research into the needs of deaf children and young people.
• We build relationships to inform and educate a wider audience about deafness.
• We empower deaf children, deaf young people and their families to support each other and campaign for long-term sustainable change.

Why deaf children need us

Deafness is not a learning disability and, given the right support, deaf children can do anything their hearing peers can do.

But in developing countries, deaf children face severe challenges due to late diagnosis, difficulty accessing quality education, stigma, isolation and discrimination.

In order to reach their full potential deaf children need:

• help to develop language and communication skills from as early an age as possible - primarily from families who themselves are supported to offer this
• access to formal pre-school learning where they can develop language skills
• to be able to attend schools that meet their needs and encourage them to achieve
• to grow up in an environment that strives to deliver equality instead of discrimination
• access to information about health, training and employment.

Our policies and procedures

We are committed to ensuring that we meet best practice and protect all children and young adults at risk. Visit our policies and procedures page to access our Informed Choice Policy, Inclusion Policy, International Safeguarding Policy and International Communications Guidelines. 

Contact us

If you have queries regarding any aspect of Deaf Child Worldwide's work, please contact us using the details below.

Email: [email protected]