James Curtis Expand My name is James Curtis. I was born profoundly deaf, but it was not until I was 8 months old that my parents discovered my hearing impairment. Luckily, thanks to the amazing work of the team at Auditory Verbal UK and my mum’s tenacity and determination for me to speak, I speak as well as any of my friends. If anything, I speak too much! Thanks to my hearing technology, focused Auditory Verbal Therapy (which, might I add, was a lot of fun!), and the superb efforts of my parents who never stopped believing that I could achieve as much as any other child, I am incredibly happy, fulfilled and can communicate with whomever I choose. I enjoyed the full experience while attending Durham University including a range of sports and achieved a First-Class Honours in History (B.A.). I currently work at J.P. Morgan as an Investment Banking Analyst. James is 22 and from north London. If you would like to speak to James, please email [email protected]. Read more about James here.
Jess Curtis Expand My name is Jess Curtis and my brother James was born with profound bilateral hearing loss. James started therapy with the founder of AVUK Jacqueline Stokes in her kitchen in Oxford before the charity even existed. Since the evolution of AVUK, I helped with the set up of the London office by donating my toys and books and helping to clean the new offices and start it up when I was very young. I have advocated for AVUK on many occasions by giving school assemblies and nominating the charity to be the recipients of funding. My most recent contribution was when I raised money by challenging myself to trek to the Base-camp of Mount Everest. Through this I also had the opportunity to raise the profile of the charity.
Max Stroemer Expand My name is Maxwell Stroemer and in July of 2000, I was diagnosed with bilateral profound hearing loss. I am a high school student at the Zurich International School, serving as President of the Student Council and acting as the Co-Captain for the Debate Team. Being deaf, I value the power of public speaking as a means to inspire. Moreover, I am fascinated by History and Politics and will welcome any conversation on current events. I also enjoy alpine skiing and playing rugby. My time with AVUK started at age two and I am grateful for the developmental support that this organisation provided me with; particularly from the late Jaqueline Stokes. When I ask myself what life would be like had I been born without my disability, I have never once resented the fact that I am deaf. I believe that those who embrace their challenges and disabilities have an edge on life because they are able to see, feel and sense things that others simply aren’t. This understanding has empowered me and given me the very courage to write and share my story with audiences and interested readers. As I said in a TED Talk that I delivered at a symposium in Zurich during March of 2017, “everyone has their own type of hearing impairment and if they’re lucky, they’ll have their own type of hearing aid too.” Please find the link to the TEDx Talk here (https://vimeo.com/221600931) Please find the link to the Opinion Article here (http://ablemagazine.co.uk/normal/)
Beatrice Cadman Expand My name is Beatrice and I was born profoundly deaf. My hearing loss was identified by the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme. When I 16 months old, my parents too me to Auditory Verbal UK. I soon began to speak and graduated from Auditory Verbal UK when I was five years old. I now share my experience with others in the hope of raising expectations for deaf children. I have won awards for my communication skills and I am delighted to have passed all my GCSEs and I am now studying for A Levels then I hope to train to be a nurse or midwife. Many people still don’t realise that with the benefits of new technology and the right support, deaf children can achieve anything they want to in life. Beatrice is from Lincolnshire. To find out more about her story or arrange an interview visit [email protected] Beatrice gave a speech at our Power of Speech event at the House of Commons in June 2016. You can watch her speech by clicking here.
Nideeshwaran Chandrasekar Expand My name is Nideesh. I was diagnosed with a hearing loss at 12 months old, in India. I received my first cochlear implant aged three and my second aged six after moving to the UK. My parents contacted Auditory Verbal UK for support when I was four years old and I graduated before sixth birthday. I am currently at a mainstream grammar school and my favourite hobby is swimming. Nideesh spoke at our Power of Speech event at the House of Commons in June 2016. You can watch his speech by clicking here.
Dhyana Gopal Expand My name is Dhyana, and I was born profoundly deaf. However, I was only diagnosed when I was 5 months old. My parents were scared for my future, and with no prior experience of deafness, they faced many options and difficult decisions. At this challenging time, they met the inspirational late Jacqueline Stokes, founder of AVUK, who gave them hope that using Auditory Verbal therapy, there was an expectation that young deaf children could learn to listen and speak using optimally working hearing technology, and that they could attend mainstream education and become independent participating citizens in mainstream society. On the strength of this vision, our journey with AVUK began, and I graduated when I was 5 years old, with listening and language skills equivalent to that of a 7-year-old. 7 years later when my brother Khush was born profoundly deaf, my parents did not hesitate in contacting AVUK immediately and starting a new journey with him. AVUK has become an integral part of our lives and has impacted me in the most positive way. Because of AVUK I am more confident and independent today. I attended a mainstream grammar school, and after successfully completing my GCSEs, I went on to study the International Baccalaureate, taking English Literature, Biology and Chemistry as my Higher Level subjects. I will now be going to the University of East Anglia to study medicine. I am able to appreciate and enjoy music and dance, and I am a grade 5 violinist. I have also completed the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards, and I have travelled internationally on my own. Most importantly, I believe that AVUK has given me the chance to be an outgoing young adult who can embrace the same opportunities as my hearing peers, and who can believe in my dreams. For this, I will always be grateful to AVUK. I have raised money for AVUK by having Loud Shirt Days at school, as well as successfully nominating AVUK as the main school charity for the whole academic year. I have spoken about deafness and AVUK at general school assemblies and at the Founders Day Service to an audience of over 1000 people. I have also been invited to introduce important speakers at AVUK conventions. In 2017, I took part in a film for the Centre of Social Justice who awarded Auditory Verbal UK the Model of Excellence Award. I have also participated in general promotional videos to create awareness of AVUK. Additionally, in 2021, I was an interviewer on the panel in an event for fundraisers, who attended to find out more about Auditory Verbal Therapy. I also attended an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting with members of Parliament and attendees from interested organisations (e.g. the British Deaf Association, RNID, NDCS), in a meeting to discuss the impact of early support on outcomes for deaf children, and what AVUK strives to achieve. In both these events, I talked about my personal experiences and contributed to the discussions on the role of AVUK. I am proud to be a Young Ambassador, and I would like more deaf children to benefit from the amazing and truly life changing work that AVUK does.
Khush Gopal Expand My name is Khush and like my sister Dhyana, I was born profoundly deaf. Having had the most positive outcomes with Dhyana through Auditory Verbal UK’s (AVUK) Auditory Verbal therapy programme, my parents did not hesitate to contact AVUK again after my diagnosis was confirmed - thus starting a new journey at AVUK with me. Auditory Verbal (AV) therapy was an integral part of developing my listening and spoken language and skills. This was reinforced outside my therapy sessions by the invaluable training provided to my parents and the professionals working with me - including my schoolteachers, local teachers of the deaf and speech and language therapists. With such a comprehensive package in place, I was able to graduate from AVUK at the age of 3, with listening and language skills of a 5-year-old. AV therapy and AVUK have transformed my life in many ways. AV therapy is incredible – it has given me the platform to stand side by side with my fellow peers, in a world where my disability would have otherwise rendered me unable to perform at the same level - let alone excel. Thanks to AVUK’s early intervention, I attended a mainstream primary school where I took part in all activities, including nativity plays and residential trips. Importantly AV therapy allows me to socialise both in and out of school - forming valuable friendships. I am now at a mainstream grammar school studying for my GCSES, fully involved in all aspects of school life, from school trips to leading assemblies and being a part of sport teams. Based on my academic merit, I was recently selected by my school as one of 15 Year 10 pupils to attend an Open Day at Queen’s College, Cambridge University – a phenomenal experience. I have taken on roles such as sports captain, earned house colours and received multiple awards for cricket, academics and other school challenges. Currently, I am completing my Silver DofE, with Bronze already under my belt, and have chosen to do the 6-month volunteering component of this with AVUK. I enjoy sports, especially tennis, cricket, football and table tennis, and play competitively for both my school and club. I support Manchester United, and there’s nothing quite like hearing the roar of the Stretford End at Old Trafford! I’m a Grade 4 pianist and my other hobbies include going to the gym, building Lego, reading, and playing video games! At my school I have spoken in assembly about deafness and raised money for AVUK by having a Loud Shirt Day. I have also introduced important speakers at AVUK conventions like the Early Intervention Conference: Getting it right 0-5 years in 2017. In the same year, I took part in a film for the Centre of Social Justice, who awarded Auditory Verbal UK the Model of Excellence Award. Consistently, I have featured in general promotional videos to create awareness of AVUK, as well as specific videos for Loud Shirt Day, Christmas and campaigns like ‘Hear Us Now’. In 2022, as an AVUK Power of Speech winner I attended an event at the Houses of Parliament where I read out the award-winning story I had written: “The Sorcerer’s Ruby”. Furthermore, in 2023, I worked in collaboration with the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho on the Radio 4 Appeal with the BBC, which raised more than £30,000 for AVUK. You can find more about this here. In 2024, I met the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel De Souza, and shared my experiences with her, showcasing the impact of AVUK’s support. I am proud to be a Young Ambassador for AVUK. The support of their AV therapy has given me incredible listening and speaking skills, and I would like other deaf children to receive this life-changing therapy, so they can have the best chance to reach their potential.