Celebrating deaf achievements in Parliament

We were honoured to welcome inspiring deaf role models who have achieved so much across sport, culture, media and business to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness event on 4th November. Guests included model, dancer and proud cochlear implant user Tasha Ghouri, as well tennis player Charlie Denton, who is heading to Tokyo with the GB Deaflympics team next week, and Janine Roebuck - the world’s only profoundly deaf opera singer. Poet and writer Raymond Antrobus, actor and model Georgia Meacham and the author and actor Samantha Baines also attended, alongside many more advocates and champions.

CEOs with Minister for Disability Stephen Timms

From left to right: Tasha Ghouri, Catherine Atkinson MP, Lucy Warnes CEO of SignHealth, Minister for Disability Stephen Timms MP, Harriet Oppenheimer CEO of RNID, Anita Grover CEO of Auditory Verbal UK and George Crockford CEO of National Deaf Children’s Society

The event was hosted by Catherine Atkinson MP, and supported by RNID, National Deaf Children’s Society, Convo, SignHealth and us at AVUK. The event spotlighted how together we can champion change and improve services and support to ensure all deaf people across the UK can thrive. And we were thrilled the Minister for Disability, Stephen Timms MP and so many MPs and Peers, including Vice-chairs of the APPG Alison Griffiths MP and Baggy Shanker MP, joined us to learn more about lived experiences and the diversity of deafness.


Tasha Ghouri and Louis	Tasha Ghouri and Charlie

Louis and Charlie who are both deaf and learned to listen and speak with Auditory Verbal therapy shared their stories alongside Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri.

Louis said: “Being deaf has never stopped me from joining in with everything my friends do, but I know that many deaf children don’t get the same chances I’ve had — and that’s not fair. I hope that by more deaf people, especially celebrities, sharing their stories and raising awareness at events like this, things will start to change for the better."

Charlie said: “I’ve always been encouraged to go for things and not hold back. Thanks to my family and early support to learn to listen and talk with Auditory Verbal therapy, I’ve had the confidence to push myself and show what’s possible. Next week I’ll be heading to Tokyo with the GB Deaflympics tennis team — it’s honestly so exciting and I’m so proud to represent my country. Being here in Parliament today with so many other deaf people doing incredible things is a massive honour. It just shows that being deaf doesn’t stop you from doing what you love.”

Minister for Disability Stephen Timms MP and young ambassadors (including Charlie – second from right)

Minister for Disability Stephen Timms MP and young deaf ambassadors (including Charlie – second from right)

Auditory Verbal UK Chief Executive Anita Grover, who is profoundly deaf and uses a cochlear implant, said: “Deaf children and adults have long been underestimated, with expectations set far too low. Today’s event bringing together inspiring advocates shows that opportunities for deaf people can be limitless. Early and effective support for deaf children to develop language and communication, whether families wish to use sign language, spoken language or both, is absolutely vital to breaking down barriers to opportunities. Enabling equitable access to early support is key to ensuring every deaf child has the best start in life.”

AVUK is proud to support the APPG on Deafness which is a cross-party group of parliamentarians (MPs in the House of Commons and Peers in the House of Lords). The group has a shared vision of ensuring all deaf people can thrive, including improving NHS audiology services and ensuring early and effective language and communication support for deaf children.