INTRODUCING THE FINALISTS IN THE CLAIRE CAMPBELL OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

We are delighted to introduce the finalists in the second annual Claire Campbell Outstanding Achievement Awards launched in memory of Claire who was dedicated to supporting deaf children to have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.

This year’s competition has been strong with more entries looking to emulate the worthy winners from 2023 - deaf teenager, Lauren Press, and St George’s Hospital Auditory Implant Service Team.

As the mother of three children, two of whom are profoundly deaf and learnt to listen and talk at with Auditory Verbal therapy, Claire was, and remains, a source of inspiration to many families across the UK and internationally. Claire helped so many people, many of whom she never met, but reached with her kindness and compassion. Claire was dedicated to helping other families have the same opportunity to access specialist early interventions to support their children to have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.

It is wonderful to again join with Claire’s family and recognise the outstanding achievements of deaf children and young people and the adults who have gone above and beyond to support them.

Chris Campbell said: “The 2023 awards were such a perfect way to honour Claire and as a family we were overwhelmed by all the entries but this year the entries have surpassed our expectations and it has been very emotional reading about so many truly outstanding achievements both proving what deaf children and young people can achieve as well as adults who are going above and beyond to support.”

Finalists for the Children and Young Person Outstanding Achievement Award

This award recognises a deaf child or young person with hearing loss who, like Claire, has gone above and beyond to demonstrate that deaf children can achieve their potential.

Onyx Burden was born profoundly deaf and wears cochlear implants. Now aged 15 he is at mainstream school currently studying a range of GCSEs from drama and music to English and science. Described as inspiring and talented as well as an incredible artist, Onyx promotes both his deaf identity as well as LGBTQ+ causes. He has developed his own metacognitive methods to help him progress at school and his nomination describes his confidence as “amazing” and a student the school is extremely proud of.

Nominated by: teacher

Esah Hayat was born profoundly deaf and received his first cochlear implant aged three. He developed a love of tennis aged nine and began to represent GB Deaf Tennis winning the World Deaf Under 18 Deaf Championship aged just 13. He became a sports ambassador at secondary school and mentored both deaf and hearing young people in both sports and education. He excelled in GCSEs and A Levels and attended Cambridge University – during his first year he was implanted with a second cochlear implant. He graduated with a First Class Honours in Natural Sciences while continuing to play tennis and becoming university captain. In January 2024 Esah won the Australian Open Tennis Championship Deaf competition while studying for a masters in philosophy. Now aged 22 and working in investment banking, Esah continues to mentor students with disabilities from his school and he has also spoken at 10 Downing Street about improving provision for young people with disabilities.

Nominated by: parent

Ahmad Kalim was born profoundly deaf with a number of additional underlying health conditions. He had cochlear implant surgery aged four and defied expectations by not only beginning to speak but also walk. Despite many medical complications and surgeries Ahmad persevered through school and college and achieved nine GCSEs, two A Levels, one AS Level and a Higher National Diploma. Aged 27 Ahmad published his debut crime thriller “Bloody Justice” and is now ready to publish his second book. In his nomination, his Mum Zobia said: “Thank you Ahmad for giving life your best, for not giving up, for fighting all odds and still turning out to the kindest soul I know.”

Nominated by: parent

Jasper Loten was only diagnosed with profound hearing loss aged two and received his cochlear implants aged three. Due to his late diagnosis Jasper had a speech and language delay but despite this has gone on to conduct many public speaking opportunities including at the House of Commons, on television and in radio news interviews, at school assemblies and open days. He is eager to pay forward the support he received from a number of charities including the Surrey Deaf Children’s Society and the Cochlear Implant Children’s Support Group and volunteers at their events meeting other young deaf people and their families. Currently studying for A Levels in Economics, IT and Maths, Jasper hopes to go to university. He also loves sport, plays the piano and has been an Army Cadet and completed his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award. Everything he does advocates for raising awareness of deaf issues and challenging perceptions of what deaf young people can achieve.

Nominated by: Parent

Louis Moss progressively lost his hearing and after wearing hearing aids he received cochlear implants aged seven. Louis now attends mainstream school loves gaming, tennis, reading and playing with his friends. Together with his family he is also campaigns to improve access to early support for all deaf children and challenging perceptions of what deaf children can achieve. He has met MPs in the Houses of Parliament, as well as the Children’s Commissioner. Dame Rachel de Souza, who then invited him to join the launch of her Big Ambition in Westminster. He has conducted television and radio interviews as part of his campaigning work and is always happy to share his own story and experiences. In September his efforts were recognised by The Sun newspaper who announced him as runner up in the Saffie Smile Awards to celebrate children who have gone above and beyond.

Nominated by: parent

Holi Nakarja was born profoundly deaf but her hearing loss was not diagnosed until she was two and a half and she then received her cochlear implants. Holi has also been diagnosed as neurodivergent and has other development difficulties, meaning she has had to work even harder to develop language and communication. Holi is now starting to speak in short sentences as well as using some sign language, and despite all the obstacles, she continues to tackle with great humour and big smile.

Nominated by: parent

Sanemi Parashar was born profoundly deaf and had cochlear implant surgery at 15 months, followed by a reimplant less than a year later. She also has balance issues, but despite this and many other hurdles she has continued to develop and persevere especially developing speech and language skills. Now 12 Sanemi has always been especially keen to help others. She promotes charity work at school where she is on the school council, is an ambassador and mentor for Advanced Bionics and supports and volunteers for the Emmeline Centre at Addenbrookes Hospital. She is involved with the Cambridge and Huntingdon Deaf Children's Society, a volunteer with the BEARS cochlear implant trial and even raised money while on holiday with the Rotary Club of India as well as meeting implant surgeons and the rehab team at the local hospital. She is excelling at school, learning two foreign languages as well as Indian dance and is always outspoken about the impact of deafness alongside challenging perceptions of what deaf young people can achieve.

Nominated by: parent and professional

Benjamin Wayne was diagnosed as profoundly deaf as a baby and received his cochlear implants when he was three after a national media campaign to raise funds for the operation which at time he didn’t qualify for through the NHS. He started mainstream school only able to speak a few words but with the support and determination from professionals, family and friend his spoken language was age appropriate at the end of year two. He loves rugby, cricket, football and athletics and is excelling at school and continues to show with determination what deaf children can achieve while always being kind and funny.

Nominated by: parent

Finalists for the Adult Outstanding Achievement Award

This award recognises an adult, such as a professional, teacher, parent or caregiver, who, like Claire, has gone above and beyond to support a deaf child or children to achieve their potential and/or challenge the perceptions of what deaf children can achieve.

Susan Brownson is Deputy Headteacher and Lead of Deaf Provision at Laycock School in London and is described as “a visionary leader at the heart and soul” of the provision in London. Her unwavering commitment to inclusion has not only transformed the lives of the children she works with but has also set a benchmark for educational institutions nationwide. She believes deeply in supporting deaf children, ensuring they are equipped with the skills, confidence, and self-belief to reach their full potential. Her holistic approach to education goes above and beyond traditional teaching methods, fostering an environment where deaf children are not just included but celebrated. She collaborates closely with families, teachers, and healthcare professionals supporting both academic and social needs. She challenges and changes perceptions about what deaf children can achieve, debunking myths about the limitations still too often associated with deafness.

Nominated by: professional

Tricia Kemp is the parent of one of the very first British children to receive a cochlear implant and set up the Cochlear Implanted Children's Support Group (CICS) in 1993 to support families and children with cochlear implants around the UK with support, advice and information. It was and still is an independent and completely voluntary charity run by parents of deaf children. Now a regional co-ordinator for the charity she does so much more than this and was nominated for regularly going above and beyond to ensure families get the best support for their children and ensuring the CICS network continues to be an invaluable source of support for families with deaf children. Tricia champions the achievements of children with cochlear implants inspiring others to reach their potential. Parents of deaf children talk about her passion, commitment and enthusiasm alongside her personal approach, communication and support. She always thinks of others and goes above and beyond to support deaf children and their families.

Nominated by: parents of deaf children

Tanya Saunders is the founder of specialist publisher AVID Language which publishes inclusive books for families with and without hearing loss, inspired by her daughter who is profoundly deaf. Not only publishing books for deaf children the scope has been widened to include titles for parents, carers and professionals. Her nomination describes Tanya as innovative and dedicated to driving change. Through her books Tanya is a campaigner on a mission to create deaf awareness and as well as offering representation for deaf children the books are a powerful educational tool for hearing children

Nominated by: professional and parent of a deaf child

The Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme has been nominated for its outstanding work in supporting the families of deaf children who receive cochlear implants across Scotland.

The paediatric rehabilitation team have demonstrated a huge commitment to training and personal development. Three members of rehabilitation team, made up of two speech and language therapists and a teacher of the deaf, under the leadership of Jane Gallacher, Head of Service for Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme, have committed to join the specialist training programme in the Auditory Verbal therapy approach. By doing so, the Rehabilitation Team at the SCIP ensure that all the families of deaf children in Scotland who receive cochlear implants have the opportunity to access Auditory Verbal therapy through the NHS.

Nominated by: professional

Gaea Thompson is a Teaching Assistant for the Deaf in a deaf support facility at Willingdon Primary School in East Sussex. Nominated for the effort she goes to supporting deaf children and their families, Gaea is commended for her fun, friendly and supportive relationships she develops with the young people to help them develop language, social and emotional skills. She has a passion to develop deaf children’s identity and organises fun deaf role model events including with a deaf mountain biker and deaf dog groomer as well as talking about her own experiences of being deaf and how this has never prevented her achieving anything she wanted. Gaea has co-ordinated a Safety in Action Day with a range of emergency services to improve deaf awareness and enable deaf children to learn vital life skills. And to improve the experiences for deaf children and their families she has organised parental workshops on a number of themes including building esteem and being the parent of a deaf child. She has also this year volunteered in Ghana supporting deaf children in the country.