Do's for MP Campaign Expand Include your name and address MPs will often reply to the letters and emails they receive. So be sure to include your name and address, so they know where to send a response. . Tell your story It’s important that you tell your family’s personal story and how AVUK has supported you. Including this helps promote your cause as MPs are sent hundreds of letters a week from constituents and it’s important that yours stands out! . Paint the full Picture It’s also important to highlight the great work that AVUK does across the UK and highlight what AVUK is trying to further achieve. We’ve put together some sample text that illustrates what we do that you might like to include: “All deaf children should have the same opportunities in life as hearing children. Early support should be available for all deaf children whether their parents choose to communicate with spoken language, sign language or a combination of both. It is vital that support is family-centred and that parents/carers are able to make informed choices about the communication approach for their child and to be able to access the support that is right for them. There are around 7,200 deaf children under the age of 5 in the UK who face a lifetime of disadvantage without access to skilled early support. At current estimates, they are predicted to have lower academic achievement, lower employment prospects and to be at higher risk of bullying, social exclusion and poor mental health. By ensuring families have access to support they need, we can tackle the root causes of this disadvantage and transform outcomes for thousands of deaf children across the UK”
Dont's for MP Campaign Expand Don’t paint other options in a negative light There are many options available to deaf children and it’s important to recognise that Auditory Verbal therapy is just one of these options. However, we insist that every child should have the opportunity to access Auditory Verbal therapy should their families consider it the right option for them, and lawmakers can help make this a reality. . Don’t make your letter too long Try to be concise, aiming for no more than a page or two. If your letter is too long it will increase the chances that it won’t be read, or that it will simply be skimmed over.
Key Facts Expand It might help to include some statistics which highlight the work of AVUK. You can link MPs to our facts and figures here- https://www.avuk.org/facts-and-figures However, if you’d like to mention some yourself here are some key examples: 80% of all children who spend at least two years on our programme achieve age-appropriate language. . 97% of children without additional needs on our programme achieve at least age-appropriate language. . AVT is a cost-effective approach. For every £1 invested in AVUK’s early intervention programme there is a £4 return on that child’s future. . There are approximately 7,200 deaf children under the age of 5 in the UK . They currently face the prospect of lower academic achievement, lower employment, and are at higher risk of poor mental health, bullying and social exclusion. . When children and families have access to effective, early support, deaf children can get an equal start at school and opportunities transformed.
Example Structure Expand Start by telling your story. What have been the challenges and successes you and your deaf children have faced? At what cost have they come? For example, mentally, financially, practically. If you are a professional who works with deaf children, explain your background. . Explain that Auditory Verbal UK is a national charity that wants all deaf babies and children to have the opportunity to listen and speak as equals alongside their hearing peers. If you wish to quote our mission statement, you could include: “We work to increase awareness, understanding and access to Auditory Verbal therapy by providing services directly to families and sharing our expertise with health and education professions so that many more families can access Auditory Verbal therapy close to where they live”. If you’re writing via email, you could link them to the Our Mission and Values page on our website here- https://www.avuk.org/our-mission-and-values . Describe the role Auditory Verbal UK had in supporting you and/or your family. What was your experience of AVUK? What was your relationship with those who work for AVUK like? . How do you think Auditory Verbal UK has helped your family, and what do you think your experience would have been like if you hadn’t discovered Auditory Verbal therapy? . State how your MP can help us to ensure that all those who want a listening and spoken language outcome for their deaf children can access Auditory Verbal therapy close to where they live. For example, by standing up for the unlimited potential for what deaf children can achieve.