In early September supporters of AVUK gathered at British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in central London to celebrate the wonder of sound and support more deaf babies and children have the same opportunities in life as their hearing friends. 

 

Inspired by Grace - and the hundreds of other deaf children who were supported to learn to listen and talk on our family-centred Auditory Verbal therapy programme - supporters helped to raise vital funds so we can continue to support deaf babies and children across the UK.

 

Grace’s story

 

Grace’s parents found out she was deaf at her newborn hearing screening test. They were devastated by the news and at the thought of Grace’s future without sound. They began to do research and found that Grace could have cochlear implants. At 8 months old she received implants at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

 

Soon after they found out about Auditory Verbal therapy and AVUK from a friend who also had a deaf child. They joined our family programme to maximise the cochlear technology and give Grace the same opportunities in life as her hearing friends.

 

With the specialist early support programme Grace’s parents were given the tool to support her to listen and develop spoken language. She graduated from the programme, having just turned four years old, with spoken language equivalent to her hearing peers and started mainstream school.

 

“Grace is a happy and very confident child, an excellent communicator and amazing listener who is very curious and very broadly interested in many things the world has to offer her. Grace swims, dances, sings, draws, paints, loves animals, museums, art and reading. We are delighted with whom she is which I do not believe would have been possible without AVUK’s guidance and support.”

 

Support more deaf children

 

The event in support of deaf children saw British pop rock band, Fine Young Cannibals, perform for attendees, including BBC Strictly Head Judge, Shirley Ballas.

 

Supporters pledged to raise expectations and outcomes for deaf children, and help us increase awareness, understanding and access to Auditory Verbal therapy.

 

Thank you to those who attended for your generous support!

 

Find out more about how you can support us and our work