Night Club for the deaf to open at the O2 in London!

Deaf clubbers feeling the vibes

Sign language 'video jockeys' and a vibrating dance floor are among the innovations to make clubbing accessible for deaf people at the new Sencity nightclub event at the 02 in London.. There will also be signing dancers who translate the music into dance and a signing rapper...

This is what Sencity is all about.. they say on their site:

Sencity is an unique way of getting everything out of your night. This party goes beyond music, all senses are stimulated at this party! With expressive dancers, a SenseFloor, Taste sensations, Video projections, light effects, sign interpreters and hairdressers the music event transforms in a overall experience.

Here is a video of one of their nights in Rotterdam..

Don't just take our word for it though, see the articles below covering the story .. Its big news!!

Daily Mail

The Independent

Asian Age

The Mirror 

Book early....

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Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

NDCS stopping cuts to education for deaf children in Stoke, but what's happening here?

Not so fast Stoke....NDCS take on Stoke Council at the High Court

Great news from the BBC that NDCS have forced Stoke Council to take their planned cuts to the hearing support service to a judicial review in the High Court. The review means that the cuts won't go ahead unless a judge approves them, all the arguments will now be made in a courtroom, rather than the council chamber.

Winning  a review is a small but very important victory on the road to protecting the education for deaf children in Stoke and sends a message about how NDCS mean business. 

The NDCS campaign 'Take Action' aims to fight cuts to children's services for deaf children all over the country - but what is happening in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire? 

Despite requests from NDCS for information, the picture in Peterborough is unclear.  Check this map out for information from around the country to see what is going on, although sadly, there's not much news from our neck of the woods. 

You can find out for yourself and pass the information on to NDCS (they don't seem to be getting any joy) and urge the councils in our areas to protect our services if they plan to cut them. All you have to do is click here and follow the instructions to send a message to your local council leader.  

Will only take a minute but might make an important difference  

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

NDCS Events for Older Kids! Book Now

News of a great event coming up with NDCS for older kids..

It's an action adventure weekend break from Friday 23rd September to Sunday 25th September in Thirsk, North Yorkshire for deaf children aged 16-19.

Get involved in

• Team Building
• Team Work
• Outdoor Fun
• Becoming more independent
• Making new friends

See here for more details and to download a booking form: http://events.ndcs.org.uk/index.php?ref=E4E42668BD1733

Thirsk isn't all that close to Peterborough but these kind of events are rare and children normally have to travel to take part.

Well worth the journey...




Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Deaf Children interested in University? Read on..

How accessible is University? A FREE event for D/deaf pupils who are curious about if University is for them. (Parents, carers and professionals welcome.) It is organised by the Disability Services of various colleges of the University of London. This event is suitable for any pupil over 11 years but is likely to be of particular interest to those in Years 9-11 and at FE College.

It's on Saturday 24th September between 11.30am and 4.15pm at SOAS (the School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London) London, WC1H 0XG.

For a booking form and more detailed information please contact: Deb Viney, SOAS tel: 0207 898 4957 email: diversity@soas.ac.uk

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Peterborough Mayor street dances with deaf kids

Mayor (centre) with the kids

Our Summer Play Scheme came to an end on Friday with a visit from the Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor Paula Thacker MBE, who got right involved with the children's street dancing performance. 

Keen to be involved after chatting to some of our volunteers and children, Cllr Thacker took to the dance floor and showed why she is the Mayor who can mash it up! Thanks  to the Mayor and the City Council for their continued support..

The Play Scheme was once again a success with many children attending during the week and taking part in a wide-range of activities, including dance, cookery, artwork, sports and a trip to the seaside.

Managed by our Chairperson, Nicola Epathite, the Play Scheme gives deaf children in the city the chance to meet their friends and have fun in a way that takes into consideration different communication needs. It's the only one of its kind for miles and miles....

A massive vote of thanks and all the volunteers who made the week a success, including Sally Walker from Marshfields School who gave us access to the venue and lots of her time and hard work too. Finally, once again, thanks to Nicola Epathite for her brilliant work in organising and running this event. 

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Imagine every film at the cinema had subtitles..if you wanted them?

News broke on Thursday morning that Sony has been developing some electronic glasses that can add the subtitles to a film, visible only to those who are wearing the glasses. This opens the exciting possibility that deaf people could access subtitles at the cinema for all films, at any time. 

Another exciting application of these glasses could be using voice to text software to provide deaf people with subtitles to real-life conversation. Check out this BBC video, featuring Charlie Swinbourne, (with subtitles) and also the this Tech Radar article.

Hat-tip: Dave Norris.

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Subtitled

Tonight at Showcase Cinema in Peterborough at 7.15 - Subtitled showing of The Rise of the Planet of the Apes!

Read a review here

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Like signed music? Check out MissyPinkPhoenix

If you like popular music translated into sign language - then you'll love MissyPinkPhoenix's YouTube Channel. With a new song almost every week, her channel is worth a look.

Here's is Cee Lo Green's Forget You:

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Want to write? Apply for this workshop with the Guardian

Are you a writer between the ages of 16-22?

Guardian News & Media is always looking for new voices as part of their commitment to the diversity of their editorial content and the writers that we use.

If you are between the ages of 16-22, apply for a place on two young writers' workshops with editors from the Guardian's G2, Sport, Culture, and Comment sections. They particularly encourage applicants from all minority backgrounds - so that includes you, deaf kids!

Twenty shortlisted writers will be invited to join them for two workshops at the Guardian offices in Kings Place, London on Wednesday 14 September, and Wednesday 21 September 2011 to:

* understand the different sections of the Guardian
* develop your ideas into pitches
* discuss how to approach commissioning editors and pitch your ideas
* explore ways to encourage more young writers to write for the Guardian
* create a link between new writers and Guardian editors
* help Guardian editors to become more conscious of diversity and inclusion issues that affect young writers

To apply, submit an article (max 400 words) on the theme "I wish..." plus brief details of any published work. Please refer to their terms and conditions and apply here:http://www.guardian.co.uk/minority-writers-workshop

The deadline is 5pm on Friday 26 August 2011 so get writing! You never know!




Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Quick!! Employment training opportunity for deaf people

News direct from CommunicationID about training opportunities for deaf people...read on to see what's on offer. Email development@communicationid.co.uk directly if you're interested in this exciting opportunity. The video is a signed interpretation of the message below.

Welcome from CommunicationID and CommunityID
We are really pleased to inform you that we are setting up a new apprenticeship scheme and have five places available.
The aim is to give Deaf people an opportunity to gain work experience and develop a career path for the future.
We are working in partnership with an external Training Provider to support our aims of getting more Deaf people back into employment.
The scheme will run for 16 hours a week (2 days per week) and therefore will not affect your benefits, if you claim them -- if you have any concerns about this we will discuss this with you at the interview stage.
There will two different levels of Apprenticeship:

NVQ level 2 (12 months)NVQ level 3 (18 months)

We will be offering the following NVQ Qualifications:
Business Administration
Customer Service

- with more to be announced soon!!!
If you are interested and would like more information please contact us on: development@communicationid.co.uk
Perhaps you prefer to have a conversation in BSL: please email us and let us know and include your Skype/Webcam contact details and we will contact you.
If you're interested in applying, please complete the application form (you can also attach your CV too, if you wish). If you would like to submit in BSL, this is fine - please record this and send us the video.
The closing dates for applications is 25th August 2011
Interviews will be held the first week of September 2011
Good Luck!

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

East Enders Star and mum of deaf child talks of struggle to cope

East Enders Star, Rita Simons who plays Roxy Mitchell, revealed this week how she has been suffering from panic attacks since the birth of her children, one of whom is deaf, in an interview with 'What's on TV'

Known to millions across the UK for her role as a feisty barmaid in the long-running soap opera, Rita has also been a campaigner for deaf charity Action on Hearing Loss, formerly known as RNID. 

The Daily Mail reported last year that it was thought Rita's daughter Maiya's deafness was due to a condition called Mondini Dysplasia, which causes changes to the shape of the cochlear. The cochlear is the organ responsible for converting the vibrations made by sound waves in to signals that the brain understands as sound. 

About the panic attacks that followed, Rita says: “When Theo [her husband] and I went for our first night out after the kids were born, we were having a subdued dinner with friends and suddenly I couldn’t breathe.

“My heart was in my mouth and I was sweating and shaking. I didn’t tell anyone because you feel stupid and weak, like you are going insane.”

The NDCS, (National Deaf Children's Society) has a freephone helpline and parent support forum for parents who would like to share their feelings or ask questions about their child's hearing loss.

What's on TV have the full interview here.

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Legal system not geared for needs of deaf people: Guardian

The british legal system is stacked against providing a fair service for the deaf people, leaving charities such as RAD to deal with the problems and leading to the country's first legal firm especially for deaf people, according to the UK Newspaper, The Guardian:

"You don't have to look very far to find stories about deaf people who have been let down by lawyers and the legal system.

There's Funmi, a deaf Nigerian who has lived in the UK since 1987 but whose solicitor did not make her citizenship application correctly; David, a self-employed man whose solicitor did not fight his corner over benefits he was entitled to for being wholly reliant on his hearing mother to communicate with clients; and John, whose union solicitor did a bad job of his disability discrimination case against a well-known financial institution."

Neil Rose of the The Guardian has the full story here

For more information about RAD's Legal Service, follow this link: http://www.royaldeaf.org.uk/legal-services.html

For Action on Hearing Loss' Factsheets about your rights : http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/supporting-you/factsheets-and-leaflets/your-rights.aspx

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

'Cheryl Cole' TV star reveals how her deaf father inspired her to learn sign language

The Daily Mail reports today that Rachel Shenton, star of long running British TV show Hollyoaks, was inspired by her father to learn the art of sign language.

Rachel, who plays a character in the show, thought to be based on Cheryl Cole, watched her father lose his hearing as he fought cancer in the final years of his life. The hearing loss was thought to be due to the drugs used in chemotherapy.

Rachel was then inspired to learn sign language, studying for six years and qualifying as an interpreter before landing a role in the hit show. The Daily Mail has the full story:

See Action on Hearing Loss' fact sheet on 'Drugs and Hearing Loss' for more information on drugs which can cause hearing loss.



Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Video: Ethiopian School for Deaf Children

We got this video via At the Rim. Its a fascinating look inside a school for deaf children in Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa. The presenter is Nicolas Ansell.

Takes only a few minutes. 

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Mega Debate on Comment is Free about Cochlear Implants

Scriptwriter, filmmaker and journalist, Charlie Swinbourne writes in the Guardian's Comment Is Free yesterday about cochlear implants. Charlie claims that some deaf adults, including deaf actress Emily Howlett, have been put under pressure to receive an implant even if doctors admit the there is apparently no benefit. The article doesn't discuss the merits of cochlear implants for children.

The article also talks about the poor level of deaf awareness among audiologists..something many people will relate to. Well worth a read, if you haven't already.

The article has sparked debate with over 200 comments so far with a frank exchange of viewpoints.






Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Welcome to Visitors from DeafRead!

Welcome to PDDCS News to our new visitors from DeafRead!

Come back regularly for news from across the Deaf Community, updates relating to the Peterborough and District Deaf Children's Society, educational news and current deaf issues.

Please feel free to get in touch.



Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Hi-five Issue 2 Out Now!

Our news bulletin, Hi-five is being sent to members this weekend with all the news from PDDCS! You can get read it online by clicking here:

You can have a look at the last edition here:

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

Deaf Kids Travel Miles for an Education, Part II

Another story broke today about deaf children travelling ridiculous distances to get a decent education.

This time, the Belfast Telegraph reports that seven deaf children from Northern Ireland are having to travel to ENGLAND to get the education they deserve at a combined annual cost to the taxpayer of £250,000. The reason is because Northern Ireland cannot offer Grammar School standard education to deaf children, forcing them to travel big distances and face separation from their families and friends in order to fulfil their potential.

One of the Mums, Mrs Massey, who teaches in a Co Antrim secondary school, said: "Why should my son be denied a grammar school education just because of his hearing loss? I wanted only the best for him and in my opinion the best was Mary Hare, the National Grammar School for the Deaf."

"It was a huge wrench, breaking up our family, fear of the unknown, worrying if the right decision had been made - and criticism, usually unspoken but still felt, that it was a terrible thing to send your child away."

"You do what's right for your child and we feel we made the right decision sending him to board - he has really blossomed."

Happens more than you'd think...

Click here for the full story

Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus

180 mile round trip to school - just because you're deaf

A shocking story appeared in the Mirror yesterday which gave an example of the lengths some deaf children need to go to, to get an education.

Michaela Mowat, 11, from Kendal has been forced to travel from Cumbria to school in Boston Spa near Leeds where she will stay from Monday to Friday. And the reason why? Acoustics in the classroom are so poor at the school in Kendal that Michaela's hearing aids are useless for hearing what the teacher is saying.

Michaela will now see less of her friends and family potentially compounding the child's sense of isolation.

In Kendal being deaf and going to a local school is just too difficult to get sorted.

The Mirror picks up the story... 







Please take time to visit the Action on Hearing Loss online shop where you can find hundreds of useful products designed for deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus