Deaf Parenting e-group is support/consultative group as result of the project that I carried out in USA in 2001 on Deaf parenting from Deaf adults with children or planning to become a parent.

I worked with Paul Preston (well-known author of ‘Mother Father Deaf’ in USA, who did a three years national research on disabled people, themselves as parents or as children of hearing parents.I did a research project on deaf parents with hearing/deaf/disabled children.

Research showed that there are vast materials targeted to hearing parents of deaf children in USA and in UK, knowing that 90% of deaf children are from hearing families.And yet there are no information/ services on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting skills, education for deaf/hearing children, child development specifically for Deaf Parents (who are 90% likely to have hearing children)!

As a result,Deaf Parenting UK (previously known as Deaf Parenting Project) was founded in April 2001 and growing from strength to strength.The aim is to relieve the needs of Deaf Parents and Deaf parents to be, highlighting the gaps in services in UK and to work with various organisations including Health, Social Services, Deaf &mainstream parenting organisations to improve access to information and services to Deaf Parents.

Deaf Parenting UK also gave presentation/workshops at various conferences on local, national and international levels.We also had successful Deaf Parenting Conference running seminars/workshops on deaf parenting issues and exhibitors from deaf and mainstream parenting organisations.Positive interests/feedback from Deaf parents and professionals highlights the needs for more accessible information and support group for Deaf parents.

If you are Deaf parents/professionals/service provider,please join in–its FREE, to share information,suggestions,and stories,informing each other of new developments/materials available on Deaf parenting etc.

Enjoy

Sabina
Chair & Founder of Deaf Parenting UK