0-19: Letter; Deaf Community Woe

Deaf Community Woe

I am concerned the deaf community is beginning to dry up
(Childfile, 0-19, May 05). Where are the young deaf people out
there? Which mainstream schools do they go to? More deaf schools
have closed down and I am worried about the affect this could be
having on deaf children’s psychological and emotional
development.

Will every deaf child have the chance to meet deaf adults as
role models? There is already a shortage of deaf mentors and deaf
youth clubs.

I believe deaf youth workers play an important role keeping
young deaf people involved in the deaf community. Without more of
them deaf children will miss out.

Andrew Jordan
youth service manager,
Royal association for deaf People