Leading Charity Celebrates A ‘Momentous' Deaf Awareness Week

Just a week after British Sign Language (BSL) was passed in the House of Lords and given Royal Assent as an official language in the UK, DSN kicked off Deaf Awareness Week with a host of fundraising and awareness activities.

DSN, formerly known as Deafness Support Network is one of the leading providers for BSL training in the region and CEO David Horrocks, said this years Deaf Awareness Week was ‘momentous’ for the whole deaf community.

David said: “The support to get the bill passed by parliament was unprecedented and what better way to start the most important event in our calendar than off the back of BSL becoming a legally recognised language?!”

This years theme is ‘Deaf Inclusion’ and the aim of the campaign is to highlight the impact of hearing loss on everyday life and increase visibility and inclusion of Deaf people.

David added: “Here at DSN it is our mission to create avenues to allow people with a hearing loss to live fulfilling and independent lives.

“With the likes of Rosie Ayling-Ellis winning Strictly, CODA winning Best Picture at the Oscars and of course the bill being passed, we are moving towards a future where people are more aware than ever of the need for inclusion of people with a hearing loss and through a number of projects and initiatives, DSN is leading the way to ensure we consistently strive to achieve this.”

To mark the week, the sensory loss charity which provides services for 200,000 people with a vision and hearing loss in Cheshire, Wrexham and Flintshire volunteers and staff will be taking to the streets to raise awareness and funds for the organisation.

Throughout the week awareness has been raised about their BSL courses as well as their not-for-profit audiology service Positive Hearing, which offers free hearing tests to people in the area.

David added: “We support people of every age, from birth right the way through to supporting people with interpreters at funerals. We are there for families who have a child with a hearing loss, veterans who have developed a hearing loss from service and young people who want to develop life and communication skills - anyone and everyone who would like to learn more about how to live life with a hearing loss. Breaking down barriers is what we have been doing for 45 years and 2022, is no different.”

If you’d like to fundraise, learn BSL or get more information on the services DSN provides, please call 0333 220 5050 or email:

dsn@dsnonline.co.uk.

DSN (Deafness Support Network)

Trustees of the Chester and North Wales Society for the Deaf, and of the Warrington and District Society for Deaf People, together made a landmark decision in 1976 to form the Cheshire Society for the Deaf, now operating as Deafness Support Network (DSN).

DSN is the service provider organisation for D/deaf* people in the county of Cheshire and the surrounding areas. These services are delivered under contract for Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Flintshire Councils.

*The word Deaf (with a capital D) is used to denote individuals who's first language is British Sign Language, whilst the term D/deaf refers to everyone with hearing loss: Deaf, deaf, deafened, D/deafblind and hard-of-hearing.

The local societies (Deaf Clubs) in Chester, Warrington and Vale Royal retained their independence and continue to thrive to this day, sharing premises with DSN. Each society serves a distinct local community but is strengthened by its partnership with DSN, which is able to innovate and develop, whilst acting as a guide and support for the local organisations.

Call  0333 220 5050 or emai:

dsn@dsnonline.co.uk

www.dsnonline.co.uk

To download the app for iPhone go to: https://goo.gl/BbpKfV or for Android go to: https://goo.gl/asJkVG or search ‘Deafness Support Network’ on your app store on your device.

Facebook: @DeafnessSupportNetwork

Twitter: @DSNonline

YouTube: @DeafnessSupport

LinkedIN: DSN at Deafness Support Network

DSN has centres at the following addresses:

Northwich 144 London Road, Northwich,
Cheshire, CW9 5HH.

Macclesfield 
27 Bridge Street
Macclesfield
SK11 6EG.

Chester 
South View Road, Chester,
Cheshire, CH1 4JG.Supported Living Services - Stepping Stones
Weir Street
Northwich
CW9 5HL

Pictured - Staff from DSN join to celebrate the start of Deaf Awareness Week 2022.