Southampton's cuts will hit deaf children hard

PARENTS of deaf children in Southampton are campaigning against cuts to services they describe as a ‘lifeline’ reports Bethan Phillips, Southern Daily Echo. 

Charity the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) says the number of specialist teachers of the deaf in the city has been reduced and now stands at one for 165 children – making Southampton’s services ‘the worst in England’.

Among those campaigning for improvement is Angela Hall, 27, and husband Graham, 26, whose eightmonth- old son Riley is profoundly deaf.

They get a weekly visit of one-anda- half hours from a specialist teacher – but this is set to reduce.

Angela, of Kenson Gardens, Sholing, said: “We’ve been told our specialist teacher’s time is going to be reduced, she’s going to say exactly what she’ll be doing when she comes to see us.

“Riley was diagnosed profoundly deaf at three weeks. It was huge shock.

“I can’t tell you how much the support has helped. She teaches us communication techniques, sign language.

That’s Riley’s only way of accessing language at the moment.

“The thought of that being reduced is a huge worry to us. It’s also the thought of this happening to another family.”

Over the last two years the NDCS says the number of specialist teachers of the deaf has been cut by half a full-time post in Southampton. It says there is now the equivalent of only one full time teacher for the city’s 165 deaf children – which is the worst ratio they have come across in the country.

Islington Council is the second worst provider, with one specialist teacher for 95 deaf children while the NDCS recently took legal action to halt cuts by Stoke-on-Trent City Council that would have seen its ratio rise from 50 to 70 deaf children per teacher.

Jo Campion, deputy director of policy and campaigns, said: “Deaf children in Southampton are set to return to school next week with the worst level of support we have seen in the country.

It is absolutely vital that this cut is reversed.”

Southampton City Council has admitted that half a full-time post of a visiting teacher of the deaf was lost in 2009, but claims that this year the provision has increased slightly by a tenth of a full-time position.

Children’s services boss Councillor Jeremy Moultonsaid: “The city council is committed to providing a quality service which meets the needs of children in Southampton.

Despite the difficult financial situation the council faces we have protected this important service.

“We are very interested to have feedback from the National Society for Deaf Children and have received some figures from them which we feel need further analysis. I have written inviting them to come to Southampton and see the service we provide – including the extra support that many councils don’t offer – and hear any views on our service.”