NDCS North East - National Deaf Children's Society (Helpline)

NDCS provides free impartial and unbiased information to families, empowering them to make informed choices for their child.

NDCS provides information on all aspects of childhood deafness and hearing loss including:

• Audiology
• Benefits
• Technology
• Communication
• Additional needs
• Parenting

NDCS provides support to families in a range of ways including through a Freephone Helpline, Family Officers, specialist advisors, publications, family and children’s events and web forums, from initial diagnosis to adulthood. NDCS provides support for deaf children from initial diagnosis to adulthood. We do this through working with parents and deaf children directly.

Technology Test Drive http://www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/how_ndcs_can_help/grants_and_equipment/technology_test_drive/

Technology Test Drive offers deaf children and their families throughout the UK the  opportunity to borrow radio aids and other equipment to assess in the comfort of their own homes and at school. Click to view a summary of what the service offers and how to apply presented as a British Sign Language (BSL) video clip.

Deaf children and young people can access information, share their experiences and have fun at www.buzz.org.uk

NDCS provides activities/events/courses for parents and deaf children from different cultures and caters for all communication and cultural needs of these families.

NDCS also produces a range of support for professionals working in education, health and social care to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and experience to support deaf children and their families. Professionals looking for more information on the support we offer can visit www.ndcs.org.uk/professional_support/

NDCS has affiliated Local Deaf Children’s Societies across the UK which are run by parents for families and provide local activities and events – the Local Groups information can be found here - http://www.ndcs.org.uk/applications/site_search/search.rm?term=local+groups&searchreferer_id=6073&submit.x=11&submit.y=10

NDCS Regional Directors work at a strategic level across health, education and social care to help improve policy and practice for deaf children and their families.

NDCS uses the term ‘deaf’ to mean all types of hearing loss, including unilateral deafness and temporary deafness such as glue ear. We support all deaf children and young people, regardless of their level of deafness, how they communicate or what technical aids they use.

Reg Charity No 1016532