Sabina explained: “It is good to have them on board as each one of them have wealth of experiences, knowledge and skills to offer to Deaf Parenting UK and we look forward to working with them on our projects”.

Dr. Joanna Downes

Joanna’s interest in parenting issues started when she commenced her doctorate research into deaf children and attachment. She met deaf parents who had been faced with negative attitudes from professionals when they tried to access services for their children. This started her work in trying to raise and promote the awareness and needs of making mainstream services accessible to both deaf children and deaf adults.

Joanna has a strong interested in enabling deaf people to access mental health services and making sure that professionals do not use deaf parents’ children as interpreters. This led to Joanna producing guidelines for the NHS to follow in both primary care on how to work with and book BSL interpreters.

In 2009, after Joanna completed her doctorate, she went onto become Manager of the Deaf parenting Programme at Action Deafness with funding from the Parenting Fund. This programme identified the many gaps in services and information for Deaf parents.

One gap was the awareness of midwives where deaf parents had repeatedly informed Joanna that they had received poor services. This led to collaboration with DeMontfort University in delivering the first CPD course for midwives to understand in depth the psychological, social and mental health issues deaf parents and children may experience.

Joanna went on to win two awards at the first Deaf Parenting UK Awards event in October 2011 and the DeMontfort University also won an award for the course she wrote.

Joanna is now a freelance consultant and researcher, so she can spend more time with her two young children, who both communicate bilingually in English and BSL.

She says “It is excellent that there is an organisation aims to break down barriers for deaf parents because many deaf parents put up with sub-standard services and appalling attitudes. As an ambassador, I will try to promote awareness and remind professionals and the public of their duty to make sure Deaf parents get equal treatment, because it is their right.”

Clive Boswell

Clive Boswell is currently employed as Auditor for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  Clive was born deaf and has recently been fitted with a cochlear implant.  He is married with two children.

“I am truly honoured to have been asked to become an Ambassador for Deaf Parenting UK.  I believe that being deaf (since birth and connexion 26) I face challenges and prejudice every day of my life.  I hope this has resulted in my becoming more resilient for the remainder of my life!  I also hope this experience will enable us to provide support/knowledge/wisdom and emotionally  to our children; even though they are hearing; having deaf parents will no doubt give them challenges of their own.

I fully support the aims and objectives of Deaf Parenting UK and hope to be able to contribute positively.”

Asif Iqbal MBE

Asif is well-known as effective networker and campaigner throughout his career. In 2005, he worked at Parentline Plus for two years as a Project Manager and one of his role was to develop and manage four pilot projects from scratch on national level in partnership with organisations who works with excluded communities. The project went through the development stage including piloting with view of rolling out a franchising model of services, this provided key opportunities to train and recruit Trainers from the excluded communities who are parents themselves, to provide the Parents Together courses. This had in turn support parents (from the excluded communities) with their parenting skills at home, to improve their parental engagement with their children, thus lead to their improved learning & social outcomes.

Since Oct 2007, he worked as Media/Project Manager for Deaf Parenting UK. Asif ‘s role also involved in networking with high profile people which result in securing an excellent range of Ambassadors for Deaf Parenting UK.  He was also responsible for organising annual national conferences, working in partnership with organiser of The Baby Shows to provide access for Deaf parents / visitors who comes to The Baby Shows, dealing with press releases/ media enquiries and liaising with celebrities, Ambassadors, working partnership with other organisations and Trustees as well as managing staff/ volunteers.

In addition to the last 3 Annual conferences which Asif organised, he also organised the first ever Deaf Parenting UK Awards event that took place in central London in October 2011. It was momentum event as it was seen as a first ever Awards for Deaf parents and professionals working with Deaf parents in history and it was a great success. Working behind the scene of each conference and Awards event, he managed to secure massive of media coverage for Deaf Parenting UK and raising DPUK’s profile across the UK and worldwide.

Not only it stopped there, he managed to secure Deaf Parenting UK as Winner of TFPL’s first Social Impact Award 2008, Berlin, Germany, voted by the world business leaders for charity/third sector on innovative use of knowledge and information management. He also secured Deaf Parenting UK as one of the 30 winners for Talk Talk Innovation Award 2008 and as Runner up the Guardian’s Public Services Award 2008 for Equality & Diversity category.

In his spare times and between jobs, he is also Public Appointment Ambassador for Cabinet Office and Government Equalities Office; Board Member of DPTAC (Disabled Person Transport Advisory Committee) for Department of Transport; and Board Member of the British Disability Panel for British Council; and finally a President of Harrow Asian Deaf Club.

In the past he was former Board members of DEAC (Disability Employment Advisory Committee) for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Former Board Member of Royal Association of Disability and Rights (RADAR).

In recognition of his work and services to Deaf and disabled people, he was named to receive MBE on Queen’s Birthday Honour list in June 2011 and was later awarded with MBE by Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace.

Asif said: “I feel honoured to become a Ambassador of this charity, I am passionate and supportive of this charity as I am a strong believer of empowerment, enabling and supporting Deaf parents who wish to achieve the best for their children. I also hope to see more Deaf parents as inspiring and be excellent role models to other parents and to share their experiences. In my role, I will continue to promote awareness and champion the needs of deaf parents at all levels.”

Hot off the press – Welcome to our Deaf Parenting UK Newsletter (Winter 2011). In this issue you will find:

• Christmas wishes from our Editor
• Update news from DPUK Manager
• Family Information Tour that is happening across UK
• DPUK & St John DC’s Children Xmas party
• BDA Conference
• DPUK’s new funding from TSB Foundation for Deaf Families Project including parents support groups.
• London 2012 Celebration
• DPUK Lifetime Achievement Awards 2012
• DPUK Family Events News
• Latest news and details of DPUK events & workshops
• Job Opportunities to work with DPUK

I hope you find the contents informative, your comments and/or views would be most welcome!

Don’t forget the deadline for submissions for the next newsletter is Friday 2nd March 2012.

We look forward to hearing from you.

“…Young Deaf  People feel embarrassed to ask their parents about sexual health issues…”

When:    Monday 23rd January 2012

Time:     10am – 1pm

Where:   Room 3, The Poetry School 81 Lambeth Walk London SE11 6DX

Cost: £5.00 per person

Workshop provided by Deafax’s deaf trainer

• Email: info@deafparent.org.uk

• Fax: 0871 2643323

• SMS: 07928 842529

Flyer also available by clicking here so please circulate to Deaf parents who are interested.

Asif Iqbal MBE Project Manager explained: “We are delighted with our partnership with Family Information Tour, ensuring that Deaf parents and other parents who visits the Tour are aware of Deaf Parenting UK and our services.

Family Information Tour are also FREE which provide families with information, advice, support and resources at family friendly venues. It is also fantastic opportunity for Deaf Parenting UK and other charities/ organisations to showcase the best products, services and businesses to parents, children and young people.”

Sofia Theophilou, Director of UK and Ireland Family Tour: “Local Family TV is delighted to be partnering with Deaf Parenting UK on our UK and Ireland Family Information Tour.  It is important that not only is information and advice is important for families but that everyone should also know about Deaf Parenting UK as charity that does so much for deaf parents.  We also hope that more people will become volunteers or donate and we will continue to get the message across.” 

The Family Information Tour will also showcase the following:

Products – Some of which to include books and video games that will benefit parents, children and young people with educational information;

 Seminars – Q&A sessions with real-life experts;

Services: Businesses and voluntary organisations chosen by us will exhibit information and provide advice to parents, children and young people;

Presenters Casting: We have received confirmation from over 100 people who will be attending the tour for our presenter auditions.  We are looking to train local children, young people and adults to present programmes in their communities;

The Family Information Tour will cover 9 dates across the venues at Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Exeter, Cardiff, London, Edinburgh and Belfast on Saturdays from November 2011 to April 2012, therefore giving the maximum impact benefiting families, children and young people living in the UK and Ireland, as follow:

Birmingham – 26th November 2011

Venue – Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX

Manchester – 10 December 2011

Venue – Manchester Bridge Club, 30 Palatine Road, Manchester, M20 3JJ

Newcastle – 28 January 2012

Venue – Fluid Bar and Kitchen, Bealim House, 17-25 Gallowgate, NE1 4SG

Norwich – 11 February 2012

Venue – Blackfriars’ Hall, Norwich St, Andrews Hall Plain, Norwich NR3 1AU

Exeter – 18 February 2012

Venue – X Centre Commercial Road Exeter EX2 4AD 

Cardiff – 10 March 2012

Venue – Whitchurch Community Centre, Old Church Road, CF14 1AD

London – 24th March 2012

Venue –Christ Church United Reformed Church, Chase Side, Enfield, EN2 6ND

Edinburgh – 31 March 2012

Venue – Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL

Belfast – 28 April 2012
Venue – Black Box, 18 – 22 Hill Street, BT1 2LA

• Brief news about DPUK’s 1st ever Deaf Parenting UK Awards
• DPUK’s Deaf Families Project funded by Children in Need including family/ children activities.
• London 2012 and Paralympic Games
• The Baby Show 2011, Earls Court, Oct 2011
• Deaf Sport Personality of the Year Awards 2012
• DPUK Awards 2011 – Announcement of Winners and highly commended.
• Latest news and details of events

I hope you find the contents informative, your comments and/or views would be most welcome!

Don’t forget the deadline for submissions for the next newsletter is Friday 16th October 2011.

We look forward to hearing from you.

• 22nd October 2011 – Unicorn Theatre – Billy the Kid Captioned Show from 1.30pm-3pm (see flyer)
• 26th November 2011 – Discover Children Story Centre, Stratford from 12-5pm (see flyer)
• 11th December 2011 – Children’s Xmas Party at St Johns Deaf Club from 1-6pm (see flyer)

• 14th January 2012 – Children’s New Year Disco – venue location to be advised shortly
• 23rd January 2012 – Sexual Health Workshop provided by Deafax
• 11th February 2012 – Eddie Catz Soft Play Centre, Wimbledon
• 17th March 2012 – Arts & Craft Session for Mothering Sunday – venue location to be advised shortly
• 7th April 2012 – Easter Theme Fun & Games and Tea Party – venue location to be advised shortly
• 26th May 2012 – National Family Week – DPUK Family Day out at Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire – TBA
• 16th June 2012 – Subtitled Film at Picture House Cinema exclusively for Deaf Families in conjuction with Father’s Day – Details to be advised
• Events for July, August & September 2012 will be sought/finalised after Christmas.

To learn more or to book your place, please email Nicole on info@deafparent.org.uk

Deaf Parenting UK celebrated their 10years anniversary by hosting a fantastic first ever Deaf Parenting UK Awards 2011 at Royal Over-Sea League, Central London on Friday 7th October 2011 and is now on BBC See Hear! programme this week via BBC iPlayer here.

Also our extra video by Remark! can be viewed below (Flash player required):

For more info about the event and who won, see our news online

Asif Iqbal MBE, Project Manager of Deaf  Parenting  UK  was mingling with Samantha Cameron, wife of Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street to celebrating the role of disabled leaders.  The event organised by RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rights) and was attended by a mixture of community leaders, celebrities, MPs and Sponsors. includes Maria Miller MP, Minister for Disabled People, Jeremy Hunt MP, Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson and David Blunkett MP.

Asif Iqbal explained of his multiple roles, as one of the Disabled leaders, as a Board of Trustee of RADAR; Public Appointment Ambassador for Government Equalities Office and Cabinet Office; Disability Advisory Panel for the British Council; Board Member of Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, Department of Transport and President of Harrow Asian Deaf Club.

Not only he stops there, Asif works passionately on voluntary basis as a Media/Project Manager for Deaf Parenting UK. Recently he organised Deaf Parenting UK Award event in central London, a first ever Awards for Deaf parents and professionals working with Deaf parents in history and it was a great success with 150 attendees. 

Asif explained that he managed to mingle with Samantha, who was impressed, his huge achievements which resulted in his gaining his MBE at recent Queen’s birthday. Asif is an inspiring and positive to role models to others.  Asif highlighted the importance of our future generation of deaf and disabled people especially those young people who need excellent role model like us to aspire to, to show what we can achieve and inspire to others. Samantha is in full support of this.

Asif added that their conversation with Samantha moved onto the topic of parenting where Samatha’s daughter Florence is 3 weeks older than Asif’s daughter Rubi. Samantha mentioned that Florence is still crawling and didn’t realise that Rubi, who just started walking, had in fact made her first appearance at No.10 at the tender age of 5 weeks old with her Deaf parents to celebrate Eid Reception that No.10 organised by Prime Minister David Cameron last November 2010.

The organisers of the event explained “The successful evening was to celebrate disabled leaders and the work of Royal Association of Disabled people – and to look ahead to the exciting developments of Disability Rights UK and future partnership work.  A future Leadership Academy. We [Disability Rights UK] are seeking a group of companies to work with us to develop a world class, accredited leadership programme that supports disabled leaders of our organizations (DPOs); at work (enabling talented disabled people to move into management and senior management); and in our communities.” 

****Hot of the Press!****

We have 16 FREE complimentary tickets up for grabs on first come first serve basis. To get your complimentary tickets – please email your request ASAP to info@deafparent.org.uk (Only two tickets per family).

Also, as a member of Deaf Parenting UK, you can buy tickets for just £12.50, saving £7.50* on each ticket – just quote code EC690. Come and see us on our Deaf Parenting UK stand G71 where BSL interpreters will be available throughout the show.

 More on our DPUK & Baby Show page

300 brands and exclusive show offers

With over 300 must-have brands, including Tommee Tippee, Trunki, SugarJack, Aden & Anais and Britax, The Baby Show is the best place to shop for all your little one’s needs. Plus amazing show offers including 10% off Mothercare, 25% off all Superdrug own brand items and 10% off everything on the M&S stand, as well as a free reusable bag and baby cardigan worth £9 with every purchase (one per customer while stocks last).

The Baby Show Stage

Live on stage leading experts talking on all the key topics for new parents, including Clare Byam-Cook on breastfeeding and if you can’t breastfeed, Annabel Karmel on feeding your baby, Megan Faure on sleep and Dr Julie Coultas on child development and play. Plus there will be hourly give-aways of Fisher-Price Toys on the stage for the duration of the event. On Saturday 29th October, a BSL interpreter will be in attendance on stage and a hearing loop will be sited around the stage area available for us.

Competitions Galore:

Is your baby the future face of The Baby Show 2012? – Enter at H42 and receive a free professional image of your little one and visit the Fisher-Price ‘Win All This’ stand’ next to the stage – where you have the chance to win a £1000 worth of Fisher-Price nursery items and toys.

Hassle Free Day Out

The Baby Show is hassle free, with a helping hand on offer from Emma’s Diary who will be providing a free shopping drop off/collect by car and home delivery service, plus a free crèche courtesy of Fisher-Price and a changing room with nappies at the ready***.

Don’t forget to check out the latest toys at The Vtech Smart Play Zone and the Fisher-Price Stand (F40).

Book today and save £7.50 off the ticket price! Deaf Parenting tickets are available for just £12.50, saving £7.50* on each ticket – just quote code EC690. To book your tickets visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you at The Show.

*offer relates to advance ticket sales only. The Advance Ticket Box Office closes midnight on the 27th October 2011.

**Calls cost 10 pence per minute plus network extras. Booking fee applies. For full terms and conditions, visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

***Charges apply for Home Delivery service.

Deaf Parenting UK is celebrating their 10 years Anniversary and to make it more special, we are organising an exclusive Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise people for their valuable contribution and positive differences to the lives of Deaf parents, their children and their communities.

The seven judges appointed by DPUK agreed that the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD), needs particular attention in order to encourage informed nominations from the Deaf Community.

We would like to announce a search for a Deaf Parent who achieved a great deal in his / her lifetime, who greatly improved the quality of life and access for Deaf parents and families.

What we need from you, for this significant Award, is to make people look back several decades, (eg 10-100 years) to identify Deaf people who used their parent role in opening up new opportunities for other Deaf parents in achieving equality as hearing parents in family life.

This means “The search for a Lifetime Achieving Deaf Parent” for the most voted Achiever of being a Deaf Parent in supporting Deaf people and their own families by the Deaf/Hearing Communities.

We have about 6months to find the worthy people who meet the criteria of Lifetime Achievement Awards.  It will be like X-Factor where people can nominate themselves or someone worthy of this award. The nomination will be narrowed down to 12 and then we will use the public vote to collect points before announcing the winner in Spring/Summer 2012

We look forward to receiving a broader range of nominations in due time, each one with detailed information of achievements which enabled Deaf parents’ quality of life and access.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner will be invited to attend the stunning reception in London – details to be announced nearer the time

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone worthy for our Lifetime Achievement Award 2012, please

Nominate online now and email it to media@deafparent.org.uk

or post it to:

Deaf Parenting UK
c/o Gary Morgan
49 Gordon Square
London
WC1H 0PD

Deadline for application is: Friday 2nd March 2012

Please spread the words and get nominating.