Research shows that Deaf parents suffer from poor communication within their own extended families, fail to engage effectively with other parents and become very isolated. Deaf parents’ needs are primarily linguistic and cultural and they fail to receive the support they need and so continue to lack in confidence and remain confused and feeling vulnerable. Frustration and isolation can be expressed in chronic anxiety or depression, sometimes tipping over into psychosis.

The Parent Participation worker will carry out a programme of outreach through Deaf clubs and other service providers in London and the Southeast to the Deaf community to ensure that Deaf parents are aware of the services that are available to support them to achieve best outcomes for their children. The worker will convene discussion groups of Deaf Parents and also support them to request or lobby for services from their local authority or health services.