About us
Set up over 30 years ago by Shirley and David Metherell, The Elizabeth Foundation is national registered charity (no. 293835) that provides a wide range of services and education programmes for preschool deaf children and their parents / carers.
Our mission and strategy
We facilitate early diagnosis for babies and pre-school children with all degrees of deafness and provide comprehensive educational and support services for them and their families. By doing so we enable these children to develop their listening and spoken language skills, as well as build their self-esteem and give parents the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions on behalf of their child.
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Our approach
We have developed our own unique Multi Sensory Oral Approach to support the development of listening and spoken language skills in children with hearing loss. This approach encourages the development of speech, language and listening by using all of the child’s senses, in a natural, fun, child centred environment.
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Our history
The Elizabeth Foundation was founded in 1981 by Shirley and David Metherell, whose daughter, Elizabeth, was diagnosed as profoundly deaf when she was 22 months old. In response to a lack of local support for Elizabeth, and inspired by the John Tracey Clinic in Los Angeles, Shirley and David set up and developed The Elizabeth Foundation to support other parents of newly diagnosed children with hearing loss.
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Our staff and supporters
Our work is only possible thanks to our skilled staff and volunteers at our Hampshire family centre, and our trustees and patrons.
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Our family centre
We operate from our family centre in Hampshire. Find out more about our family centre...