Renowned percussionist and Patron of of The Elizabeth Foundation, Dame Evelyn Glennie visits to launch the Let’s Listen and Talk online information and support programme.
Innovative programme combines online information with individualised support
The Elizabeth Foundation has completed its portfolio of cutting edge interactive online learning programmes enabling families to teach their deaf child to speak clearly and confidently.
To celebrate this, on 18th October 2017 one of our Patrons Dame Evelyn Glennie, CH., DBE is visiting The Elizabeth Foundation’s family centre in Hampshire and being hosted by the charity’s President, Ann Rachlin, MBE.
The ‘Let’s Listen and Talk’ website equips parents with a unique resource for their deaf child. It provides valuable advice, insights, theoretical and practical tips to help deaf children develop crucial listening and language skills from birth to five years, reinforced by individual professional support in those vital early learning years.
Dame Evelyn Glennie, the World’s Premier Solo Percussionist, who is also profoundly deaf and Patron of The Elizabeth Foundation said, “When I was made aware of The Elizabeth Foundation’s new ‘Let’s Listen and Talk’ programme I couldn’t help thinking about my own journey, and how important it was to have my parents support throughout. Being able to access valuable information and put it into practice from your own home is a huge achievement and I’m sure it will help families in ways we simply cannot imagine. My parents heard the words, I did not. With their support I learned to feel sound. Now, here I am Teaching the World to Listen.”
The Elizabeth Foundation is a national charity, founded in 1981, that teaches deaf babies and preschool children to learn to listen and talk offering support for their families from the moment of diagnosis. Currently 83 families from nine counties attend the ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted-rated specialist education programmes at The Elizabeth Foundation’s purpose built family centre in Hampshire. The new Let’s Listen and Talk preschool programme complements the recently launched baby and toddler programmes.
Ann Rachlin said “We all know how easy it is to return home after receiving medical advice, wondering what we have forgotten or misheard. Using this innovative Online programme, provides an ongoing learning journey where parents can teach their child with confidence in the familiarity of their own home. The Elizabeth Foundation’s new programme will ensure no time is lost in showing their deaf child how to communicate through speech.”
The Let’s Listen and Talk programmes are user-friendly with inspirational and informative videos. The parent and child activities, based on those successfully taught in The Elizabeth Foundation’s classrooms, allow parents to encourage the development of listening and speaking skills in the comfort of their own home and at their own pace. Throughout their child’s listening and speaking journey the family is supported by the dedicated team of expert staff at The Elizabeth Foundation with phone calls, emails or Skype.
Julie Hughes, CEO of The Elizabeth Foundation commented, “Already families from across the UK are benefitting from Let’s Listen and Talk programmes, giving them the practical and emotional support that will help them put in place the foundations for the development of their deaf child’s listening and speaking skills”.
Designed with busy parents in mind, the website can be accessed 24:7, wherever and whenever it is required using computers, tablets or smartphones.
As one parent on the programme commented, “I think the parent videos are great and an invaluable resource which parents of preschool children would find really helpful and supportive – already my son is speaking and people cannot believe he is profoundly deaf.”
