National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)

This is a charity that supports children with all levels and types of deafness. NDCS Scotland provides a range of support, programmes and activities for deaf children, deaf young adults and their families.

Advice and Guidance officers are based across the UK. Their role is to empower and support families and young people to make informed choices and access the support and services they need. They provide information, support and advice to families covering a wide range of topics and issues about childhood deafness.

Advice and Guidance officers work with individual families who need extra support following a diagnosis of childhood deafness and along their journey. This could range from information and advice on a range of topics including education, social care, audiology, communication and independence. They are often supporting families who are struggling and may work with other organisations.

Advice and Guidance officers work directly with young people and families, supporting them to understand what a deaf diagnosis means for them, to understand the support they may need and be entitled to and how to access it. Help them to understand their options, empowering families and deaf young people to feel confident when making decisions, for example about language choices or school placements.

Advice and Guidance officers may visit families and young people in their home, see them in community settings like an audiology clinic or provide help remotely via e-mail or phone. They will often support Roadshow events, Local Groups and provide information sessions on topics such as Disability Living Allowance.

Support can include providing expertise and insight about the experiences of families and young people from an emotional and practical perspective, as well as the impact of policy decisions in local areas. This supports our planning, policy and campaigning work.

Referrals are usually made via the Helpline but some areas may have direct referral arrangements such as in Scotland or with an audiology clinic.

To contact NDCS Scotland:
Marie Cafferky, Advice & Guidance Officer, The National Deaf Children’s Society
Area covered: Fife, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Dundee and Angus, Perth & Kinross
Phone: 0141 354 7850
Email: ndcsscotland@ndcs.org.uk
Website: www.ndcs.org.uk