Two years ago I fulfilled an ambition by cycling all the way from London to Paris, raising money for Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education and also having a tremendous time. Last month I went back to visit and find out how they were getting on. "We've signed up for the London Ride of Champions" they said. "Are you coming?" No way. I am too busy. My toe hurts. My bike needs a service. I am out of condition. And so I signed up.

Our ride is on 1 September and follows the route of the Olympic road race through Richmond Park and into Surrey. We cycle up the infamous Box Hill and back into London via Hampton Park and Putney Bridge and then along the Mall, past Buckingham Palace and across the Thames. You can find out more about the ride, what I am doing to train for it and the work of the Academy by visiting my updated blog here.

 

The Academy provides a pre-school, primary and secondary school and a further education college for deaf students. In mainstream education, deaf students often struggle, not because they are deaf but because their deafness affects their ability to develop language and therefore communicate. A hearing child's ability to develop language and vocabulary often comes from overhearing conversations as well as through direct conversations themselves. In a community such as the Academy deaf students can oversee by observing a peer group communicating through sign language. This enables students to develop their language and vocabulary skills, preparing them for reading and writing; providing a firm foundation for their education and enabling them to have a social life similar to that of hearing children.

You can find out more about the work of the Academy by visiting the website at http://www.exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk The day-to-day running costs are met by the local authorities who place students at the Academy, but the cost of  "extras" such as improvements to resources or accommodation are met by fund-raising....

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