About The Elizabeth Foundation

The Elizabeth Foundation believes that it is the right of every deaf child to be given the opportunity to learn to talk, and with this in mind the following services have been developed:

• An early detection of deafness clinic for children 0-5 years, where all babies can be screened at birth.
  
• A comfortable home setting where the parents of newly-diagnosed deaf babies can learn how to us their everyday surroundings to teach their baby good communication skills
  
• A toddler and pre-school nursery
  
• A nationwide Correspondence & Advisory Course, for both parents of babies and pre-school deaf children
  
• A Counselling service to help parents come to terms with their feelings and concerns for their deaf child
  
• A Helpline for parents and professionals
  

Our history

1979
Elizabeth Metherell was born profoundly deaf

1981
Elizabeth and her parents, Dave & Shirley Metherell, visited the world-famous John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles. Totally inspired by their remarkable services and feeling the need to help other parents of newly-diagnosed deaf children, on their return the Metherells founded The Elizabeth Foundation. The organisation gained full charitable status in the same year.

I983-1989
The new purpose-built Family Centre in Portsmouth was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal, and the main services of The Elizabeth Foundation were established. 

1993
An Early Detection of Deafness Clinic with specialist Music Studio was opened.

1999
The Elizabeth Foundation made the important decision to extend its services nationally by providing services in both West Yorkshire and Hertfordshire.

2003
With 40 children at our Hampshire Family Centre, 35 in West Yorkshire and 15 in Hertfordshire, the charity’s Teachers of the Deaf and Nursery Nurses are providing an excellent pre-school service to deaf babies and children.