Thank you for taking the time to look at my page and a huge thank you for any donation you can give, however big or small.

The JDA is a charity very close to my heart. As a child I spent lots of time there mixing with other families touched by hearing loss. What the JDA offers among other things is a place where deaf people can socialise together. I always considered it as part of my extended family. As my parents are the only profoundly deaf people in my family it was hugely beneficial to me and my brother to be among other families in similar situations. We mixed with other hearing children of deaf parents aswell as deaf children in mainly deaf families. To many people, the JDA is the heart of their community and offers such a huge support is so many ways.

There is a weekly day center where members can attend for the day and socialise with each other. This in particular is a life line to many of the olders members as the JDA may be the only famiily they have.

Members are offered sessions where they can ask for help from qualified staff for day to day things that we may take for granted. Such as their need for specialised equipment. Fire alarms that flash to get attention, doorbells that flash, child monitors which vibrate. Members may need an interpreter to accompany them to an appointment  or to assist them at things such as parents evening, hospital appointments etc.  They may have had a problem with a utility company and are unsure how to deal with it......it's hard enough dealing with utiliy companies on queries when you're hearing.......try it when you're deaf! All these things are taken for granted but are basic things that a lot of deaf people need support with.

I am lucky enough to recently have started work at the JDA and have been made aware of other services which even though I have been attending the JDA since I was a baby, I was unaware of all the work they do. They help with the deaf / blind community. They help families where hearing parents have deaf babies and need help, guidance and advice for a world they may have no experience of. There is such a wide range of services offered by the JDA which help so many people.

The JDA relies on donations to provide these services (among many more) and in these trying times they need your help more than ever.

As some one who has benefited from and seen first hand all the wonderful things the JDA offer, I ask you to please donate as much as you can so they can continue with their wonderful work.

xxx