Today Greg donned a loud shirt to support children with hearing loss and Auditory Verbal UK's campaign to make life changing Auditory Verbal therapy accessible to all.
Ahead of Loud Shirt Day on Friday 21 October, an international awareness day for challenging perceptions of what deaf children can achieve, the Conservative MP for Buckingham lent his support and backing to the early intervention programme which supports deaf children and babies to learn to listen and speak.
Greg met eight-year-old Orson Grimer who was born prematurely and diagnosed with hearing loss in both ears at his new born hearing screening. Orson and his family attended Auditory Verbal UK's specialist family-centred programme for two years before graduating with language skills ahead of his hearing peers.
Greg said: "I am delighted to support the amazing work of Auditory Verbal UK. Auditory Verbal therapy is a specialist early intervention therapy that changes lives and supports deaf children and babies learn to have the same opportunities as their hearing peers. It is important that Auditory Verbal therapy is accessible to all families who want their child to learn to listen and talk."
Avril Grimer, Orson's mum, said: "It was brilliant to be in Parliament sharing our family's story and giving Orson the opportunity to speak directly to MPs. We took the decision to support Orson to learn to listen and speak with Auditory Verbal therapy so that he had the opportunities that other hearing child had. For a young boy who cannot hear a bike bell, birds singing and the doorbell ringing without his hearing aids it is incredible to see him now. It's important other families like ours can access this life-changing programme close to home and with no coast barrier, and we support AVUK's campaign wholeheartedly.”
Auditory Verbal therapy is not currently widely available for families through publicly funded services, and 92 percent of deaf children who could benefit from Auditory Verbal therapy are unable to access it. Auditory Verbal UK's campaign, Hear Us Now, want the 7,200 deaf children under 5 in the UK to have the opportunity to access to Auditory Verbal therapy if they want their child to use spoken language.
Anita Grover, Chief Executive, Auditory Verbal UK said: "We are delighted to have the support of Greg to help create a sound future for deaf children. "All children have the right to develop language and communication so that they can achieve their potential in life. Access to the language and communication environment is key to this development. For children who are born deaf, especially into hearing families with no experience of hearing loss, skilled and sensitive early support is vital if they are to develop the language and communication skills they need to be ready to start school alongside their hearing peers. Early and effective support is vital whether parents wish for their child to use spoken language, sign language or both. We are grateful to the Members of Parliament who are supporting our campaign to increase access to Auditory Verbal therapy.”
