National Deaf Children's Society strategy entitled Every moment counts

Motion Text

That this House notes the launch of the new five year strategy of the National Deaf Children's Society entitled Every moment counts, which aims to ensure deaf children across Northern Ireland receive the support they need in their early years or as soon as their deafness is identified; highlights the impact that deafness can have on language development, communication and social skills and the difference in these skills which takes place when children are identified early; further notes the gradual decline in Teacher of the Deaf numbers across Northern Ireland; and calls upon the Government to formulate a UK-wide early years strategy to guide children and parents in the early years after deafness has been identified.