New Cumbria Deaf Support Service is launched

Cumbria Deaf Association has been successful in tendering for a grant from Cumbria County Council to deliver a Specialist Information, Advice and Support service to meet the needs of Cumbrian adult residents with any degree of hearing or dual sensory loss.

This initial one-year grant has enabled the new Cumbria Deaf Support Service to be launched. CDA is providing a County wide service of information, advice and support, delivered by specialist staff with the relevant BSL and other communication skills, knowledge, experience and cultural appreciation to meet the diverse needs of Cumbria’s 80,000 residents with a hearing loss.

The service will ensure that Deaf members of the community are able to gain the help and support necessary to meet with their communication requirements. The service will also ensure that profoundly Deaf people, whose first or preferred language is British Sign Language have an accessible, local and bespoke service.

Such provision addresses the difficulties many deaf people have experienced when attempting to access mainstream services not able to meet their communication needs, preventing their potential exclusion and enabling deaf community members to live independent lives and play a full and active role within the local community.

Regular drop in sessions are being held across the County or individual appointments can be made with one of the team of Deaf Support Officers. More details are available on a Facebook page which has been launched in conjunction with the start of this new service.