Organised under the umbrella of the UK Council on Deafness, the week from 5 to 11 May has the theme 'Look at Me'. Its aim is to improve understanding of the different levels of deafness - from mild, hard of hearing to profound - by showing the benefits of lip reading, hearing aids and sign language.
A UK-wide series of more than 70 national and local events is also being staged. Jonathan Isaac, director of the UK Council on Deafness, said it was 'delighted to launch a joint all-inclusive Deaf Awareness Week to promote the positive aspects of deafness, promote social inclusion and raise awareness of the huge range of local organisations that support deaf people and their family and friends'.
One of the charities involved in the week is the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS), whose listening bus is scheduled to visit a number of venues, including the Mary Hare School for deaf children in Newbury, Berkshire. Road show assistant Theresa Grennan said, 'The bus is a tremendous attraction for children and parents wherever we go because of the range of technology we have on board.
'The awareness week really amplifies what we do all the time in helping children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The important thing is that we are there to provide a service and also provide some fun as well.'
A publicity campaign accompanying the awareness week includes posters stressing the importance of looking at deaf or hard of hearing people when communicating with them. There is also a leaflet with facts about deafness and advice on how the public and businesses can become more accessible to deaf people.
Boots Hearingcare and the hearing aid manufacturer Starkey have also collaborated to organise a 'hearing aid amnesty'. Research shows that one in three hearing aids are rarely used or not used at all. Old or unwanted behind the ear hearing aids can be handed in at Boots Hearingcare centres to be posted in the Deaf Awareness Week amnesty bin. Starkey plans to send them on to Third World countries where they are desperately needed.
Details of Deaf Awareness Week are available on www.deafawarenessweek.org.uk.
The publicity materials are being distributed through national and local charities, as well as NHS audiology departments, schools, Boots Hearingcare and Boots opticians and pharmacies.
