The charity secured the support of Margaret Hodge MP, minister for lifelong learning and higher education, for the pilot scheme in ten different parts of the UK and is now approaching her for further backing. The initial programme consisted of a 15-week course that taught sign language to parents, deaf children and their brothers and sisters together. The course concentrated on language relevant to family life, covering subjects such as toys, pets and food and drink.
The NDCS hopes to roll out the programme to 50 more sites in the next year.
Rosie Lloyd, NDCS director of projects and development, said, 'We were so impressed with the positive response from parents to this course that we have committed ourselves to gaining funding for a national curriculum for family sign language.
'The existing sign language classes are often very good but are just not suitable for families. They don't teach language that enables parents and children to communicate. But our courses are big on practical words, such as making sure parents understand their children's requests, like when they want fish fingers for dinner!'
A total of 86 families took part in the pilot scheme and 97 per cent believed the signing skills of hearing members of the family had improved or greatly improved, while 90 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that the course had improved communication in the home.
One parent said after the course, 'Our hearing daughter, who is three years old, has felt included and she is able to understand and communicate with her brother. Seeing them communicate together is truly wonderful.'
Ninety per cent of deaf children are born into families where both parents can hear and where there is no history of hearing loss, so learning to communicate can be frustrating for both the parents and the children.
However, all of the families who took part in the NDCS course said they enjoyed it and 87 per cent wanted to take a further course.
