Miss-Delectable
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Hitech Boost For Deaf Kids (from York Press)
A HI-TECH support centre to help deaf children and their families has been unveiled in York.
The £25,000 purpose-built facility is based at Lime Tree's Child, Adolescent And Family Unit, in Shipton Road, York, and offers support to 80 families across the county.
It will give a huge boost to the York Deaf Child & Family Service, which was previously run from a portable building.
The new facilities are designed to offer the best support for deaf children, addressing their communication and mental health needs.
One of the main features is access to video conferencing, which enables deaf people to communicate using sign language in the same way hearing people would use the telephone.
Mandy Barker, York Deaf Child & Family Services manager, said: "We are really pleased to unveil this new facility.
"The building is bright and airy which makes it much better for lip reading and seeing sign language.
"It will certainly make it much easier for us to deliver the care children and their families need now that we have a purpose-built facility specifically designed for the service."
The service is run by North Yorkshire And York Primary Care Trust (PCT), which last year was recognised for its innovative work with deaf children.
In November, the PCT was short-listed for a national health technology award for its use of video conferencing.
Ms Barker said: "We use video conferencing equipment so that we can see the children and communicate with them without them having to travel to York.
"By using technology such as web cameras, text messages and video conferencing, deaf children can have the same access to services as their hearing peers."
John Clare, the PCT's assistant director of mental health, said he was delighted that services for deaf children could move to a new purpose-built centre. He said: "The new extension at Lime Trees ensures that an excellent and innovative service is supported in its work by smart, well-equipped facilities. The service provides expert support to children and their families with complex needs who would otherwise be very isolated."
The new centre was funded by a Department of Health grant.
A HI-TECH support centre to help deaf children and their families has been unveiled in York.
The £25,000 purpose-built facility is based at Lime Tree's Child, Adolescent And Family Unit, in Shipton Road, York, and offers support to 80 families across the county.
It will give a huge boost to the York Deaf Child & Family Service, which was previously run from a portable building.
The new facilities are designed to offer the best support for deaf children, addressing their communication and mental health needs.
One of the main features is access to video conferencing, which enables deaf people to communicate using sign language in the same way hearing people would use the telephone.
Mandy Barker, York Deaf Child & Family Services manager, said: "We are really pleased to unveil this new facility.
"The building is bright and airy which makes it much better for lip reading and seeing sign language.
"It will certainly make it much easier for us to deliver the care children and their families need now that we have a purpose-built facility specifically designed for the service."
The service is run by North Yorkshire And York Primary Care Trust (PCT), which last year was recognised for its innovative work with deaf children.
In November, the PCT was short-listed for a national health technology award for its use of video conferencing.
Ms Barker said: "We use video conferencing equipment so that we can see the children and communicate with them without them having to travel to York.
"By using technology such as web cameras, text messages and video conferencing, deaf children can have the same access to services as their hearing peers."
John Clare, the PCT's assistant director of mental health, said he was delighted that services for deaf children could move to a new purpose-built centre. He said: "The new extension at Lime Trees ensures that an excellent and innovative service is supported in its work by smart, well-equipped facilities. The service provides expert support to children and their families with complex needs who would otherwise be very isolated."
The new centre was funded by a Department of Health grant.