Climb on board the Listening Bus

From: Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle, UK - Mar 20, 2003

TECHNOLOGY is transforming the lives of deaf children at a phenomenal rate, and Irvine youngsters who suffer from the condition are about to find out just how their lives can be revolutionised.

Local kids are invited to climb aboard The Listening Bus when it makes a stop at Towerlands Primary School on Thursday, March 27.

And once on board they'll discover the wide range of technical aids and electronic gizmos which can open up a whole new world.

Among the many items featured on the bus are amplified phones, textphones and videophones; alarm clocks which shake or flash under the pillow; doorbells and phones which flash to alert you; special smoke alarms and vibrating pagers to tell you what is happening in the home; loops and listening aids to help deaf people hear television or music; captioned and signed videos and sign language and other learning software.

The Listening Bus is brought to Irvine by the National Deaf Children's Society and is supported by the HSBC Bank.

It is essentially a pioneering roadshow which brings the latest available technology, aids and information to deaf children and their families and, with the help of teachers and other professionals, helps them discover the wide range of essential equipment which can radically transform their daily lives.

It also offers the opportunity to meet experts from the NDCS technology service and receive information about the support and services which are available from the world's leading charity for deaf children.

"Technology is totally transforming the lives of deaf children," said NDCS Chief Executive Susan Daniels.

"Having grown up deaf myself I know only too well how important it is to receive the right information and equipment.

"The Listening Bus brings this sort of equipment directly to parents and children, giving them the opportunity to experience new and different kinds of technology right on their own doorsteps.

"Without the bus families might otherwise not find out about the services or equipment available to them which could make a real, significant difference to their lives."

The Listening Bus is at the school's Hearing Impairment Centre from 10am-3.30pm and everyone who is affected by deafness or hearing loss, or their families, is welcome to come along.

JOHN WOODS

© 2003 Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle