Publisher's Synopsis
Although there is an acknowledged need for improved service provision, there has been little research in minority ethnic deaf children. This project focused on services for Asian deaf children under five years of age. The report aimed to: provide a fuller understanding of parents' perspectives and experiences of their child's deafness; provide parents' and service providers' perspectives on the nature of service delivery and, especially, the means of improving services. Through interviews undertaken with parents and professionals in West Yorkshire, the authors chart the parental journey to an understanding of and support for their child's condition. They explore the nature and quality of support form different professionals once a child has been diagnosed as deaf, and examine the social impact of deafness on parents and the wider family. The report concludes by putting the findings in a broader policy framework, giving detailed recommendations for services. As the first research on Asian parents' and professionals' perspectives in relation to general service provision for Asian deaf children, the report is essential reading for practitioners in health, education and social services and those wishing to understand the wider political and social context.
