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Family’s support for lifeline scheme

6/ 5/2008

A MOTHER has hailed a scheme helping parents with deaf children as a ‘knight in shining armour’.

Samina Parveen has a son Umayr, seven, and a daughter Sara, four, who both suffer from Alstrom syndrome, which is only known to affect 420 people worldwide.

The condition can cause heart failure, sight and hearing loss as well as developmental delays, learning difficulties and obesity.

Both children are profoundly deaf and suffer from diabetes and Sara is partially-sighted.

Samina, 35, and her husband Asif, 36, run the A and S Newsagents on Bolton Street, Ramsbottom.

Last November we reported how Bury Council had agreed to pay to send them to school outside the area after they were originally told they would have to go to a mainstream schools.

And now the family is set to receive vital support thanks to a scheme being launched by the National Deaf Children’s Society charity.

The group is recruiting a family officer in Greater Manchester, including Ramsbottom, who will ensure that deaf children have the best possible start in life, especially those from ethnic minorities.

The officer will provide practical support and information, and ensuring they have access to NDCS membership and services.

Samina, who also has children Ethsham, 13 and Israr, 11, said: ‘I am so pleased as this will really mean the world to parents like me.

‘There must be a lot of people out there who don’t realise what help they are entitled to. This would mean someone would go into people’s homes and help them access the services they need.’

Zobia Kalim, for the project, said: ‘These new posts will allow us to reach more families and ensure they are receiving comprehensive information in order to make informed choices about important issues such as health and education.

‘We want to empower families of deaf children from black and minority ethnic communities.’