| |
|
|
| |
The Guernsey Hard of Hearing Association (GHOHA) are committed to trying to improve the lives, and offer care and support to everyone who has a hearing problem, and their families. We try to educate the public and support all things that may alleviate deafness. The Association was started in 1983 following concerns felt by doctors, Community staff and health visitors about the lack of support for people with impaired hearing. We have over 160 members. |
|
| |
| |
All our fund-raising and subscriptions are spent on our Resource Centre, arranging social events and assisting people with aids to living. |
|
| |
| |
We equip and maintain a Hard of Hearing Resource Centre at the St,John’s Ambulance Health Care Equipment Dept on the Rohais. This contains a simple range of items not usually available in shops - aids for TV and Radio, amplified telephones, alarm systems, crying baby alerters, domestic loop systems that work with hearing aids, vibrating alerters, leaflets and catalogues. We acquire new equipment and replace older items and extend the range as funds allow. Specialist equipment is always very expensive and we allow people to take items home to try before ordering. |
|
| |
| |
In Guernsey about 9,000 people have a hearing loss and about 2,250 require aiding. |
|
| |
| |
We encourage our members to learn other forms of communication before the ability becomes essential, therefore we support the College of Further Education in their sign language and lip-reading classes. |
|
| |
| |
We are not a pressure group but we do encourage businesses, theatres, Assembly halls, the Airport and States departments to be more hard of hearing and hearing aid ‘friendly’. A very up-hill task!!
|
|
| |
| |
People with hearing problems don’t always want to be members of a group containing only deaf people and we are very fortunate to have lots of hearing people who join for various reasons. e.g. relatives and friends of members. Everyone is encouraged to make contact and join in the general conversation, never mind if someone miss-hears or guesses wrongly what has been said, the problems of communication are reduced by the presence of others with the same difficulties. Members feel relaxed and comfortable amongst other people who are using the same methods of communication and taking part in whatever is going on. We try to encourage a sense of belonging and hope that everyone feels important. |
|
| |
| |
We now have a specially trained policeman, Mr. Mick Chart, who is a Police Link Officer for the Deaf. (PLOD) - he can use sign language and is a very clear speaker, which makes him ideal for lip-readers. Mick is also part of a ‘caring trio’ composed of Sub-Officer Ian Bent (Fireman) and Joy Battle. (Occupational Therapist and adviser on equipment for physical disabilities).
|
|
| |
|
|
