www.jewishnews.co.

uk

7 OCTOBER 2016

DISCOVER WHY THESE SUNGLASSES

MEAN THE WORLD TO KIERAN
See page 5

SUPPLEMENT

JDA2

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Jewish News 7 October 2016

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE

WE CANT OPERATE WITHOUT YOU

THE TERRIFYING MORNING

I WOKE UP DEAF

On 2 June 2002, at the age of 30, Andrew Goodwin woke up in his Brighton flat
and found that he was profoundly deaf.

put in my hearing aids and couldnt hear

anything. I was worried and scared,
something was not right. I tried to get
out of bed and was immediately sick.
I fell on the floor and realised my balance
had gone. I crawled to the phone to ring
the doctor and realised I wouldnt be able
to hear them. I decided to go to work and
I kept falling into hedges and walls on
the way. At the bus stop, people looked
at me with a funny expression. I realised
I couldnt hear my own voice and I was
shouting.
Fear, shock, nausea and disorientation
had set in. This was certainly not a normal
morning, says Andrew dryly.
Before this life-changing blow to his
hearing, Andrew, already partially deaf, had
gone through very difficult times over the years.
Diagnosed with hearing loss in both ears at
18 months old, his parents had to fight to get
him hearing aids. The doctors didnt seem that
interested in helping me. Eventually I was fitted
with a box hearing aid, which was strapped to
my chest with wires that went into my ears.

all. Mobile phones were still in their infancy

and the internet was only just getting going.
We had no idea how to access equipment that
would help me. My health got worse. Because
communication was impossible, I wouldnt go
to the shops to buy food. Without my parents
support, I would have wasted away.
After months of struggling, Andrew was
visit to the Jobcentre, Andrew was told he would
referred to a charity specialising in helping
be useless at retail. Stubbornly, Andrew got a
people with an acquired profound hearing loss.
sales job in a jewellery store, succeeding in retail
From the help I received there, I gradually
for the next 20 years!
started to turn my life around.
But now, three months after
His relationship with JDA began in 2005
that fateful morning in 2002,
when he joined LIPSYNC, a JDA social group
Andrew had to give up his job and
for young adults with hearing loss. This is
his hearing aids were redundant.
what brought me to life.
Despite overcoming all his
Despite all the challenges over the
previous challenges with positivity
years, I have a very positive and cheerful
and dogged determination, he
outlook. Thanks to the huge amount of
found himself sitting on a cliff edge
support I have received from friends, family
in Peacehaven wondering how he
and organisations such as JDA, I am now
could go on.
ready to use my experience to help others
He battled on, fighting
overcome whatever obstacles are stopping
growing feelings of isolation and
them from getting the very best out of
Nathan Gluck
JDA Advert:Layout
2 it
16/9/16
depression
and the urge to end
life 13:36
as do I! Page 1

Andrew Goodwin is just one of many hundreds of

people who are part of the JDA family.
Over the next few pages, you will read their stories
and understand the work we do. Your support will
allow us to continue doing it.
I used to chew on the wires.
When he reached school age, the
local education authorities wanted to
send Andrew to a mental
institution. My parents
refused so we moved to Pinner,
where I went to a mainstream
school, which had a hearingimpaired unit.
In his GCSE year, Andrew
told the careers advisor that
he wanted to be an architect.
Theres no point, the man
told me. He said: You will be
on benefits for the rest of your
life.
In the late 1980s, during a

Your next birthday

could be life changing!
This is Max. He is 87 years
old, deaf and lives in a
residential home.
Before JDA started visiting his
care home regularly to give
professional hearing support,
he and other deaf residents
spent every day in their
bedrooms lonely, bored
and dreading every moment.
Now, with JDAs regular
hearing support, Max is back
in the game and getting the
very best out life.
If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or wedding, by
inviting friends and family to donate to JDA as an alternative to
traditional gifts, youll be helping JDA to end the isolation and
loneliness of older people with hearing loss living in care.
To share your celebration and support JDA, please contact
Claudia at JDA on 020 8446 0502 or claudia@jdeaf.org.uk

Nathan Gluck is proud to be

associated with the JDA for
a period of over 15 years
We salute the great work that the JDA and
its professional staff and volunteers do.
We wish you continued success in
everything you do.

Main Office: 20 Wentworth Road, Golders Green, London, NW11 0RP

Tel: 020 8455 4210

www.nathangluckhearingcare.co.uk

7 October 2016 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

JOIN US IN OUR VITAL WORK

JDA3

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE

ANDREW IS NOW
JDA CAF CULTURE
MANAGING
Dcafe - JDA new signing caf launches next month at JDAs
JDAS PIONEERING
OUTREACH SERVICE North Finchley community centre
Easing the isolation of
older people with hearing loss

hen JDA was looking for

an inspiring role model to
join their staff team, they
approached Andrew. He is now
managing the pioneering new residential
homes visiting and training service.
Even though I had a great job, when the
opportunity came up to join JDA, I couldnt
turn it down. It was perfect for me. I felt
that everything I had achieved over the past
14 years had been leading up to this.
Our mission is to reduce the loneliness
and isolation of older people in care homes,
most of whom suffer from varying degrees of
hearing loss.
Over the past few months, I have been
developing and training a great team of
volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds,
to help me reach as many people in care as
possible. So far, we have 10 volunteers, but
we still need many more.
Since Andrew joined JDA, he has visited
a number of care homes in the Borough of
Barnet and has seen well over 100 residents.
Their stories are many and varied.
One care home resident told us: My
hearing aids hadnt worked all week. They
told me it would take six weeks until the NHS

JDA volunteer technicians in action

could help me. Within 2 days, Andrew came

round and sorted me out. Without my hearing
aids working, people spoke to me as if I was
stupid and I felt sad and frustrated; I didnt
want to leave my room. Thanks to Andrews
team, I can now enjoy chatting to people
again and doing our afternoon quiz.
Another resident had severe problems with
his hearing aids and had not had a hearing test
for seven years. He told Andrew: Through
your intervention, Ive now had hearing
tests and am awaiting two new hearing aids.
Hopefully Ill feel more confident and can
chat up the ladies!
Andrew sums up: By getting round to
people quickly and efficiently, we are starting
to make a huge difference in peoples lives.
Working with the NHS, we are helping to
take the pressure off our wonderful but
overstretched audiology service. A simple
intervention at the right time makes such a
profound and positive impact on the lives of
older people with hearing loss in care homes.
Andrew is looking for reliable volunteers
to regularly visit older people in
residential homes. To help, please contact
him on andrew@hearingconnect.org.uk

t JDA, we see lots of great

reasons to open Dcafe. It will be
a place in which deaf people can
come and meet in a comfortable,
signing environment.
Newcomers will be able to see
the range of activities, services and
opportunities on offer at JDA, make
new friends and become a part of JDA
community life or they can just come
and enjoy the coffee.
Sue Cipin, JDA chief executive, says:
There is so much unemployment among
the deaf community, who communicate
using sign language. They try so hard to
gain employment, but receive one knockback after another. Its demoralising to
have nothing to do, day in, day out and
were finding that more and more deaf
people just want to spend time together,
here at JDA.
So, while providing a great new
meeting place for the deaf community
which will be run entirely by
deaf volunteers Dcafe will enable
unemployed deaf people to achieve new
catering and organisational skills and
hopefully help towards giving them
future employment opportunities.
As the volunteers notch up each
training certificate, we are already
seeing their confidence and self-esteem
growing.
Food will be prepared in JDAs
kosher dairy kitchen and using kosher
ingredients. Along with Eddys
wonderful cakes, Dcafe will serve
freshly-made coffee, healthy soups and
sandwiches, jacket potatoes and a daily
special.
It will open every Tuesday between
10am and 4pm.
Dcafe is just one more way that JDA
will ensure every deaf person gets the
very best out of life. And that includes
great coffee!

EDDY OUR
STAR BAKER
AT Dcafe
Professional patissier, Eddy
Potter-Laroy, will keep Dcafe well
stocked with yummy cakes. He will
also train keen volunteers in the
art of baking.
Eddy comes from the city of
Ghent in Belgium. There, as a child
at a deaf school, he developed a
lifelong passion for baking and
patisserie.
He is bilingual, communicating
in both Flemish Sign Language
and British Sign Language and is
much valued by JDA as a volunteer,
helping in many ways.

A CORNFLAKE MOMENT
I brought my Dad to JDAs Technology
Room where he tried one of the
powerful amplified phones.

Just one hour

I left the room with one handset,

with JDAs hearing

leaving Dad holding the other.

consultant can

What did you have for breakfast Dad?

I asked. Cornflakes he replied.
I burst into tears of joy as this was
the first time in years Id had a
meaningful response from him by phone.

be life-changing!
Call Gabbie on
020 8446 0214

technology
room

JDA4

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 7 October 2016

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE

WE CANT OPERATE WITHOUT YOU

A very special family

t first glance, the Freemans of

Borehamwood appear to be just
a regular family. Dad Jeremy
runs his own digital agency and
manages a region of business networking
groups; mum Ravit runs her own cake

business; Chantelle, 13, is a typical teenager, dividing her time between homework
and messaging friends, and brother Eytan,
nine, is football crazy.
What makes this family unusual is the
fact they were all born deaf. The couple, who

WE HAD NO IDEA OUR

DAUGHTER WAS DEAF
When Nicole Metz started her new pre-school, staff noticed she wasnt responding and
wondered if she could hear properly. Nicole was sent for hearing tests and it was then at
the age of four that her parents discovered that she was profoundly deaf in her left ear and
severely deaf in her right ear.
Her mother Louise says: We were traumatised. Although we had noticed changes in
Nicoles behaviour, we had no idea she was deaf. But discovering it was almost a relief as it
explained so much.
Jody at JDA has been absolutely fabulous. She has become a friend and confidante. Its
good to know were not the only family going through this and to meet several of the other
mums for coffee in Borehamwood. Jodys helped us to claim Disability Living Allowance
and is a great source of information and advice.
Nicole has been fitted with hearing aids and is doing well, but we feel much more positive
about the future now that her cochlear implants have been approved weve only heard good
things about implants and we hope and pray she will benefit from them and live a normal life.

have been married for 17 years, met through a

mutual friend while bowling. Ravit says: All
our friends are hearing, so it wasnt deafness
that brought us together, but it helped as we
understood each other more.
Ravit and Jeremy first contacted JDA at the
suggestion of hospital staff when Chantelle was
born. Despite our own deafness, it was a new
experience for us to raise a deaf child, says
Ravit. JDA showed us how to cope and find
activities to help the children thrive and gain
confidence. Deaf children often get frustrated.
We were told that art can be good therapy and it
was for our daughter.
With help from JDA to enter mainstream
Jewish education, Chantelle is now flourishing
at Yavneh College. A cochlear implant has
enhanced her hearing on one side and she
wears a hearing aid on the left, where deafness
is severe. I choose not to use the FM system
hearing link at school because it is irritating and
makes me feel different, she says. Teachers
usually put me in the front of the class and I
can hear fine.
Eytan, who was born profoundly deaf, has
bilateral cochlear implants and the best hearing
and speech in the family. I use the FM system
hearing link at school because it cuts out the
background noise, and I sit away from the
window, where I can hear the teacher.
Inspired by the Great British Bake Off and
Cake Boss, self-taught Ravit began her own
cake business, Peaks & Swirls, three years ago,
and the success of her themed birthday cakes
are reflected in the comments from satisfied
customers on Facebook.
Following the loss of her mother, Bhila, five
years ago, Ravit has been supported by JDA.
She says: My mother was the one who understood my deafness, so it is hard, but I will be
forever grateful for the support JDA gave me
at such a difficult time.
JDA is an invaluable support network to
us as a family, adds Jeremy. We know we
can seek impartial advice and guidance on
issues and not necessarily all deafness related.
Additionally, JDA has a number of specialised

staff with first-hand experience of deafness and

deaf children, which makes a huge difference
as many organisations lack any deaf awareness
and understanding of our access requirements.
Ravit believes deafness is a hidden disability
that will always have an impact on a persons
quality of life, but that it is up to the individual
to maximise opportunities. Throughout my
professional life, Ive been restricted to jobs
that do not require a lot of listening or
communication, but I am so grateful for my
design skills, which I have been able to use
without restrictions.

Sadly, Ravit has not found it easy to make

new friends as a mum outside the school gates.
Most of the mums chat in groups, which I find
very hard; it is easier for me to communicate on
a one-one basis, she reveals. I get quite upset
that the parents find it difficult to approach
me, but Im very happy my children have a
wonderful large circle of friends, as it gives me
hope that they wont struggle in the future.
For Ravits cakes, call
020 8440 6810 or visit:
www.facebook.com/peaksandswirls

To make a donation go to www.jdeaf.org.uk To make a don

7 October Jewish News

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JOIN US IN OUR VITAL WORK

JDA5

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE

ARE YOU LOOKIN AT ME?

Born without ears, Kieran Sorkin didnt like the attention.

Now he cant get enough of it

ve got a pair just like that, says

Kieran as I present him with a gift
of mirrored shades. Ill try them
on though, he adds cheekily and
proceeds to pose in the glasses. Kieran
currently has 22 pairs of sunglasses
and its a precious and burgeoning
collection because, up until two years
ago, he couldnt wear glasses at all.
Born deaf, Kieran also had bilateral
microtia, a rare congenital condition
that meant he had no ears just small
lobes on the sides of his head.
His mother Louise still gets emotional
describing the moment she first saw her
beautiful newborn son and realised there
was a problem. I was consumed with the
idea that he hadnt heard my heartbeat for
the nine months I carried him, she says
now smiling at her chirpy 11-year-old.
It took my husband and I four months
to learn how to even spell his condition and
it was overwhelming when we heard that
it affects only one in 100,000 babies. With
those odds, I should do the lottery.
But Louise and David Sorkin were not
defeatists as their son was cared for by
Great Ormond Street Hospital, while they
turned to JDA. Louise lights up when she

talks about JDA or second family as she

refers to the charitys many individuals who
were there for advice, hands-on help and
introduced them to other Jewish parents
with deaf children.
JDA have always been on the phone
when I need them, says Louise, who is a
nursery school teacher and has two other
children, Mia, 14, and Zack, two. They
helped with his transition to primary
school, told us our entitlements and just
kept us going. JDA is on speed dial.
Encouraged by the positivity of his
parents, Kieran never let his condition
affect him and, with the help of a bone
anchored hearing aid (a titanium prosthesis
embedded in his skull), was able to hear.
But he still had no ears and this did upset
him. He was unable to ignore the fact he
looked different to his school friends and
that people looked at him oddly. I wanted
ears and kept asking if I could have the
surgery Id seen in a TV programme, he
says matter-of-factly.
Two years ago that wish came true.
Kieran went to Great Ormond Street for a
six-hour operation performed by surgeon
Neil Bulstrode, who used rib cartilage
from both sides of the young boys chest

as frameworks for ears. The results were

nothing short of a miracle and his parents
burst into tears when the bandages came
off, but there was pain immediately afterwards and disorientation, which Kieran
took in his stride, never once regretting his
decision .
I really like my ears, he says. I was
worried they might be really big like an
elephants, or small like a mouse, but they
are normal like my mums.
Rolling about on the carpet with his
little brother Zack, no one would never
know what he has been through.
They wouldnt realise how brave he has
been, says Louise. But he has always been
such a special boy. He never let anyone put
him down. But the ears have made such
a huge difference to his self-esteem and
confidence.
Kierans hearing aid has to be replaced
every two years and there are tests every
six months at Great Ormond Street, so he
will never truly escape the confines of his
condition. But the on-going support of his
own family and his family at JDA make
things that much easier and, now that he
can wear sunglasses when people look at
him, he doesnt mind at all.

The barmitzvah boy

Becoming a man is important for all 12-year-old boys, but for Shimmy Bloch it is a big milestone

hen Shimmy Bloch woke to

learn the results of the Brexit
vote, his first reaction was to
write a letter. Dear Boris, you
are naughty. You voted to leave. My granny
cant come to visit us now. This was not
Shimmys first correspondence to people
in power, having previously written to the
Queen to invite her for tea, stating: As it
has to be kosher, you had better come to my
house. Although she declined the invitatio,
Shimmy did receive a reply from Her
Majestys personal secretary.
These are just two examples of how Shimmy
has not allowed his deafness to stop him being
an extraordinary cheeky, funny 12-year-old. And
like other 12-year-old Jewish boys, Shimmy is
now busy preparing for his barmitzvah in just a
few weeks time.
As he attends a non-Jewish school, we
wanted Shimmy to share his preparation with
other Jewish kids, explains his mother, Karen.
After asking JDA, we contacted Rabbi Lister of
Edgware United synagogue, who has arranged
the most amazing barmitzvah journey for him.
The JDA made a fantastic shidduch by
introducing us to Sabrina Morris, a qualified
teacher, who specialises in deaf education.
Sabrina has interpreted for Shimmy so he has
been able to get the full barmitzvah experience

and she taught all the boys some sign language

so they could all communicate together. As
part of the programme, Shimmy has learnt
to lay tefillin, visited the butcher to find out
about kashrut and the mikveh to learn about
immersing new crockery and cutlery as well as
team-building exercises and even helping at
Norwood on Mitzvah Day.
Shimmy said the part he enjoyed the most
was making doughnuts.
Like any barmitzvah, Shimmy is really
looking forward to celebrating with his family,
notably the 25 relatives who will be coming over
from South Africa. He is working hard to receive
an aliyah in shul, says his father, Marc. And
were all going to eat in our succah! explains his
nine-year-old sister Ayelet proudly.
The Bloch family hail from South Africa, but
moved to England after struggling to find the
right education and medical care for Shimmy in
their native land.
Shimmy was born with a cleft palate and
the surgery he had in South Africa was not
successful, in fact it created obstacles for him
having further successful surgery, says Marc.
He has had three bone grafts in the UK, but
more will likely be needed. The school situation
was also looking bleak so I Googled Jewish
deafness in London and discovered JDA. They
put me in touch with their family services

coordinator, Jody Sacks.

Jody has been such a big help. She helped us
with the admin of moving, with the statement
of education for Shimmy, put us in touch with
a lot of support groups, like the National Deaf
Childrens Society, applying for benefits and
transport, filling in forms and so on.
Probably the most valued thing was
helping us to find the right school, Blanche
Nevile School for Deaf Children in Muswell
Hill. We never imagined that Shimmy would
be able to get a full mainstream education at
a school which teaches total communication,
that is using all types of communication, such
as sign, oral, auditory, written and visual aids
whatever it takes!
But the clubs are boring! adds Shimmy,
demonstrating his cheeky sense of humour.
Like most 12-year-olds, Shimmy is into
technology. Jody from JDA gave him a
volunteer job recently, serving tea and coffee
and teaching technology in British Sign
Language, adds his father. He has created his
own website, Shimmynews, and he is always
emailing people. He emailed the person at the
BBC who is in charge of signing and asked them
to come to visit his school. When I read the
emails, it was clear that the person didnt know
if Shimmy was a child or teacher, thats how
confident and forthright he comes across!

And it doesnt stop there. Shimmy has also

appeared on the Paul OGrady Show with his
school choir, KAOS, singing and signing True
Colours as part of Deaf Awareness Week.
There is a video on the KAOS website of the
performance. Its easy to spot Shimmy, says
Karen. Hes the only one wearing a kippah.
Marc and Karen are delighted with the
progress Shimmy has made in his new school
and with his barmitzvah experience.
We never imagined half of this would be
possible, and so much of it has been thanks
to JDA.

onation go to www.jdeaf.org.uk To make a donation go to www.jdeaf.org.uk To make a donation go to www.jdeaf.org.uk

JDA6

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 7 October 2016

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE

WE CANT OPERATE WITHOUT YOU

COULD YOU BE A
GREAT VOLUNTEER?
FOR JDA I WOULD DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THEY ASK OF ME
JDA relies on a highly dedicated team of volunteers, each committed in their own special
way. Here, they say why volunteering for JDA brings out the very best in them.
Nathan Gluck
Nathan Gluck is an independent
hearing aid specialist and a cruc
ial
member of JDAs new outreach
service volunteer team. At JDA,
he
gives free, impartial information
on
NHS and private sector audiolog
y.
I have been a volunteer with JDA for
over 15 years. I have
seen time and again that JDA care
for everyone extends way
beyond hearing and goes to carin
g for the whole person.

I am proud to be associated with

JDA. Their ethos in going
the extra mile for everyone they enco
unter, matches and
reflects the ethos that I believe in
passionately.
We all understand each other so
well because there is a
sense of joint and common purpose
in all our interactions.
I love working with JDA.

Rochelle Lewis and

Talya Tibber
incredible
We are members of the
anising
org
,
tee
mit
Hear!Hear! com
and
nts
eve
g
isin
dra
fantastic fun
s.
nes
are
Aw
f
Dea
ting
promo
eives no
to be part of JDA. It rec
Were exceedingly proud
ny we raise
pen
ry
eve
t
tha
w
we kno
government funding and
ching
rea
far
all but important and
is crucial to such a sm
charity.
vember 2016
A LOL on Tuesday 8 No
Our Comedy Night JD
rk in
wo
JDA continue its great
will raise funds to help
en.
ldr
ilies with deaf chi
supporting Jewish fam
viding such
be part of a charity pro
It has been inspiring to
hs.
ple of all ages and fait
excellent support to peo
ship with
e a wonderful relation
hav
s
eer
Hear!Hear! volunt
of our lives.
t
par
l
cia
spe
a
be
always
JDA members and JDA will

Kirsty Emmett
Kirsty Emmett worked in
ting
primary education suppor
g
children with learnin
disabilities. This led her to
ge
learning British Sign Langua
and volunteering for JDA.
n Eisen, a 92-year-old
I look after JDA member Hele
ng girl. I take her shopping
lady with the spirit of a you
has enough groceries to
she
on Thursdays and ensure
week.
keep her going through the
ily and mine and reminisce.
We chat, talk about her fam
us!
Its therapy for both of
e around the house, bills,
I help her with maintenanc
pendent as possible.
inde
and generally keep her as

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS

AND FUNDRAISERS!
to join JDAs incredible team of volunteers
... and to join the Hear!Hear! committee
... and start up new fundraising committees for young people,
climb mountains, run marathons, undertake sponsored
bike rides and raise funds in all sorts of imaginative ways
the crazier the better!
To play your part, please contact Sue Cipin at JDA
on 020 8446 0502 or email Sue at mail@jdeaf.org.uk

relationship between
JDA is a community and the
s like family. This
members and volunteers feel
reciprocal, with trust
and
relationship is rewarding
JDA is truly special.
e.
tim
r
ove
up
and respect built

Jamie Cotsen
Jamie Cotsen is Business Development
Manager. His brother Jonny, who is
deaf, teaches art and drama to hearing
children in Cardiff. Jamie lives in
Borehamwood with his wife Amanda
and daughters Zoe and Rosie.
Growing up with Jonny inspired me to work with JDA. When
I first visited JDA and learned about the charitys incredible
range of services for people of all ages, I was superimpressed. I had no idea how much amazing work JDA
does. Now Im hooked!

The Marathon was my first fundraiser! It was worth all the

hard work - its so important to help JDA be there for more
and more people. Im determined to spread the word about
JDA, helping them to gain new supporters.
Right now Im selling advertising space for the JDA LOL
Comedy Night brochure. The money I raise is helping JDA
support families with deaf babies and children which is
very close to my heart.

Michael Freedman
Michael Freedman we
ars a
hearing aid and has som
e
knowledge of how sou
nd works
as he used to be a the
atre
technician. He has jus
t moved
to London from Leeds
and is
now a volunteer techn
ician for
the new outreach ser
vice in residential

homes.

Ive seen the work going

on at JDA AMAZING!
And its
so important that its for
everyone from any bac
kground.
When I go into care hom
es to fix hearing aids,
I find
older people sitting alo
ne and isolated. Were
making
an instant improvement
. I helped one lady wh
o was 101
and, once her hearing
aid was working, the firs
t thing
she did was ring her bro
ker to check her shares
!

YES YOU COULD!

7 October 2016 Jewish News

www.jewishnews.co.uk

JOIN US IN OUR VITAL WORK

JDA7

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE

A woman of substance
It is impossible to imagine what it feels
like to be Mira Goldberg. After her mother
contracted rubella in pregnancy, she was
born deaf and then, at aged two, when
toddlers are still clinging to their mothers
skirts, was sent alone to live in England.
With no adequate education available
for deaf children in 1950s Iran, residential education in England offered better
opportunities for the tiny girl, and it
would be her home for the next 16 years.
Mira tells the story of her early life so
efficiently it belies the fear and uncertainty
she would have felt at the time, but she also
has sweet memories of friendships formed.
When you live in a boarding school, it creates
bonds and they are for life, says Mira, who
returned to Iran when she completed her
secondary education. It was, however, a shortlived stay as it was no longer her home and, as
no one could communicate in sign language,
communication was a barrier.
Back in England at the age of 18, Mira found
JDA and like for so many others before her,
the charity became her family.
They told me about their hostel in Stoke
Newington and I moved in and the JDAs
executive director helped me to get my British
passport and find a job as a computer clerk.

Because of JDA, I was able to stand on my

own feet and I was so grateful for that.
In time, Mira veered away to start her own
family and had two daughters who were both
deaf. Once theyd grown up, in 1999, Mira came
back to JDA in a working capacity, supporting
families with deaf children and offering role
model guidance. She also produced a book
of sign language in Judaism, which is sold
through JDA. It was conceived with two
purposes in mind, she explains. To offer a
basic explanation of Jewish practices to deaf
people and as an historically important way
of preserving specific British Jewish signs for
future generations.
The world Mira inhabits now filled with
mobile phones for texting, sign language
interpreters and subtitled TV programmes is
very different to the one she lived in as a child.
When I was younger, I would watch
TV and try to read the facial expressions to
understand what the story was about. When
subtitles came along, I realised the stories
werent as good as the ones I had imagined,
Mira laughs, and her positive disposition is
what makes her so invaluable to JDA.
From being a young adult resident of the
JDA hostel to a trustee on its Board shows how
big a part JDA has played in Miras life.

JDA Comedy Night

raising funds to support
families with deaf children

JDA is vital in supporting vulnerable

deaf people who have nowhere else to go for
support. Elderly deaf people come here to
socialise with each other, keeping them active,

stimulated, healthy and young at heart.

I hope JDA will continue to be there for
everyone from babies to elderly people
including me, one day in future!

The Jewish Deaf Association

is there for me, for all deaf
children and our families
- and for everyone
with a hearing loss.

Hosted by award winning

comedian Mark Maier
plus 3 hilarious stand-ups
Tuesday 8th November 2016
@ The Comedy Loft, 11 East Yard,
Camden, London NW1 8AB
Doors open 8pm for 8.30pm start
(No reserved seating)

Tickets 35 from
http://jdacomedy.eventbrite.co.uk/
BSL interpreted / captioned performance
For more information or to make a donation,
please call Claudia Simon at JDA on 020 8446 0502,

living life

w it h

hear

in g lo
ss

contact claudia@jdeaf.org.uk or visit www.jdeaf.org.uk

Charity Registration No. 1105845

Telephone
020 8446 0502

Registered charity number 1105845

Lielle, JDAs Poster Girl!

jewish deaf
association

JDA8

www.jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish News 7 October 2016

WE CANT OPERATE WITHOUT YOU

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES OUR WORK POSSIBLE

JDA - Support for life

Making the impossible happen

any vulnerable deaf and

deafblind adults have
additional needs, including
dementia. Janet, Janine and
Lisa are of the team of JDA Angels
who support them in their everyday life,
enabling them to be safe, secure,
healthy and happy.

healthier for longer.

We hold them firmly by the hand and
make them feel cared for, valued and safe.
LISA SAYS:
Harry was 88 and had leukemia. He was ill
for a very long time and I would accompany
him to hospital appointments, manage his
chemotherapy and look after him. He told
me I was the daughter he never had.

JANINE SAYS:
It was the hottest day of the year when we
took our Day Centre members to Herne
Bay. David and Issy were both in their
wheelchairs. Neither had felt the thrill of
taking a dip in the sea for at least 30 years.
Lisa and I found a boat ramp. We pushed
them to the waters edge, rolled up their
trousers, took off their shoes and socks and
wheeled them into the sea.
It was an unforgettable moment when
we saw the look of joy on their faces as they
JDA Angels: Janine Greensite, Janet Coombs and Lisa Mansur

delightedly splashed their feet in the water.

David, who has dementia, still talks about it!

David on his way to the seaside

JANET SAYS:
JDA can be everything to its members. As
they progress through life, it is their social
club, somewhere to meet friends, a home
from home in which their lives are enriched
by cultural and educational activities.
As they become older and their needs
more acute, JDA takes on the role of family,
supporting them with whatever life brings.
For some of our most vulnerable members,

JDA is literally their entire world.

With dedication, professionalism and
love, our support workers ensure that their
life isnt reduced to a cycle of hospital visits.
Together as a community, they carry
out Jewish traditions, with their own signed
services. They see the blossom on the trees
when we take them to the park. They are
spirited back to days of ice creams on the
pier when we take them to the seaside. And
with us beside them, they can fight off those
all too common experiences of isolation
and depression remaining happier and

Harry in the stands at Old Trafford

Before he passed away, he told me that

his lifelong dream was to watch Manchester
United play at Old Trafford, as he was born in
Manchester.
So I took Harry up to Manchester.
He couldnt believe he was there. He kept
saying: This is my lifelong dream.
Unfortunately, our side lost! But Harry
didnt care. Even in his final days, he couldnt
stop talking about the trip.

JDA is our communitys only specialist hearing support service and people will always need it.

Please remember JDA in your Will

so that we can continue giving vulnerable Jewish Deaf and Deafblind people the lifelong support they need and
ensuring that every person with hearing loss can get the very best out life.

Your legacy will mean that your memory, and our work, will live on, bringing light
into peoples lives for years to come.
For more information about leaving a legacy to JDA or supporting JDA in any way, please contact Sue Cipin.
Jewish Deaf Association
Julius Newman House, Woodside Park Road, London N12 8RP
Telephone: 020 8446 0502

Email: mail@jdeaf.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1105845 Company Limited by Guarantee 4983930

www.jdeaf.org.uk

jewish deaf
association