In this issue

• Questions parents are asking
• New information on our website
• The Accessible Education Database launched in Sydney
• Speech, Language and Reading Study
• Senate Inquiry into Hearing Health in Australia
• What's on in November
• Sports Corner
• Join our online parent forums
• Make a donation

This has been a busy month at the Aussie Deaf Kids desk with many opportunities to meet people face-to-face instead of by email - always more enjoyable.

Aussie Deaf Kids is working with renowned international fundraiser, Peg Thatcher, to help us realise the future we envisage for our website and organisation. Peg is assisting us to put together a fundraising team who will not only learn from a master but, more importantly, will assist us to provide new evidence-based online resources for families. If you would like to join our team, I would love to hear from you!

And some exciting news about our website. Our web developer, Damian Codotto from Mindwire, entered our website in the Queensland Multimedia Awards and it is a finalist in the "Best website up to $7500" category! The awards night is on the 7th of November. Damian will let us know how we go.

info@aussiedeafkids.org.au

One of the topics in our online groups this month has been the frustrating issue of temper tantrums and deaf children.

We have done a bit of investigating...

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This month we are fortunate to have some excellent new information from icommunicate - speech and communication therapy. The information is provided by qualified and certified speech and language pathologist and has lots of activities and tips for parents to use in everyday situations.

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A new online database has been launched by Media Access Australia and will provide a central comprehensive resource for captioned educational DVDs. The Accessible Education Database is the first of its kind in Australia and aims to promote access and inclusion for students who are Deaf or have hearing impairment.

Anne McGrath, Education Manager at MAA, who is also a Teacher of the Deaf says, "We would encourage parents to bring the Accessible Education Database to teachers' attention to assist their children to receive the access they need wherever possible."

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The Audiology Section at Macquarie University is undertaking research that will contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the impact of auditory neuropathy on spoken language and reading development in school-aged children.

They are looking for children to participate in a speech, language and reading study. Testing will be conducted at Macquarie University Audiology Clinic, building C5A, level 5, North Ryde, 2109 NSW.

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The hard work done by Deafness Forum over the years in getting this Inquiry up and running was acknowledged on the opening day of the hearings by Acting Chair, Senator Moore, "We want to put on record the role that Deafness Forum has played in getting this committee hearing happening. There has been considerable interest over a number of years in having such a hearing. So we would like to acknowledge the work, along with some strong lobbying, that Deafness Forum has done, particularly at my state level and also at the national level."

Submissions and transcripts for the Inquiry are now available on the Senate website.

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Let us know what is happening in your State.

PCDE Family Fun Day and AGM - Sunday 15th November
POD Macarthur morning tea at Australian Hearing - Tuesday 17th November
2009 NSW Junior Deaf Tennis Championships - 21-22 November
Access All Areas Film Festival - 16th November - 3rd December
ATOD celebrates 30 years of performing - Thursday 26th November
Managing challenging behaviour workshops - 23-27 November

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My name is John Lui, I am 24 years old and I am on the Board of Deaf Tennis Australia Inc. We are a non-profit organisation with young members looking to build Deaf Tennis in Australia in all states and at all levels.

I myself am profoundly deaf having been fitted with a cochlear implant since the age of 10. In September, I was part of the Australian Deaf Tennis Team at the 2009 Taipei Deaflympics (Olympics for the Deaf), the pinnacle of the Deaf sporting world.

I have organised the NSW Junior Deaf Tennis Tournament for children aged 18 years and under of all abilities. It will be held on the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of November at Homebush at the Sydney Olympic Tennis Centre.

It would be great to get more young hearing impaired kids participating in this great sport! It is important to allow young children and teenagers every opportunity to lead a life of opportunities and taking up sport, and tennis is a great way to do so. Who knows - perhaps one of them would go on to represent Australia in International Deaf Tennis someday?

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You can help Aussie Deaf Kids by donating online. We use the Our Community secure online donations facility. Your donation will go directly into the research and development of content for the website which will assist parents to make informed choices about raising their deaf child.

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