Hearing Matters in Our Community

1 in 3 people are now living with deafness or hearing loss. Are you sure they are able to access your services?

Living with hearing loss presents barriers everywhere. Shockingly, recent research shows that we are inadvertently excluding one third of our community from accessing the services they need - because they can’t hear.

JDA’s latest research shows that many Jewish people with hearing loss are unable to benefit from the communal, welfare and support services they need.  Focus groups told us they experience communication barriers from the first point of contact and they often give up, knowing their needs will not be met.

• “I can’t access community helplines as I can’t hear on the phone.”  Stephanie
• “I went to a counselling group, but I couldn’t follow the conversation or join in … I felt even more alone.”  Michelle“I can never get past the first phone conversation, as I can’t hear what they’re saying.” Michael
• “I miss being able to follow shul services and hear the Rabbi’s sermon.” Gideon
• “When I lost my hearing, I lost so much more - my ability to join in and my identity. I can no longer be a part of the community I love.”  Gerry

*New statistics from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) show that 1 in 3 people in the UK is now living with deafness or hearing loss. As a result, they are more prone to poor physical health, isolation, depression and dementia – but are not adequately supported.

JDA’s new project, Hearing Matters in our Community, has been set up to change this. 

We are offering:

• Free expert training for your management, staff and volunteers to:
  • become more informed about hearing loss
  • experience what it feels like
  • learn helpful communication tactics
  • use equipment and technology to communicate effectively 
• Support to help you make your organisation more accessible and inclusive to people with hearing loss 
• Information to enable you to audit and assess your environment and create positive action plans  
• Guidance and support around hearing loss, for you and your loved ones. 

Together, we can become an inclusive community, in which people with hearing loss can access all the invaluable services the Jewish community offers - and actively participate in synagogue, work and family life.

JDA is the Jewish community’s specialist in hearing loss and is a benchmark for outstanding deaf services in the wider community.

Hearing Matters in our Community is run by Padraic Garrett and Andrew Goodwin. They are both experts in hearing loss and dynamic trainers, with decades of experience in supporting professional organisations.

To have a chat, by phone, videocall or email, please contact us: 020 8446 0502 ext 210 padraic@jdeaf.org.uk or andrew@jdeaf.org.uk

We are currently working with:

• Reach by Nightingale Hammerson
• Paperweight
• Chai Cancer Care
• Jewish Women’s Aid
• World Jewish Relief
• Hatzola Northwest
• Jewish Volunteering Network
• The Association for Jewish Refugees
• Chabad
• Union of Jewish Students
• J Living
• Jewish Care’s Explore
• Jewish Care Befriending
• Jewish Care Herts Social Work Team
• Jewish Care Disability Forum
• Jewish Care Helpdesk
• Jewish Blind and Disabled
• United Synagogue
• Schonfeld Square
• Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue
• Menorah Reform Synagogue Manchester
• Muswell Hill Synagogue
• Holland Park Synagogue
• Finchley Reform Synagogue