Information and advice
With support from our funders, we provide information and advice that empowers families to make informed decisions and champion their child.
Our new free app for families
At the end of March 2024, we launched My NDCS, a free app to support parents and carers of deaf children.
My NDCS gives families the information and support they need, no matter their child’s level or type of deafness. In the app, they can get information tailored to their location and child’s age, read stories from other families, keep a journal and find out about our events.
In the first week, 1,522 people downloaded My NDCS and 175 parents and carers joined our free membership through the app, giving them access to all our support.
“My NDCS has helped me understand my daughter’s diagnosis and reassured me that she’ll still live a normal life. Reading the real-life stories benefited me the most, as I got to hear other children’s and parents’ experiences.”
Kyla, mum to Elena (9 months), who’s profoundly deaf.
1,522 parents and carers downloaded our new app, My NDCS, in the first week after launch.
Advice and guidance officers
Our advice and guidance officers give families one-to-one support on a range of topics, including education, communication, social care, discrimination and welfare benefits.
They help families to advocate for their child and understand complicated information, such as support offered by local services.
In 2023/24, advice and guidance officers supported 1,483 cases, helping families with issues such as applying for additional support in school or financial benefits. 96% of families felt satisfied or very satisfied with the service provided.
With their expert help and the support of our benefits appeals specialists, families were able to successfully claim £614,000 in welfare benefits. These benefits are vital to help with the extra costs of raising a deaf child.
Our advice and guidance officers supported families with 1,483 cases.
Free advice and guidance Helpline
Through our Helpline we give independent information and advice on childhood deafness. Our team support parents, carers, deaf young people and professionals who work with deaf children.
In 2023/24, our Helpline advisors answered more than 1,700 calls, 225 live chats, and almost 900 email interactions.
95% of people felt the information or advice they received was helpful or very helpful.* One parent we supported said, “I’ve been blown away by the level of support and feel so lucky to have been able to access this resource. [...] At a tough time, it provided comfort and hope.”
*Between June 2023 and March 2024.