Deaf children to benefit from storytelling website

Feb 19 2009 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal

DEAF children across the country are set to benefit from a multi-million pound venture masterminded in the North East.

Signed Stories is a new web-based programme that is being launched today with backing from internationally-renowned authors.

It aims to make some of the best children’s stories accessible to young people with hearing disabilities.

The project has seen a real North East collaboration, as it was dreamt up in County Durham, conceived by a Sunderland University graduate, filmed in Gateshead, animated in Newcastle and features music from a Whitley Bay composer.

The free website - www.signedstories.com - has been designed for children, parents and schools and hopes to encourage deaf children to read the best, modern children’s books.

As well as featuring colourful animations and subtitles, the website also has a qualified British Sign Language signer.

Pupils from Northern Counties School, in Jesmond, Newcastle, which caters for children with hearing problems, have been working with the designers to trail the website.

Their teachers have been so impressed with the programme they claim it will make a massive difference to deaf children nationwide.

Masterminded by ITV at its Gateshead studios, the website will grow into the UK’s largest online library of children’s stories fully accessible in sound, text, vision and sign language.

Within two years the website should feature more than 300 books. The site already includes stories Silly Suzy Goose, by Petr Horacek, Baby Brains, by Simon James, and Chimp and Zee, by Laurence Anholt.

North East award-winning author, David Almond, Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, and Julia Donaldson, who wrote The Gruffalo, are just some of the top writers working with the project.

Michael Rosen said: “I am delighted to give my support to Signed Stories. It is an important and timely project which has the potential to change lives.”

Julia Donaldson added: “I think Signed Stories are brilliant – and not just for deaf children.

“I love the extra dimension which the signers add to the stories.

“Their gestures and facial expressions are riveting, bringing out all the inherent comedy and drama. I am hooked.”

The venture, which is a partnership between leading publishers, authors, illustrators and charities, is designed to close the widening educational gap between deaf and hearing children, described by the National Deaf Children’s Society recently as a “national scandal”.

Antonia Byatt, director of literature strategy at Arts Council England, said: “No one should be without stories in their lives and it is particularly important that all children have the chance to experience the wonder of story from the earliest age.

“Signed stories has the potential to open up a creative world to young people, deaf and hearing, it’s a really exciting development.”