Doncaster College for the Deaf

Declan, seven, from Grimsby, suffers from various life limiting conditions and had been held back by the lack of specialist education available in the North Lincolnshire are, which left him unable to communicate with friends and family. Doncaster School for the Deaf provided him with two dedicated teachers, who coached him through sign language courses. Within three months, Declan could express his feelings, thoughts and wishes like never before.

 Declan’s mother, Jackie Gunn, said: “It’s unreal how far he has come through having such intense sign language support and specific literature teaching every day. He used to learn sign for only an hour a week so his new teaching regime has made a massive difference to him and his life. He can sing songs and in the last few weeks has even said ‘Dad’ for the first time.” 

Declan, who is diabetic and epileptic, is restricted to a wheelchair and has ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) which is caused by over active brain signals. The condition means that Declan burns off more calories than can be consumed so has to be fed pre-digested food by a tube through the oesophagus.

 The youngster was also born without any growth hormones so mother Jackie has to inject him with a special drug everyday. In addition Declan has a form of osteochondritis called Perthese disease, a condition where the joint of the hip crumbles causing severe pain. Jackie, a mother of three, said: “It took a long time to come to terms with Declan’s conditions, and he spent the first year and a half of his life in hospital. But the school carried out a thorough check and came to our home to visit to make sure they could offer everything he needed, including making sure door frames were wide enough for his wheelchair. We felt so supported.”

 With Declan only being one of three children in his school year, two members of staff teach him a structured curriculum and trained nurses at the school take over to feed him. A taxi takes Declan to and from school, which is of great benefit to Mum Jackie who used to teach him at home, she said: “My mind is at rest because I feel comfortable he is in safe hands and learning more than he has ever done before.

  “It was strange at first, him going to Doncaster everyday, but now Declan comes home and talks about the fun times he’s had and staff keep a record of everything he has done everyday.” Declan’s challenging attention seeking behaviour caused by the frustration of not being able to express himself, is now in the past and he has achieved his first grade in swimming through the Doncaster school.

 Added Jackie: “I’ve always known inside that Declan could do things, because he’s such a happy and outgoing little lad but there were no resources where we lived. Now he is finally expressing himself for the first time and can say what wants through sign instead of trying to scream it. Now he’s happier, and we as a family certainly are.” Bobbie Roberts, chair of trustees at Doncaster School for the Deaf said: “To see an intelligent young boy like Declan come to our school and develop the skills he has in such a short time frame is astounding.

 “It is stories like this which make the job at our school worthwhile, and we are incredibly proud of Declan and how far he has come and hope that he continues to be as happy as he is now that he has learnt to sign.”

 Issued on behalf of Doncaster School for the Deaf by OnTrack PR Ltd. For more information please contact Lorna Dockerill or Charlotte Taylor on 07971 453 267 or email lorna@ontrackpr.co.uk