A Bermondsey-based deafness charity, which gives speech therapy to deaf children, is set to feature in a BBC TV appeal hosted by Radio Two presenter Sara Cox this week.
Three profoundly deaf children from across the capital will feature in the appeal supporting Auditory Verbal UK, based on Jamaica Road.
The appeal will air on BBC One at 3:35pm on Sunday October 14, and will highlight the charity’s work with pre-school aged deaf children working on their verbal skills.
The presenter said: “Working with AVUK really highlighted what deaf children can do when they have the support that they need in the first few years of their lives.
“Their opportunities are transformed.
“Working in an industry where listening and speaking are crucial to what I do, I can’t imagine the difficulty parents face being told their baby is deaf.
“But, with crucial support from charities like AVUK, families of deaf children really can see them reach their full potential.”
Deafness is a spectrum, with many in the Deaf community using British Sign Language to communicate and reaching their full potential.
Some deaf people use spoken language to communicate, some only sign, or some a mixture of both.
Four-year-old Mia Basma-Saffiedine, from Barnet, is one of the three children set to feature in the appeal.
Mia, who is profoundly deaf, began her programme with Auditory Verbal in February 2016.
Mum Rayan, who is also deaf, said: “I feel so fortunate to be able to give my daughter this crucial opportunity to train her mind to listen in such a natural, fun and creative way.
“She just continues to amaze us every day.”
AVUK’s chief executive Anita Grover said: “We hope that this appeal will encourage readers to support Auditory Verbal UK’s appeal so that more deaf children have the opportunity to access our family programme across the UK.”
The appeal will be repeated on BBC Two at 1pm on Wednesday October 17 and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.