As the festive season begins, Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar has already signed a New Year’s Resolution in support of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) Cymru campaign to make new school, nursery and college buildings accessible to children with a hearing loss.
The charity’s campaign highlights that acoustic standards for school buildings have often been ignored, leaving children across Wales struggling to learn in noisy and echoing classrooms.
Last year, following calls from NDCS Cymru, the Welsh Government agreed to make sure that schools funded through its 21st Century Schools Programme would meet acoustic standards. This was great news, but only affects schools funded in this way. The charity now wants the Welsh Government to go one step further and use powers it will receive on New Year’s Eve 2011 to strengthen regulations on school acoustics. Assembly Members are being urged to show their support by signing up to a special New Year’s Resolution.
Darren Millar said: “I fully support the work of NDCS Cymru to make sure that all new school, nursery and college buildings in Wales meet a minimum acoustic standard, and I believe that their campaign will make a real difference to deaf children.
“I was alarmed when I learnt about the difficulties that school children with a hearing loss face when trying to follow their teacher in a classroom with poor acoustics. I am calling on my fellow Assembly Members to back the campaign and give deaf children the best chance of achieving their full potential at school.”
Jayne Dulson, NDCS Cymru Director, says: “It is fantastic that Darren is supporting our campaign on this vital issue.
“Good acoustics in schools are important for all children, but particularly so for deaf children. Although many deaf children use devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants to access sound, these become almost useless in noisy classrooms.
“Last year, we worked with the Welsh Government to ensure that schools funded through its 21st Century Schools Programme would meet acoustic standards. This was a definite step in the right direction, but it only affects schools funded in that way. We now need the Welsh Government to go one step further and ensure all new school, nursery and college buildings in Wales will sound good – regardless of how they are funded!”
