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How DEX helps deaf young people tackle social isolation, develop their deaf identity and live more independently
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Deaf EXperience Limited (DEX) is a Yorkshire-based charity which supports deaf young people aged 11 to 30 to come together, participate in fun and educational activities, and gain new skills.
Before I started going to DEX, I didn’t socialise a lot. Instead of feeling lonely, members can be involved in activities and enjoy themselves. Deaf EXperience Limited (DEX) member
Deaf young people are at risk of social isolation due to the communication barriers they face in education and in everyday life.
In mainstream education, teachers have reported that deaf students can be reluctant to wear hearing aids out of fear that they will stand out. As a result, deaf young people are struggling with their hearing in school, which has repercussions on their school experience and education.
Deaf young people who attend mainstream schools are unlikely to have experience of being part of the deaf community and may have no deaf identity of their own. Those who attend deaf schools and are native BSL speakers may also find themselves isolated from friends and family members who haven’t learned BSL.
In addition, deaf young people face considerable communication challenges outside school and the home, for instance in buying bus or train tickets, knowing where to get off a train without being able to hear announcements, and in asking for directions if they get lost.
Including the deaf community
DEX works to support deaf young people in navigating these challenges: developing their knowledge of how to utilise public transport, running fun activities where young members of the deaf community can socialise with each other, and in providing education such as British Sign Language (BSL) lessons.
An interpreter attends all DEX events to support native-BSL members and those who have never learned BSL in communicating with each other, helping the young people to grow their deaf identity. Support workers attend events where members have additional needs to ensure activities and events are fully inclusive of all deaf young people in Yorkshire.
Events are free and DEX can support with travel expenses too. For many DEX members, the events are the only way they can get out independently.
Education and development
There is a focus on education and development in DEX’s Deaf Youth Council (DDYC) for 17- to 30-year-olds. Members gain knowledge and skills via activities such as deaf drama, cooking lessons, and Yorkshire Sculpture Park trips led by a deaf artist.
The young people are encouraged to gain independence by travelling by themselves or as a group, ordering food with hearing people and by organising events themselves as part of a young person’s committee. Here, they can gain invaluable work experience in event planning and management.
DEX runs a self-advocacy service to support deaf young people with a range of issues such as benefits, employment, housing and personal relationships.
Young members are also invited to attend information sessions, for example where social workers tell the group about vibrating alarms, flashing doorbells and other equipment that is available to them. This can be invaluable as it’s often the first time anyone has ever told them how they can lead more independent lives.
Contact
You can work in partnership to hold events with DEX, refer young people to their services and connect with them here. You can also follow them on Twitter and find out more about DEX on their website.
