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Deafax campaign to give deaf people E.A.R.S!
Education & Advice on Relationships & Sex for deaf people
Deafax believes that all deaf and hard-of-hearing people should receive adequate sexual health education in schools, alongside a service that is equally accessible at sexual health clinics, and whilst being treated by midwives and doctors.
On 1st October 2010, the Equality Act stated that it is a legal requirement for all service providers to make provision for the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people. Service providers are legally required to book and provide appropriate professionals and equipment to allow their deaf clients to gain equal access to services and information.
Yet our current research reveals that deaf young people are not leaving school with sufficient knowledge of sexual health. Visit our findings page for more information.
Deaf-friendly Sex Education
Although PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) is not currently required to be taught in schools, it is critical that organisations working in the field of sexual health education continue to promote the importance of PSHE for the development of young people. It has been revealed that one in four (26%) of secondary school pupils are receiving no SRE education in school at all (Brook, SexPositive Campaign). Yet 53% (out of a sample of 1,700) of disabled people in the UK lost their virginity by the age of 20.
Common sources of information about sexual health are talking to friends and family or watching TV and films. These sources do not ensure that factual and correct information is being delivered.
BUT deaf people often miss out on all of these avenues of communication and so how can they make informed decisions?
Read our manifesto, support sex education for deaf people, check out our tailored sexual health package and resources for deaf and hard of hearing people and watch our real life case studies.
Support us in giving E.A.R.S to deaf people!
"It was a fantastic course, and would be great if everyone that worked in sexual health would do it. - Employee, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital"