Deafness and Genetics: what do deaf people want? September 18, 2008

****NOTE: YOU MUST BOOK A PLACE: SEND EMAIL TO: burgessam@cf.ac.uk ****

The Wales Gene Park/Cardiff University

The aim of the workshop will be to bring together d/Deaf and hard of hearing people with health professionals who have clinical and academic experience in the deafness and genetics field.

Genetic Counselling offers information to families about the chances of passing on different genetic conditions, most consultations are requested to discuss a family history of cancer.

It is known that deaf and hard of hearing adults rarely access genetic counselling services. Why is this?

The workshop will be used as a venue to foster a discussion about how to develop genetic counselling services for deaf people and their families.

The day will be structured around a number of light presentations and also fun role-plays by the research team. Video-clips of deaf people giving their views will be shared. The audience will be given hand-held computer terminals (as seen on ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ TV show) so that votes can be taken from the audience on a number of issues raised by the research.

The event is aimed at:
Deaf and hard of hearing members of the public Academics working within Deaf Studies, linguistics, genetics Health professionals working with deafness Health professionals working within genetics
Policy makers, commissioners of genetics services Support groups and deafness charities Experts in health communication

Presenters include:
Dr Anna Middleton, Cardiff University
Dr Steve Emery, Heriot-Watt University
Prof Graham Turner, Heriot-Watt University