Mission
Established in 2007, Hear For You is a non-profit organisation committed to giving young deaf people an opportunity to reach their full potential in life. This is achieved by providing a quality mentoring program, consisting of four group workshops spread over a six-month period with a session for parents.
The program is designed to help young deaf people improve their confidence and their social, communication and leadership skills. Continued support and contact with the mentees will be maintained via e-mentoring.
The program draws on Olivia Gemmell’s Churchill Fellowship experience from mentoring programs for young oral deaf people in USA, United Kingdom and Scandinavia.
Why We Are Here
Youth is a very unsettling time with hormonal and developmental change. For those with physical or emotional limitations of any kind it becomes even more difficult. Being accepted within the peer group becomes increasingly important. This requires participation in peer activities which often includes loud music and conversation in dark, crowded, noisy environments which poses challenges for someone with normal hearing.
In addition, it is even more difficult for young deaf people who may have not developed the ’life skills’ to cope with these changes in their lives. After all, the accumulation of life skills is dependent on being engaged in ongoing appropriate communication during the formative years.
Hear For You was founded by 28-year-old Olivia Gemmell who has hearing impairment. Her own real-life experience gives her the ability to understand the issues associated with deafness. It adds an extra dimension that makes Hear For You accessible to young deaf people.
Olivia and her fellow mentors have been involved with mentoring young deaf people in NSW and Victoria, a number of whom experience significant challenges in social situations.
For reference, testimonials from deafness-related organisations have been provided.
