Just because someone has hearing difficulties does not mean they cannot live a full life. That is the message teacher for the deaf Helen Martin wants to get across as part of Deaf Awareness Week. Education reporter Haydn Lewis went along to meet her and a group of hearing impaired teenagers in York.

GIVE people who struggle with hearing a second thought.

That is the message organisations working with deaf people across the country want to get across during Deaf Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday.

Once every half-term, a group of about 13 teenagers with hearing problems, the majority of whom are in mainstream secondary schools in York, meet up socially to take part in a whole host of activities from bowling to skate-boarding.

I dropped in at the Momentum On Two Wheels project in New Earswick at the weekend, where a group of six teenagers were eagerly awaiting their motorbike maintenance workshop.

Helen Martin has been a teacher of the deaf for 15 years, and is one of six full and part-time teachers who work with youngsters with hearing difficulties and their families across York.

She said: "The push at the moment is for inclusion, which means youngsters being taught in mainstream schools wherever possible. That is a good thing, but it does mean that some of them can become isolated, and these sessions counter that and allow the kids to mix with their peer group."

All the youngsters I spoke to have been hearing-impaired since birth, and have a broad range of hearing needs, from being profoundly deaf to only moderate or slight difficulty. They all use hearing aids and lip read.

Daniel Slater, 14, goes to Burnholme Community College, has moderate hearing trouble, and wants to become an entertainer. He said: "I can only do a little bit of sign language, I can do 'I like jelly', but that's about it."

Sasha Thorpe, 17, is studying for her A-levels at All Saints' School. She said: "I like coming along to these sessions, we've done all sorts of things. I liked going to Pizza Hut and am looking forward to getting to go on the bikes here."

Liam McCreesh, 15, from All Saints', said: "I can't sign, but I do French and German at school. I can do the sign language alphabet."

His brother, Joseph, 13, who also goes to All Saints', said: "Bikes are good fun and its fast, but I don't have anywhere to ride it."

Dominic Moaefbury, 15, goes to Applefields Special School. He said about the course: "I'm worried about banging my head."

All Saints' pupil Chris McDonald, 13, said: "I have never been on a motorbike before, but I'm looking forward to finding out more about it."

John Maylard, Momentum On Two Wheels co-ordinator, said the aim of the course was to encourage youngsters to ride bikes safely.

He said: "It's a 30-hour programme, and there is no reason why people with hearing problems should be excluded from it.

"We deal with youngsters from all different backgrounds here and the aim of the game is to get them to use bikes responsibly."

The teachers for the deaf work with all ages from newly diagnosed babies to teenagers up to the age of 19 and go in to schools to teach when required.

All Saints' RC School has enhanced provision for hearing-impaired children and although there is not a teacher for the deaf permanently at the school, the staff have had specialist training and a deaf teacher is there most days a week.

This year, the national campaign theme is Look At Me. It aims to improve understanding of the different types of deafness by highlighting the many different methods of communication used by deaf, deafened, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people, such as sign language and lip reading.

Supported by more than 100 deaf charities and organisations under the umbrella of the UK Council on Deafness, Deaf Awareness Week involves a UK wide series of national and local events.

In York, Mrs Martin and her colleagues have created a display at the Central Library in Library Square, which includes information boards and leaflets to take away.

Updated: 10:02 Wednesday, May 03, 2006