Hearing awards to shine a light on deaf heroes

SOUTHSIDERS are being encouraged to nominate deaf or hard of hearing members of their community for a top national award.

The 2013

‘Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards’ honour those who make a significant contribution to society, their community, workplace or through sporting excellence.

The third year of the awards, which are a joint initiative between Ireland’s premier hearing healthcare provider Hidden Hearing and the Irish Deaf Society, were launched by deaf badminton players Johnny Corcoran and Aidan O’Connor.

Both sporting heroes will represent Ireland in Bulgaria at the Deaflympics this month.

Southsiders can nominate those who they feel deserve to be recognised for an award across several different categories and nominees can also put themselves forward for an award.

Submissions can be made online, by post or by video using Irish Sign Language that will then be transcribed.

Previous winners include Orla O’Sullivan, a deaf-blind pianist and teacher, who developed a unique and successful method to teach music to deaf children and Killian McDonnell, a teenager who made history as the first deaf student with Down Syndrome to pass his Leaving Cert.

Stephen Leddy, the managing director of Hidden Hearing, said:

“Over the past few years of the Heroes Awards we’ve seen some truly inspirational stories of those who are deaf and hard of hearing and are excelling in various aspects of life.

“The awards promote these great achievements and shine a light on these heroes, who are an example to everybody that being deaf and hard of hearing does not have to hold you back in life.

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Kevin Mulqueen, the chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society said there had been great excitement within the deaf community around the Heroes Awards in the past.

“The Irish Deaf Society is delighted to be involved again,

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“The Deaflympics is also taking place shortly so I would expect some very strong candidates in the Sporting Category.

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Nominations can be submitted online at www.hiddenhearing.ie or www.deaf.ie or by requesting a nomination form at [email protected]