Dorset Deaf Children's Society

ALFIE HIRIART

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Alfie was nominated by his mother, Candy Hiriart. Alfie faces so many challenges and faces them all with a big smile to match his personality. He started Taekwondo in June this year, on his own with no peers or school friends. He knew no one but just wanted to take part. We knew this would be challenging for him, not only for his hearing loss but also his Noonan's syndrome, having low muscle tone. From the very first lesson he won over the instructors. He gave everything a go even though he struggles with fatigue after a full day at school and learning to listen to new adults and peers in a very difficult listening environment. He took part in his first grading in September having to remember his exercise to perform alongside two other white belts and recall Korean counting and the names of the moves in Korean. His master commented that he had the loudest voice. I am overwhelmingly proud of Alfie for using his voice, recalling information, listening to instructions and following them, often without visual cues of lip reading.

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In addition to our Senior winner Anya, also nominated in the Senior category were:

Bernardo De Brito was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Bernardo last year successfully transitioned to secondary school. This was a great achievement moving from primary to secondary school. He has made an excellent impression on school staff for his politeness, courtesy and helpfulness to teachers and peers. In particular he is kind to other peers helping to check his and others audiological equipment. He is adept at trouble shooting if his radio aid is not working. He independently ensures he has packed his radio aid and it is fully charged and working for school. He is a kind thoughtful role model to his peers and polite and enthusiastic for his leaning.

Liliana Kiss was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Liliana has successfully transitioned to secondary school; this was a great achievement for her. She has made a superb impression on school staff for her focus, organisation and conscientious approach to all aspects of her Year 7 studies and helpfulness to SEND staff. She has embraced learning BSL with gusto, and has shared and inspired peers and school staff to learn more about deaf culture and identity. This led to her supporting an end of term Deaf Awareness Event at school. She is an excellent role model and is polite, enthusiastic and hard working at all times.

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Harry Lake was nominated by Sarah Joiner, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Harry has had a fantastic year at Bournemouth and Poole College, completing a Level 2 Media course which he was awarded a merit for in the summer term. He has transitioned so well into college life and has matured into and amazing young man, who always puts 110% into his course and has made new friends. He is also leaning to drive.

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Cameron Miller was nominated by his father Colin Miller. Cameron is fun loving, cheeky, happy and often quiet with an empathetic and thoughtful side. Over the past year he has been increasingly more confident and outgoing and is starting to develop some very good technical, leadership and coaching skills. Cameron sat his GCSE’s this year. He had the option to take the foundation paper or higher paper in French. Taking the higher paper and not attaining a high grade could mean it would be ungraded. This was a concern for his teacher but he decided to take the higher paper and spent many hours revising and practicing. Through his dedication he scored a Grade 7, with a distinction in his French speaking exam. He was predicted a very low score in English following an ungraded mark in his mock exam. He put so much effort with revision and practice and scored an impressive Grade 6. The French and English grades he achieved are huge achievements for him. Away from school he has fully committed himself to Army Cadets achieving two promotions this year. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in June and in September received his second successive promotion to the rank of Corporal. In July he received the Top Marksman Trophy at Dorset’s Cadet Summer Camp in Merseyside. This trophy was awarded to him by Dorset Army Cadet Force Commandant for achieving the highest overall score in A2 rifle shooting, a huge achievement as there were around 200 participants. He has made huge steps over the last year and impressed in many ways. He has made it to joint most senior cadet within the Bovington Detachment; a reflection of his dedication, ability and leadership. He is also showing an aptitude for helping younger and newer cadets develop, passing on his skills, knowledge and coaching. 

Jennifer-Marie Roe was nominated by her parents Sadie and Martin Roe for how far she has come in her life and in school. From when she was diagnosed with a hearing loss in Reception she has worn her hearing aids every day and she learnt to take responsibility for her hearing aids doing her own tubing, cleaning and checking them. She has overcome all her difficulties at school alongside having dyslexia. She has achieved passing her GCSE’s and progressed to A levels where she studied EPQ and researched into sign language and how it is used in schools and shops. She then did a presentation in front of many people. She recently received her A level result in which she attained an A that she needed for university. She has also learnt to drive and passed her driving test. Whilst completing her A levels she worked two jobs at one point, one being at a shop where she served customers. She also worked at McDonalds where she has been promoted to crew trainer and she hasn’t let anything get in her way. Two years ago she signed up for a volunteering opportunity in Borneo which she wasn’t sure she would be able to accomplish due to fears and hurdles. For the trip she had to raise £5000 which she did by doing many different events from bingos, horse racing nights and car boot sales. She then spent four weeks in Borneo helping children in schools, painting school buildings, cementing pathways and planting trees to help conservation. The determination that she has shown has been inspirational, she has gone above and beyond what anyone expected of her to achieve. We are very proud of her.

Milo Wong was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for successfully transitioning to secondary school. He continues to make an excellent impression on secondary school staff for his enthusiasm, politeness, courtesy and willingness to partake in all aspect of the school curriculum and extra school activities. He has achieved and maintains extraordinary success in music. He is working towards taking his Grade 8 Drumming exam which is outstanding as he is only in Year 8. He is fully involved in performing at public events and recently he performed at Kings Park at a summer annual event with his DJ set. He also performs for public and private events. He is praised by teachers for his audiological support and encouragement to his peers and his ability to trouble shoot and assist school staff if his or others radio aids are not working. He independently ensures he has packed his radio aid and it is fully charged for school. He is an engaging, supportive, kind, thoughtful role model to his peers. He is always very polite, interacting with his peers and teaching staff. He embraces all aspects of his learning.

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In addition to our Junior winner Alfie, also nominated in the Junior category were: 

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Obi Brammer Thompson was nominated by Melissa May, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service. Obi has grown into a wonderful young boy; he brings joy with his inquisitive nature, cheeky personality and eagerness to share his thoughts and experiences.  He is being nominated for his exceptional progress in reading. When he began in Reception class he found phonics challenging even with visual cues. Despite the difficulty he showed consistent determination working hard every day with his Teaching Assistant. His perseverance was evident, even when the learning process was tiring. Six months ago I observed Obi reading, he confidently sounded out letters, blended sounds, recognised whole words and self-corrected when something didn’t make sense. He applied every strategy he had learned, and it was truly inspiring to witness. He has since passed his Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, a fantastic achievement. What makes this even more impressive is that he does not consistently wear his cochlear implant processors, meaning he hears spoken language for only some of the time. His success is a testament to his resilience and hard work. He has shown with effort and determination, barriers can be overcome.

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Matilda Bryant was nominated by her mother, Holly Bryant. Matilda was implanted at three and half years old. She had no speech prior to being implanted and since then she has massively progressed. We are so proud of how much she has achieved in 18 months. She attended the Elizabeth Foundation and they said that she is their most progressed child they have ever had. Her understanding is equivalent to her peers, and whilst her language is still behind we are confident she will thrive at school. She has worked really hard to get to where she is and has now started school.

Caitlyn DeGeorgio was nominated by Sarah Joiner, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for the wonderful year she has had in Year 6 which reflects her astounding focus and determination to do well in all that she applies herself to. She completed her Year 6 SATs and also successfully passed the test for a place at Parkstone Grammar School.  She has grown into a mature young lady, who has been an amazing self-advocate for her hearing needs in school as well as being a positive deaf role model for younger pupils.

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Harrison Greenham was nominated by his grandfather Stephen Greenham for being an inspiration to his family and others. He is an incredible advocate teaching others what being deaf truly means as well as the access they deserve. He strives for better access within the deaf community especially when it comes to education, accessible days out and businesses being more inclusive for their deaf guests. He has recently started his new Deaf school, after struggling with needing deaf friends and role models. He has become extremely independent and grown significantly in confidence in the past year and is making a huge difference within the deaf community online and in person.

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Myla Preston was nominated by Dawn Wrench, Advisory Teacher Hearing Support Service for her superb transition move from a Gloucestershire primary school to a Christchurch school. Throughout the move she has shown maturity, receptivity and willingness to embrace all aspects of her new school with zeal and joy. She has made an excellent impression on her teachers and has developed and maintained new friendships. She has now transition to Year 5 and has recently been selected to be a Year 5 Monitor supporting good behaviors’ and being a role model for her peers. Her teachers applauded her being articulate at an INSET to teachers about how her Cochlear Implant processors work, the best support strategies for teachers and peers and why her Roger Touchscreen us so imperative. She is an excellent deaf aware advocate and has embraced the opportunity to learn BSL.

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Well done to everyone who was nominated!

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2025 Senior and Junior nominees with Robin Barrett