Noah’s BMX breakthrough
Noah has been profoundly deaf since he was 16 months old. A little over a year ago he discovered BMX at an event in Hackney and has been competing for Hackney BMX Club ever since.
‘I was eight years old when I started riding my bike at the BMX session. I have cochlear implants and when I take the processors off I am deaf. My implants are really precious,’ explains Noah, who joined a group of other children for a taster session organised by coaches with the help of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).
‘I wanted to take part in BMX because it’s fun,’ he added, ‘I did some jumps and the best bit was going around the track - I learnt how to go over bumps making sure the pedals are even.’
‘I have cochlear implants and when I take the processors off I am deaf. My implants are really precious.’
Coach Paolo Cotrim outlined the reason for setting up the initial taster and how the opportunity was taken up by the young people:
‘I met a few deaf children at a social event and noticed that they were often ignored. I started communicating directly and found that it wasn’t so difficult to understand each other.
‘I was inspired to learn more about deafness and do a deaf awareness course. After that, we decided to run a BMX taster event at the club especially for deaf children.
‘It was fantastic to see everyone engaging together. The children grew in confidence, and I’m so pleased that Hackney BMX club was able to help them learn skills. Some of the deaf young people still attend the club within mainstream sessions, and we adapt to their communication needs.’
Noah’s mother Donna explained the background to Noah’s hearing impairment, when he contracted pneumoccocal meningitis at 16 months old, which left him profoundly deaf.
‘Noah was bilaterally implanted at 20 months. He also has dyspraxia and hypovestibular function. Noah is fantastic but our journey has been challenging.
‘I heard about the BMX taster event through an email from NDCS. Noah loves riding his bike and is always trying out stunts, so we thought he might be good at it.
‘Before the event I was really looking forward to seeing how Noah would get on. As the taster session was just for deaf kids, there were BSL interpreters and volunteers who understood Noah’s communication needs.
‘I can't tell you how proud I was when I saw Noah whizzing around the track, a little boy that almost didn’t walk again after he was ill.’
‘He has no vestibular balance and yet he was able to zoom round the track. I saw Noah’s sheer determination come through – he was brilliant!’
Noah added that his love for BMX has grown since the first taster session and in the intervening period his confidence has grown even further:
‘I go to the BMX club as much as I can now. I would say to other children that BMX is really good fun…and hard work!’
Donna recommends attending similar events to all families who have the opportunity:
‘Any other families interested in events like this, we’d say ‘just go for it!’. Clubs that have signed the NDCS deaf-friendly pledge know how to support deaf children, so you don’t need to worry.
‘Noah loved it so much that he’s now joined the club, and they support his communication needs really well.’
More information about the work of the National Deaf Children’s Society is available here.
There are plenty of opportunities to get out and ride this summer - to find a ride near you, put your address in to the ride finder on goskyride.com.
If you, like Noah, have a story about how cycling has helped you overcome physical, emotional or mental challenges, get in touch and tell us about it!
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