Deafness Support Network (DSN) was created in 1974. Trustees of the Chester and North Wales Society for the Deaf and of the Warrington and District Society for Deaf People made a landmark decision to form the Cheshire Society for the Deaf (now operating as DSN). Following a reorganisation of local Government structures, DSN became the service provider organisation for D/deaf people in the county of Cheshire; its districts; and in the unitary authorities of Warrington and Halton. Since 1st April 2011, DSN creased to provide Social Work & Technical Services in Halton & Warrington; yet continues to provide a wide range of services across Cheshire & neighbouring areas of Flintshire & Salford.
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The local societies (Deaf Clubs) in Chester, Warrington and Vale Royal retained their independence and continue to thrive to this day, sharing premises with DSN. Each society serves a distinct local community but is strengthened by its partnership with DSN, which is able to innovate and develop, whilst acting as a guide and support for the local organisations.
More detail on DSN, its history, its services and on the local societies is available elsewhere on this site.
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D/deaf" Throughout the DSN website you will see the word D/deaf, but what does that mean? The word Deaf (with a capital "D") is used to mean a person whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL). The word deaf (with a lower case "d") is used to recognise people who do not choose to use BSL and do not consider themselves to be part of the Deaf Community. DSN offer support to all people with a hearing loss in Cheshire, Halton & Warrington. The word D/deaf is therefore used to indicate all people with a hearing loss; Deaf, deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and Deafblind.