Action for Deafness

Jane Shaw
Chief Executive Officer

Jane has been working with the organisation for over 14 years in a number of different capacities including;  general volunteer; Resource Centre volunteer, volunteer running a clinic at Worthing hospital and doing home visits. Jane was a trustee for 5 years and Chair of the trustees for 2 years. Six years ago Jane started to work from head office in Haywards Heath twice a week, on a voluntary basis, to help with grant applications and fund raising. In 2006 Jane became a part-time employee as Volunteer Service Co-ordinator and subsequently took over as General Manager in October 2007. In 2008, Jane's job title became Chief Executive Officer to coincide with the registration as a charitable Company Limited by Guarantee.

Having grown up in the hearing world Jane lost her hearing very suddenly when she was 24 years old. For 2 years she had a little residual hearing on the right side and was able to get some benefit from one very powerful hearing aid. However, the last vestiges of sound disappeared very quickly and left Jane with no residual hearing at all. In 1989 Jane became the seventh UK recipient of a Cochlear Implant and has experienced great success with this device. Jane relies on lip reading to a large extent and is also learning BSL. With personal experience of all levels of hearing loss and of natural hearing Jane has a great insight into the needs of our client base. Jane is totally committed to ensuring this organisation provides the best possible service to Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people.