Rawtenstall woman's gymnastics classes for deaf children (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rawtenstall woman's gymnastics classes for deaf children

6:59pm Friday 26th February 2010 in

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DEAF children are taking their first steps into the world of gymnastics thanks to a Valley woman.

Emma Heap, from Rawtenstall, has spent the past five years learning British Sign Language and eventually hopes to become an interpreter.

The head coach is taking weekly classes at Fearns Community Sports College in Bacup and is urging more deaf children to join up.

The 26-year-old, who lives in Bank Street, said her class could be the first of its kind in Lancashire.

“As a child I was a competitive gymnast and I have wanted to open a deaf gymnastics clas from the very first day I started studying sign language. As I started to plan opening a new class, I realised there are no deaf sports in my area, and there are no deaf gymnastics classes offered to deaf children whatsoever in the North West.

“This was very shocking and prompted me to push harder to make it a reality. It was then I realised I would have to make up new signs for the deaf children as there are no current gymnastic signs.”

She was previously an outreach worker for children with autism and learning disabilities and then moved on to working with the company ‘Music and the Deaf’ teaching deaf children music and theatre at weekends and in schools.

Her mum Dawn also runs the Flying Start Day Nursery in Burnley Road.

Former Alder Grange pupil Emma hopes to branch out into other sports such as football, netball, ballet and dance and work with other sports centres and deaf schools in Lancashire.