Alison and Damson

After losing her hearing at 13, Alison felt powerless and terrified.

A black and white photo of a woman sitting on stairs in a house. The mood is sombre.

In my role at Hearing Dogs, I learn about experiences like Alison’s all the time. The impact of deafness can be devastating.

Hearing dogs like Damson change lives, supporting deaf people to feel seen in society and live without fear.

Becoming deaf overnight isolated Alison from everyone. At just 13 years old, too scared to be outside of the house alone, she clung to her parents. And as friends vanished, her self-esteem disappeared too.

At school, teachers dismissed her deafness. But even after the school day ended, Alison’s struggles were just beginning. The silence and darkness at night felt so terrifying that she could only sleep with her mum beside her.

Growing up, Alison shared with me that she felt isolated, afraid and, at times, dehumanised.

But today, thanks to her hearing dog, Damson, she is living an independent and fulfilled life. A life that for so long would have seemed like an impossible dream.

Please could you help to create another partnership, like Alison and Damson, by giving an extra gift of £22 today?

You could provide a new hearing dog with their burgundy uniform, because this helps them to support their deaf partner, wherever they go.

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Throughout school, Alison was told many times that she’d have limited career choices, or just ‘end up living with her parents’. Despite this, she held on to her dream of going to university.

Alison applied to us at Hearing Dogs just before her Sign Language and Deaf Studies degree began. But sadly, university wasn’t the fresh start that she’d hoped for.

She was the only deaf person studying that year. Instead of forming lifelong friendships, two of her peers started rumours that she was faking her deafness.

This was simply devastating. Under the weight of others’ ignorance, Alison spiralled into depression.

Then, unbelievably, she was also mocked in public for using British Sign Language. When she challenged her harasser, they spat at her.

After we received Alison’s application, the team at Hearing Dogs began training Damson, a fun and loving black Labrador. When she passed her training, we just knew that she was Alison’s dog.

When we told Alison we’d found her a match, she felt a switch flick in her life. No matter how many times I see it, the instant effects our hearing dogs have, feel like magic.

A woman walking a black labrador through a forest path. They are looking at each other and the woman is smiling.

On Damson’s first night in the house, Alison slept through for the first time in years. The constant push against mockery, isolation and despair began to ease. With Damson, she could finally begin to experience peace, joy and hope.

With her new canine ‘ears’ and best friend beside her, Alison recaptured her independence. She made new friends, met her partner, learnt to drive and moved out of her parents’ home. She now works as Youth Development Lead for the King’s Trust. Recently, she even presented a deaf awareness session to 155 children!

Since childhood, the world had said Alison couldn’t do any of this. Damson simply gave her the nudge she needed to believe in herself again.

Alison told us, “None of this would exist without Damson. With her by my side I thought, ‘I can do anything. Let’s give it a try.’”

By giving a gift today, you’ll help more hearing dogs, like Damson, to provide their indescribable support.

Thank you for believing in our life-changing dogs,

Heather Mee

Alison and Damson’s Partnership Advisor

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