Internet Support Groups
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ciug2004
This is a support group set up within 'Yahoo Groups' on the Internet. Based in Bristol and founded in July 2004 by Alison Patuck, it is aimed at all cochlear implant users within the UK, regardless of age or choice of manufacturer. This is where CI users can share their first-hand experiences and also give and share support, advice and friendship; not only to themselves but also to prospective users who are thinking or awaiting their implants. Here, they would find people who can give them a varied, realistic and balanced view of having an implant first-hand. The reason Alison set up the group was that she felt there was a lack of this type of support in the UK, unlike America where there are hundreds of support groups.
“The group is still continuing to grow (now over 180 members).On average we’ve been getting roughly 250 - 300 messages a month. There are members who are thinking about having an implant, some who are waiting for their surgeries, others for switch on to members who have been implanted from just weeks or 15 yrs +!! We also have a few members who are bilateral CI users. We have established a Database and Files section containing several members CI Experiences and a Links page. There’s even a photo album full of some of our CI surgeries, processors etc.
This site is now moderated which means all new members who wish to join need to be approved first by either myself or one of the moderators. This is just check it is genuine application, to avoid the inevitable Spam. So please don’t be put off by this, its nothing personal.
Members on the group have found great benefit in having access to others who all are in the same boat so we can all empathise with each other, as we all know what it’s like going through this difficult – physical, emotional and a major life-changing journey involved getting a Cochlear Implant. All are more than welcome to join and I look forward to hearing from you on the site soon”.
If you any problems/queries/further details about the group – please feel free to e-mail me.
Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Users Group (YCIUG)
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/yciug
Roger Keeling has started a new web based Contact Group for the North of England, particularly Yorkshire, Teeside and Manchester. He welcomes new members who should email him at rgr.keeling@yahoo.co.uk and he will give details of how to join the group as listed above.
Have you or a member of your family already got a Cochlear Implant, waiting to be accepted for one, or are you seriously considering having one? This is a new on-line group that has been set up to allow such people to get together on-line to discuss with each other, what is involved.
Roger has been given tremendous support earlier by members of Alison Putuck's group during his own Implant journey, and has set this Group up to do the same for others in CI Centres throughout the North of England.
This is a website set up by two parents, Jason Broekhuizen and Dominic Byrne for those interested in binaural hearing and bi-lateral cochlear implants. Both parents had to fund their children's sequential bi-lateral implants themselves because the NHS refused to find a second implant. They are hoping this website will encourage the NHS to fund bi-lateral sequential implants as the norm.
Yahoo Groups
There a number of other support groups at Yahoo as follows;
Implant Chat Room