Christine McKeown

I am a mother of two deaf sons, both born hearing and later diagnosed with the rare condition Pendred Syndrome. Their journey shaped my lifelong commitment to improving access and inclusion for deaf children and families.

Experiencing barriers across council services, education, and healthcare, I led a successful campaign in Bolton to establish dedicated children’s services—creating long-term change that has been in place since 1999. I also played a key role in providing early evidence that newborn hearing testing could be carried out in the home, contributing to the development of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
In education, I worked with local authorities to secure funding for acoustic classroom improvements, deaf awareness training for staff, and inclusive support systems. I also advocated for the introduction of direct input technology to improve access to teaching for deaf pupils.

I founded Bolton’s Ear 4 Kidz charity, supporting deaf families through events, activities, and advocacy, and later established a youth group to bring deaf young people together—many of whom still stay connected today.

Professionally, I hold a Level 6 qualification in British Sign Language, alongside assessor and teaching qualifications. After over 12 years working in the BSL tuition, I joined Worldwide Deaf Gym, where I now lead on certification, compliance, funding, and programme development.
Outside of work, I enjoy travelling with my husband Pete and our dog Ted in our motorhome, as well as horse riding and spending time outdoors.

I continue to advocate for improved accessibility, currently working with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust to address gaps in deaf awareness and communication, with a new working group starting in May 2026.