Sandra Fishburn-Parkin is a qualified and experienced Teacher of the Deaf. Based in the North East, she has worked in various settings in primary schools for over 23 years. Her direct work with children includes a variety of aspects such as aiding communication between the deaf child and carers, communicating concerns and worries, programmes to improve reading and numeracy, or for any need the deaf child feels they need support with.
The children Sandra has worked with over the years as a teacher of the deaf have had many additional needs – including learning difficulties, autism, visual impairment and physical difficulties.
The support Sandra offers to children and young people at UK Fostering also includes working directly with foster carers or social workers in areas of advice on behaviour management and communication systems. As a foster carer herself (respite fostering), Sandra has first hand experience of how rewarding, but also how challenging the life of a foster carer can be.