Eastbourne deaf teenager challenging perceptions of what is possible honoured in national award
• Teenager recognised for going above and beyond and challenging perceptions of what deaf young people can do and achieve • Defying the myths - 14-year-old dreams of becoming astrophysicist and going into space • Campaigning to improve support for deaf children including lobbying Government ministers for investment in therapy which transformed his life
Sam Callaghan has been recognised in a national award recognising children and young people who go above and beyond to challenge the perceptions of what deaf children can achieve.
The 14-year-old budding astrophysicist was presented with his highly commended Claire Campbell Outstanding Achievement Award in London on Tuesday (November 25th).
Run by charity Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK), now in their third year, the awards are in tribute to Claire, a mum of two profoundly deaf children, who championed the need for early and effective support for deaf children to develop language and communication to achieve their potential right up to her death in 2022.
On receiving his award Sam said: “I am honoured and incredibly grateful to be highly commended at the Claire Campbell Awards. Auditory Verbal therapy is what allows me to live the way I do now and I will never be able to thank AVUK as much is they deserve. I really want to continue to speak to as many people as possible to improve access to Auditory Verbal therapy to many more deaf children like me to give them the same opportunities that I am lucky enough to have.”
Sam was born deaf and learned to listen and talk with Auditory Verbal therapy and now campaigns tirelessly for others to have the same support and opportunities he has had. Auditory Verbal therapy supports deaf children, like Sam, to learn how to make sense of the sound they receive through their hearing technology (such as hearing aids or cochlear implants) and develop spoken language so they can learn to talk. Currently less than 10% of deaf children who could benefit from the support can access it – and Sam is calling for this to change.
Sam has met and shared his story with MPs, helped secure and attended a parliamentary debate, and spoken to government ministers to call for public investment in AV therapy so more deaf children like him can access it. As well as being interviewed for radio and television news, Sam has also conducted interviews for YouTube and Sky including with astronaut Tim Peake and looking at the introduction of a GCSE in British Sign Language.
Claire’s husband, Chris Campbell, who judges the awards with his family said: “Sam is such a deserving recipient of this highly commended honour. Reading the wonderful nomination for him it is clear that he is a passionate campaigner and role model. These awards are a true celebration of the diversity of deafness and what is possible. Congratulations to all of the worthy winners and fantastic nominees and I know Claire would be delighted to see such passion and support proving what deaf children and young people can achieve.”
Auditory Verbal UK Chief Executive Anita Grover said: “Congratulations to Sam and all the finalists in the 2025 Claire Campbell Outstanding Achievement Awards for their achievements going above and beyond to support deaf children and challenge the perceptions of what they can do and achieve. Claire was unwavering in her support for deaf children and their families and always championed the vision that all deaf children should have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers whether their families choose to use sign language, spoken language or both.”
The Outstanding Achievement Awards in Memory of Claire Campbell has two categories:
• The Children and Young Person Outstanding Achievement Award - which recognises a deaf child or young person with hearing loss who, like Claire, has gone above and beyond to demonstrate that deaf children can achieve their potential.
and
• The Adult Outstanding Achievement Award which recognises an adult, such as a professional, teacher, parent or caregiver, who, like Claire, has gone above and beyond to support a deaf child or children to achieve their potential and/or challenge the perceptions of what deaf children can achieve.
Details of all the award winners can be seen here
Auditory Verbal UK is an award-winning charity that supports deaf babies and children to learn to listen and speak through Auditory Verbal therapy and provides internationally accredited training in Auditory Verbal practice for health and education professionals. It works to raise expectations and outcomes for deaf children and increase access to, as well as awareness and understanding of, Auditory Verbal therapy so that all deaf children have the opportunity to access it through publicly funded services close to where they live.