A 40 minute long documentary about deaf children and their special education needs. Encourages families to support their deaf child but not to spoil them. Footage includes scenes at the three deaf schools in New Zealand and teacher trainees learning special needs at Christchurch Teachers College. Also features deaf people doing a variety of jobs in later life.
A Deaf Child in the Family (1969), was produced by the National Film Unit for a voluntary organisation – the New Zealand Teaching Films to Help Deaf Children Society – a group specially formed to fund the film which cost $5000.
Film screenings of “A Deaf Child in the Family” were held over New Zealand, such as that organised by the Manawatu Association of Parents of Deaf Children who held a film evening at the Regent Theatre on April 29, 1969. Members from the Manawatu Deaf Society were invited to the 6:30pm screening, and Daniel Beech said it was “most enjoyable”.
NB. SignDNA currently holds a reel of the film, awaiting to be digitised.