"Hello! My name is Dr Paul Whittaker OBE. I am the Artistic Director of a charity called "Music and the Deaf" which supports deaf children and encourages them to become involved in music and the arts.

Signed Stories is a brilliant idea and I wish to congratulate them on this venture and I am sure it will go on to be hugely successful. It is extremely important that deaf children are able to engage in stories in their own language which in turn develops their skills and interest in reading.

Wishing you all the best of luck!"

Dr Paul Whittaker is the Artistic Director and founder of the charity Music and the Deaf. Paul, who has been deaf from birth, has a music degree from the University of Oxford, a post-graduate diploma from the Royal Northern College of Music and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Huddersfield. He was also awarded an OBE for Services to Music in 2007.