The average reading age of deaf school leavers is nine years old

Matthew James, Deafax Trust

"Finding an incentive to encourage deaf children to read and write is a key educational issue," said Matthew James, director of the Deafax Trust, which has set up the website.

The site - www.deafchild.org - will provide chat rooms in which deaf young people in the United Kingdom and abroad can swap online messages - allowing them to communicate and to practise literacy skills.

Matthew James: "Key issue"

There are also accounts of positive role models on the site and news of events of interest to a young deaf readership.

The Deafax Trust is seeking to make online technologies accessible to deaf pupils, as a route to better career opportunities in adult life.

"To communicate effectively, in many circumstances, is a measure of one's ability to gain access to better education and employment," says the trust.

The website also provides information designed for deaf pupils and their teachers - including an international directory of deaf schools and facilities for videoconferencing for deaf schools.