Annabel Foote was nine months old when she said her first words, "bye bye", and it came as music to her mother Claire's ears.
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She hadn't been sure if her daughter would ever speak at all.
Annabel was born with a serious hearing impediment, but after 3½ years with the Shepherd Centre for deaf children in Rivett she now has the same communication skills of any child her age.
"We had no experience with any deaf people," Mrs Foote said.
"She was the first deaf child I'd ever had anything to do with, and we didn't know if she'd be able to talk or how easy it would be for her to communicate with our family.
"So it was a real relief for us to go to the Shepherd Centre and be told that she would be able to listen and to talk just like any other kid ... She said her first word when she was nine months and she hasn't stopped talking since."
The Shepherd Centre was among a number of schools and institutions attacked in a vandalism spree across Rivett in October, leaving a large number of their windows smashed and glass scattered through classrooms.
Chief executive Jim Hungerford said the community had come together to help them get back on their feet.
"I'm happy to say the centre is now up and running and, if anything, better than before," he said.
"We've been able to use the money to refresh the toys and equipment, so it's a lovely place for the kids again."
The Rotary Club of Belconnen has announced it will donate $5000 to the centre to help with expenses.
New research released by the Shepherd Centre has shown that in many cases deaf children in Australia and New Zealand have better communications skills than their hearing classmates thanks to early intervention services.
Mr Hungerford said the study found 83 per cent of deaf preschool children had better or average vocabulary skills compared to typical hearing children.
"You would never know they were deaf," he said.
"They wouldn't hear a jet engine go past, but with the quality of therapy they will have the same quality of language as any other child."
Mrs Foote said she and her family would be lost without the school.
"Annabel is always singing a song and putting on a performance, and the novelty hasn't worn off," she said.
"She talks so beautifully."
