Let’s work towards an inclusive borough for all abilities

This International Week of Deaf People provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can better support the deaf community through collaborations with local organisations, charities and support groups.

Developing an understanding of how to navigate through the world is multilayered. The challenges of our deaf and hard of hearing residents are not usually understood by the general public. Our goal is to raise awareness and inclusion, since the world that has been set up for the hearing is not always conducive to the challenges of the deaf community. Deaf and hard of hearing residents have to adjust to the hearing world, which for the most part has not been designed taking their needs into account. A shift in thinking and awareness of the different members of community has to be promoted and implemented. This requires a rethink in our approach to our design for living.

My priorities include understanding the needs of the deaf community, informing people about available resources, and enhancing the accessibility to these resources. The deaf community faces difficulties with social attitudes, challenges with assistive devices, or language barriers, but mostly a lack of awareness.

Our common welfare should always come first. The community needs to be set up for everyone to function at full capacity and potential. I have seen marginalised communities struggle, and if their needs were taken into consideration, life could be so much easier. People should have a good forum to voice their concerns and problems, utilise resources, or develop ones that will help to smooth the processes. We need to co-design our communities.

I would love to understand where there have been successes in the deaf communities’ work where raising awareness resulted in good design and accessibility.

Liaising with the deaf community, bringing any gaps in service to the Council is the goal to make life easier and smoother. Each person and organisation will face different challenges and require different solutions.

I am excited to see and get involved with the work being done by various groups. It involves identifying gaps and bringing them to the Council for help. This is a developing role with many exciting possibilities for the future.

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