Deaf Awareness Week 2018: The Highlights

Hello…

This week we’ve celebrated Deaf Awareness Week, and what a week it’s been! I’ve never seen so much going on… so I thought it would be a great idea to do a blog on the highlights of the week!

Maisie’s star appearance in an ITV advert!

The Oscar Award winning actress Maisie Sly has hit our screens once again, this time in an advert for Aldi on ITV. Perfect way to kick off Deaf Awareness Week!

We're proud to be supporting Deaf Awareness Week with the help of actress Maisie Sly and her mum. Look out for an exciting ITV ad-break tonight during the first episode of Corrie. #DAW2018 pic.twitter.com/85N561Z7fY

— Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) May 14, 2018

All on the Board – Transport for London

It was fantastic to see this board at a Tube Station in London. They’ve really thought of it all!

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‪For #DeafAwarenessWeek2018 by @allontheboard X #DeafAwarenessWeek There are so many forms of hearing impairment and so many ways to combat. Let’s make sure we all learn more and share more about hearing loss and show more compassion and understanding for those who live with it. X ‬

A post shared by allontheboard (@allontheboard) on May 14, 2018 at 1:33am PDT

It was also Mental Health Awareness Week…

Deaf people are more likely to experience mental health issues. I thought it was important to bring this issue to light…

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As well as Deaf Awareness Week, it’s also Mental Health Awareness Week. Deaf people are more likely to experience mental health issues than hearing people. • Though it may not look like it, deafness can be isolating at times. Isolation is a horrible feeling and I experience it more than people may realise. It can also lead to stress, anxiety and other mental health issues. It can be caused by a mixture of things… struggling to come to terms with their invisible disability, often it’s a result of breakdown in communication in the hearing world we live in. • Deaf people can be quite good at hiding their feelings, particularly in social situations. If people are talking over each other, not repeating themselves, or if there’s too much background noise, they may smile, go on their phone or exclude themselves to go home early… but in reality, they’re hiding frustration, stress and perhaps even anger because they can’t follow conversation and maybe they wish they could be the same as someone who has the luxury of being able to hear. • This can be helped! Please include us whenever you can, repeat yourself if we ask, even if it will take longer. Ask if they’re okay, if they’re following the conversation, maybe let them know when the topic's changed… they may not say it but will always appreciate it! • Remember you’re not alone. There’s always someone you can talk to. Even if it’s a friend, a work colleague, family member, or a counsellor… there will be someone who’s willing to listen. • #DeafAwarenessWeek #mentalhealthawarenessweek #deafawarenessweek2018 #mentalhealthawareness #deaf #hearingloss #hardofhearing #deafness #deafmentalhealth #deafcommunity #raisingawareness #isolation #social #mentalhealth #itsokaynottobeokay #yourenotalone

A post shared by Deafie Blogger (@deafieblogger) on May 18, 2018 at 11:33am PDT

Celebrities supporting Deaf Awareness Week

From the likes of John Bishop, Chessie King, Russell Howard and many more… see what they have to say!

Deaf Awareness Week starts this Monday (May 14-20) and a few of our celebrity supporters are asking the public to be more #deafaware. Check it out and retweet! 🤩#DeafAwarenessWeek https://t.co/yXapzFMzwt pic.twitter.com/oXR0gokZSx

— Action On Hearing Loss (@ActionOnHearing) May 12, 2018

Released my first YouTube video: ‘My Hearing Loss Journey’

I thought it was a perfect time to release my first proper YouTube video! In the video, I talk about my hearing loss journey and Deaf Awareness Week. It’s subtitled! (click ‘CC’ button)

Flash Mob: ‘This is Me’

I loved this video of Wayne Barrow and his students doing a flash mob and signing ‘This is Me’ from The Greatest Showman!

‘How Do You Wear Yours’ Campaign

Action on Hearing Loss released a campaign for DAW called #HowDoYouWearYours – It was amazing to get involved in their video!

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Guys, next week is Deaf Awareness Week! So we want to find out… . . how you wear yours 😎 Huge thanks to @samanthabaines , @deafieblogger and @thedeaftraveller for taking part in this fab video! Do you want to get involved too? Watch to find out how… #HowDoYourWearYours #deaf #deafawarenessweek #hearingloss #hearingaid #deafandproud #deafculture #individual #share #campaign #proud #choice #DAW2018

A post shared by Action on Hearing Loss (@actiononhearingloss) on May 10, 2018 at 9:09am PDT

I celebrated 3 years of Deafie Blogger!

I know… time flies! I wrote a blog on it. Read… ‘3 Years of Deafie Blogger’

Image of me sitting looking over a large rectangular pond, wearing a floral top, edited with a dark ish filter, with vignette to make it look like a reflection on life style image

I was featured in the local paper!

To raise awareness in my local community, I was featured in the local newspaper talking about my role as a Deaf Blogger, my subtitled cinema campaign and Deaf Awareness Week!

Read it here: ‘What are the best ways to communicate with a deaf person? Blogger offers top tips’

I snapped lots of photos on Instagram!

Check them out here: @deafieblogger

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Are you a parent with a million and one questions about your recently diagnosed deaf child? ‘Perhaps your child is the first person with deafness in the family? Maybe the only deaf person you know?’ • My parents were in that situation. I was the only deaf child born into a hearing family. Many challenges would lie ahead, over and above caring for a newborn baby. With dedication, commitment and believing that future obstacles could be overcome, everything would be possible. • If you are one of the many people in a similar situation, click on the link in my bio to read my blog, and it will hopefully give you some answers to put your mind at rest. And also… some confidence and inspiration for your deaf child’s future! • #DeafAwarenessWeek #deaf #hearingloss #deafness #deafawarenessweek2018 #howdoyouwearyours #blog #deafculture #deafcommunity #recentlydiagnosed #hardofhearing #deafchild #deafbaby #parents #advice #blog #deafiscool #hearinglosswontstopme

A post shared by Deafie Blogger (@deafieblogger) on May 16, 2018 at 2:31pm PDT

‘Deaf Funny’ and ‘Hearing Funny’ blogs on British Deaf News

Want a giggle? I wrote two funny blogs with GIFs. Here’s a preview!

Telling a hearing person you’re D/deaf… *SHOCK HORROR… HOW DO WE COPE?*

If you liked that… you’ll love these!

Read: ‘Deaf Funny’

‘Living with deafness isn’t all doom and gloom, we learn to live with it and some of the situations we have to see the lighter side of! I find that situations with a lack of deaf awareness are funnier to tell if you can laugh about it!’

Read: ‘Hearing Funny’

‘These situations have happened to me, or people I know and they are sometimes a reminder as to why we celebrate Deaf Awareness Week and raise awareness of deafness in the hearing world!’

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I’m sad it’s all over, but it was amazing to see so many people getting involved in raising awareness. Bring on next year! What were your highlights of the week?

Love E x