Deafie Blogger

A blog about day to day challenges, real life barriers and achievements in a deaf person's world!

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Published: February 16, 2016
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Ashley giving his winning speech

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Deafie Blogger

I’m E, aka Deafie Blogger. I’m an award winning blogger and activist and I'm profoundly deaf! I'm a proud Phonak hEARo and I love inspiring deaf people. Read more on the 'About Me' page.

Award Winning Blogger

Leadership Award Winner – Signature Deaf Awards 2018

No.5 … Top 10 UK Deaf Blogs!

Listed as in number 5 in the Top 10 UK Deaf Blogs! http://blog.feedspot.com/deaf_blogs/

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Today’s topic is one quite personal to my family and I, one which needs to be talked about more... that is Mental Health. It’s reported that 1 in 4 of us experience mental health issues, but that’s just generally, I believe it could even be higher in the deaf community. • Living with deafness is challenging, constantly facing barriers on a daily basis, battling feelings of frustration, isolation, inequality, anger and so on. • A person might feel anxious, stressed or low, but might not know why. Left untreated, these feelings can sometimes escalate out of control. • The two most important steps for improving mental health are; acceptance and asking for help. • Whether we are deaf, disabled or able bodied, nobody has to justify why they feel this way. We are only human. Our mind is the most complex organ, sometimes it needs help like any other part of our body. • If anyone reading this feels they need to reach out, there are people you can talk to, whether a friend, family member or an organisation: @giveusashoutinsta @signhealth @mindcharity @samaritanscharity • Please do not suffer in silence, reach out, talk to someone and share the load. It will get better. It’s ok not to be ok. • Please share my blog, link in bio • #worldsmentalhealthday #mentalhealth #deafness #deafnessmentalhealth #deaf #hearingloss #awareness #itsokaynottobeokay #mentalhealthawareness

Let’s bring #deaf people back to the cinema! Please listen to what these deaf people have to say about the lack of #SubtitledCinema showings... • Featuring: @jessicaoutofthecloset @jazzywhipps @deafgirly @mrlukechristian @liamodelluk and more... • More information on my campaign including my petition which I’d love if you could sign! (link in bio) • #subtitledcinema #cinema #accessibility #deaf #hearingloss #campaign #hearinglosswontstopme #deafness #cinemaexperience #equality

“Throughout my life, I’ve only been able to go to the cinema a few times due to the lack of subtitled showings, sadly I’ve grown up accepting that this activity is not open to me or my deaf peers. It always broke my heart knowing my friends and family watched the latest blockbuster without me. Through my blogging, I reached out to others with similar views. One day I said enough is enough. Then began by #SubtitledCinema campaign.” • “When watching a film, hearing cinema goers like the soundtrack, deaf people need the written word - open captions. Hearing customers would not accept a film without sound, so why can’t Deaf people have more choice of subtitled showings?” • “There is no ‘monitoring’ that disabled ramps are being regularly used, to prevent them from being removed, so why do we have to justify that it’s cost effective?” • “Whilst it’s lovely to have luxurious seats, a choice of refreshments or the opportunity of buying annual memberships, it’s pretty pointless if we can’t watch a film. It’s fair to say that the majority of cinema goers are more than catered for, deaf people would like the same opportunities” • “Captions are becoming more and more acceptable, they are everywhere. Changing the perception of subtitles won’t happen overnight, but it can start today.” • 🔺Quotes from my presentation about my campaign at the @independentcinemaoffice Inclusion Screening Day in front of film producers and independent cinemas. I hope this helps it to progress further. Thank you to @matchbox_cineclub for the incredible opportunity. 🔺 • Read my blog to find out how you can get involved! • 📸 Photo credits: 📸 Maria from @sheffdocfest Matchbox Cineclub Film Hub North MemphisMidnight • #Deaf #HearingLoss #Campaign #Deafness #Cinema #Accessibility #Access #Subtitles #Subsincinemas #hearinglosswontstopme #deafandproud #presentation #screeningdays #disability

Over 5% of the World’s population have some form of hearing loss - that’s 466 million people and I’m one of them. Born with a profound hearing loss, I’ve been grateful for many incredible experiences in my life, but with disability comes adversity and challenges that we have to battle on a daily basis. • This week it’s International Week of the Deaf, raising awareness of deaf human rights and sign language on a global scale. The WFD ‘strives to promote the human rights of deaf people and highlight topics that merit attention.’ • Through blogging, I’m passionate about deaf rights and continuously fight for accessible services, especially with my #SubtitledCinema campaign. At times it feels like I’m banging my head against a brick wall not getting anywhere, being faced with industry leaders that reduce you to tears when all you’re pleading for, is the right to access a service which hearing people take for granted. I will not give up, I will carry on bringing about positive change to ensure the next deaf generation don’t have to experience what I’ve been through. All we can do is continue raising deaf awareness and inspiring others to do the same, to help make the world a better place. As always, my motto: ‘Deaf people can achieve anything they dream of, given the right support. Don’t let anything stand in the way of achieving their goals.’ • Stats according to @who and World Federation of the Deaf • #internationalweekofthedeaf #internationaldayofsignlanguages #deaf #deafness #hearingloss #hearinglosswontstopme #deafiscool #deafandproud #hearingaids

Lipreading Challenge ANSWERS! • Video 1: “Your boot is full” • (Most assume I said “you’re beautiful” - proves that lipreading isn’t all what it seems!) • Video 2: “Lipreading is 80% guesswork, it’s really hard” • This challenge is what I experience on a daily basis, constantly trying to figure out what people are saying. Add on accents, beards or anything covering the mouth, which makes it 10x harder. • If I ask you to repeat yourself, please do! I’m more likely to get it the 2nd/3rd time round, and if you say “I’ll tell you later/It doesn’t matter”, it bugs us not knowing what was said and it might’ve been important. You could explain in a different way, use diagrams, or type it out! Communication is a two way process, we have to meet in the middle! • @actiononhearingloss • #LipreadingAwarenessWeek #LipreadingChallenge #Lipreading #Deaf #HearingLoss #Deafness #hearinglosswontstopme #deafandproud #deafness #deafiscool #hearingaids

👀 Read my lips! 👄 • It’s National Lipreading Awareness Week, I’ve joined in @actiononhearingloss lipreading challenge... can you work out what I’m saying? • Think you’ve got the first one easy? Have a go at the second video! Share your answers below, all will be revealed at the end of the week! • #NationalLipreadingAwarenessWeek #LipreadingAwarenessWeek #Lipreading #Deaf #HearingLoss #HearingLossAwareness #hearinglosswontstopme #deafandproud #lipreader #hearingaidsrock #deafiscool

Deaf Ladies Go Karting Day this weekend was incredible! • Had such a blast! Believe it or not... everyone was so competitive! • So great to finally meet @eloisegarland too after four years of online collaborations! • @louise_deaf_awareness @englanddeafkartingassociation • #phonakhearo #hearinglosswontstopme #deafiscool #deaf #hearingloss #gokarting #karting #deafrolemodels #phonakhearos #deafculture #deafness #deafandproud

There’s nothing more rewarding than giving back to others... A little throwback to the deaf school in Nepal where we renovated the staff room over the course of 3 days! • Scroll along for before and after pictures! Fantastic team effort. The teachers loved it and to see the smiles on their faces made it worth getting covered in dust and paint! • My @gearforears worked a wonder this trip! Dust, sweat, paint, you name it, they protected my precious hearing aids! And they look cool! • If you’re interested in similar opportunities check out @wearevoluntears (UK) • NB... No ads in this post! • #voluntears #volunteering #overseasvolunteering #nepal #deaf #school #deafschool #decorating #painting #pokhara #wearevoluntears #hearingloss #hearinglosswontstopme #deafness #deafandproud #deaftravel

Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine... life’s deaf-initely a climb but the view is great! • Never let anything stand in the way of achieving your goals! • Nepal was a fantastic volunteering trip giving back to the deaf school but the trip also tested me physically, mentally and emotionally! We walked up to the World Peace Pagoda, then did a 3 day trek in the scorching heat and pouring rain up to Poon Hill in the Himalayan Mountains (3210m)! It was literally blood, sweat and tears... cheers leeches! • I’ve been through so many battles, barriers and challenges in life. Now I’ve accomplished both of these, I believe I can do anything! I feel on top of the world! • #challenge #life #bucketlist #voluntears #volunteer #nepal #travels #trek #poonhill #ghorepani #ghorepanipoonhilltrek #deaf #deafiscool #hearinglosswontstopme #hearingloss #deafness

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