When language or culture differs from our own, we often overlook the opportunity to listen and learn. Deaf Viewpoint exists to support deaf individuals to access all sectors while helping individuals, teams and organisations bridge the gap, making small changes that leave a lasting impact.
Deaf Viewpoint emerged from a clear need to move beyond tokenistic inclusion and ensure everyday spaces where deaf professionals, students and audiences participate are truly equitable.
What began as a small network of Communication Support Workers and educators grew into a collective committed to reshaping access, not as a service delivered, but as a partnership built on understanding and respect.
Our work draws on the lived experience of those we work with, professional expertise and community collaboration. We’ve seen first-hand that inclusion and equity succeeds when deaf voices guide the conversation.
These insights formed the foundation of Deaf Viewpoint’s ethos: authenticity, collaboration, growth, representation and advocacy.
The Deaf Viewpoint shapes our actions, our partnerships and our purpose.
We hold firm to the belief that accessibility is not an afterthought, but a shared responsibility. By listening to the knowledgeable voices behind the language, we broaden understanding and strengthen perspective.
My journey into this work started while I was studying for my A Levels. I had the opportunity to volunteer at a primary school for deaf children, and being in that classroom felt completely natural to me. I enjoyed supporting children and young people, and seeing how language, access and connection could transform confidence and learning.
As time went on, I began to notice the barriers deaf students faced. Barriers that made education harder to access than it should be.
My vision for Deaf Viewpoint began when I realised access was often viewed as an add-on, rather than something built into the student experience.
I found myself immersed in conversations, encouraging colleagues and professionals to look at situations from a deaf perspective, and showing how small, intentional adjustments could make a world of difference.
Over the years, I have witnessed challenges within Deaf education and employment, but I have also seen success: Deaf students becoming photographers, chefs, teachers and more.
I have seen Deaf professionals leading their own businesses, completing PhDs and working across public and private sectors. Their achievements are born not only from their own dedication but from teams and employers willing to listen, consider another viewpoint, and act on what they learn.
I have learnt so much from Deaf friends, colleagues and the wider Deaf community, and I continue this journey as a Registered Sign Language Interpreter.
There is so much we can learn from the Deaf community’s perspective. That is what Deaf Viewpoint stands for: listening, learning and taking action.
