Deaf Awareness Week: a focus on inclusivity

At our University we take a holistic approach that celebrates individuals and their many identities so that we are a truly inclusive organisation.   

We aim to create an inclusive, diverse and accessible environment where it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure all members of our University community are treated with fairness, dignity, respect and have a sense of belonging.   

This week we celebrate Deaf Awareness Week and this year’s theme of inclusivity. 

Jackie Carter, Academic Lead for Disability, said: “The communication needs of all people with hearing loss (I am one) are important, but many people don’tdisclose their hearing loss at work. They worry that doing so will negatively impact their job prospects and how their colleagues and employer will see them. 

It is important that we ensure that this is not the case at The University of Manchester by making us all aware of how being d/Deaf* impacts on the everyday lives of our colleagues and students and what we can do to make it better.” 

* Big D Deaf, refers to a person who identifies as a member of the deaf community. 

*Small d deaf, refers to a person who is deaf but doesn't identify as part of the community. 

Working in Academia - Deaf BSL colleague’s experiences 

Dr Katherine Rogers, Dr Emma Ferguson-Coleman and Dr Celia Hulme who are all academics in our Social Research with Deaf People (SORD) team sat down with Paul Marks-Jones, Lead EDI Partner, and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, Samantha Vanterpool for a conversation about how being d/Deaf impacts on their everyday lives at work.  

Get involved 

As part of our celebration of Deaf Awareness Week we invite you to learn how to say your name, hello and how are you in BSL for free using resources provided by Bright BSL. 

Alternatively, you can learn more about BSL via a Deaf Awareness Course from the Manchester Deaf Centre.   

More information