[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
silence it’s deafening when you’re the
silence it’s deafening when you’re the only one who can hear it I was nine
only one who can hear it I was nine
only one who can hear it I was nine years old when I first lifted my head
years old when I first lifted my head
years old when I first lifted my head from my pillow and my ears stayed asleep
from my pillow and my ears stayed asleep
from my pillow and my ears stayed asleep I woke up in a panic I couldn’t hear the
I woke up in a panic I couldn’t hear the
I woke up in a panic I couldn’t hear the birds nesting outside my window I
birds nesting outside my window I
birds nesting outside my window I couldn’t hear the alarm clock I couldn’t
couldn’t hear the alarm clock I couldn’t
couldn’t hear the alarm clock I couldn’t hear myself telling myself it’s probably
hear myself telling myself it’s probably
hear myself telling myself it’s probably just a dream because that was the first
just a dream because that was the first
just a dream because that was the first time I’d experienced being temporarily
time I’d experienced being temporarily
time I’d experienced being temporarily deaf the loss of something often taken
deaf the loss of something often taken
deaf the loss of something often taken for granted can be isolating and
for granted can be isolating and
for granted can be isolating and isolation is deafening it’s even harder
isolation is deafening it’s even harder
isolation is deafening it’s even harder when some days you’re working perfectly
when some days you’re working perfectly
when some days you’re working perfectly fine and others you have to explain that
fine and others you have to explain that
fine and others you have to explain that no I’m not weirdly staring at your lips
no I’m not weirdly staring at your lips
no I’m not weirdly staring at your lips I’m only desperately trying to read what
I’m only desperately trying to read what
I’m only desperately trying to read what you’re saying but I can’t understand you
you’re saying but I can’t understand you
you’re saying but I can’t understand you because you don’t move your upper lip
because you don’t move your upper lip
because you don’t move your upper lip when you speak or you’ll cover your
when you speak or you’ll cover your
when you speak or you’ll cover your mouth when you’re doing it it’s hard
mouth when you’re doing it it’s hard
mouth when you’re doing it it’s hard when you lose from the best moments to
when you lose from the best moments to
when you lose from the best moments to solitary isolation suddenly you can’t
solitary isolation suddenly you can’t
solitary isolation suddenly you can’t hear the lecturer in a lesson
hear the lecturer in a lesson
hear the lecturer in a lesson the roaring Cal crowds at Glastonbury
the roaring Cal crowds at Glastonbury
the roaring Cal crowds at Glastonbury the waves crashing it’s the beach
the waves crashing it’s the beach
the waves crashing it’s the beach isolation in crowded spaces it’s the
isolation in crowded spaces it’s the
isolation in crowded spaces it’s the most deafening part of deafness that and
most deafening part of deafness that and
most deafening part of deafness that and the inconvenience for others I’m
the inconvenience for others I’m
the inconvenience for others I’m thankfully gifted with the ability to
thankfully gifted with the ability to
thankfully gifted with the ability to lip read in part which is really
lip read in part which is really
lip read in part which is really beneficial for me but sign language as
beneficial for me but sign language as
beneficial for me but sign language as with all forms of communication differs
with all forms of communication differs
with all forms of communication differs greatly from country to country in these
greatly from country to country in these
greatly from country to country in these barriers however can solidarity and in
barriers however can solidarity and in
barriers however can solidarity and in that comes mutual understanding Pamela
that comes mutual understanding Pamela
that comes mutual understanding Pamela rights is a graduate student in
rights is a graduate student in
rights is a graduate student in linguistics at California University
linguistics at California University
linguistics at California University Boulder she’s a deaf person and so knows
Boulder she’s a deaf person and so knows
Boulder she’s a deaf person and so knows isolation and fear as many of those with
isolation and fear as many of those with
isolation and fear as many of those with hard of hearing do
hard of hearing do
hard of hearing do she also recognized these traits in
she also recognized these traits in
she also recognized these traits in refugees who are caught up in the
refugees who are caught up in the
refugees who are caught up in the current climates in the United States
current climates in the United States
current climates in the United States right uses her sign language abilities
right uses her sign language abilities
right uses her sign language abilities and a translator to help communicate
and a translator to help communicate
and a translator to help communicate with those who can and can’t
with those who can and can’t
with those who can and can’t – she’s campaigned for access and
– she’s campaigned for access and
– she’s campaigned for access and education and has a master’s degree in
education and has a master’s degree in
education and has a master’s degree in deaf education to help deaf refugees
deaf education to help deaf refugees
deaf education to help deaf refugees develop the skills they need to grow and
develop the skills they need to grow and
develop the skills they need to grow and learn refugees with disabilities is an
learn refugees with disabilities is an
learn refugees with disabilities is an often untapped subject and unheard but
often untapped subject and unheard but
often untapped subject and unheard but in this comes room for improvement and
in this comes room for improvement and
in this comes room for improvement and with room for improvement comes hope
with room for improvement comes hope
with room for improvement comes hope Wright has been working with tall an
Wright has been working with tall an
Wright has been working with tall an 18-yard high school student in Boulder
18-yard high school student in Boulder
18-yard high school student in Boulder Tours not much older than myself he’s
Tours not much older than myself he’s
Tours not much older than myself he’s also a refugee from Burma his father was
also a refugee from Burma his father was
also a refugee from Burma his father was killed by Burmese soldiers something he
killed by Burmese soldiers something he
killed by Burmese soldiers something he witnessed and he spent a number of years
witnessed and he spent a number of years
witnessed and he spent a number of years in a refugee camp afraid to use sign
in a refugee camp afraid to use sign
in a refugee camp afraid to use sign language through fear of persecution
language through fear of persecution
language through fear of persecution upon arrival in the US he was unknown in
upon arrival in the US he was unknown in
upon arrival in the US he was unknown in this world
this world
this world he was so wrought with this fear and so
he was so wrought with this fear and so
he was so wrought with this fear and so his lack of verbal communication led to
his lack of verbal communication led to
his lack of verbal communication led to him being wrongly branded as mentally
him being wrongly branded as mentally
him being wrongly branded as mentally deficient signing with tall with a slow
deficient signing with tall with a slow
deficient signing with tall with a slow and difficult process but together they
and difficult process but together they
and difficult process but together they persevered right had to learn Burmese
persevered right had to learn Burmese
persevered right had to learn Burmese sign language first from him so it was
sign language first from him so it was
sign language first from him so it was an education achievement for them both
an education achievement for them both
an education achievement for them both after the setbacks in the struggle the
after the setbacks in the struggle the
after the setbacks in the struggle the first thing talkin bade to her after his
first thing talkin bade to her after his
first thing talkin bade to her after his name base sacred linguistics was the
name base sacred linguistics was the
name base sacred linguistics was the abhorrent violence that taken place in
abhorrent violence that taken place in
abhorrent violence that taken place in his country that he’d seen and hadn’t
his country that he’d seen and hadn’t
his country that he’d seen and hadn’t been able to hear from there his
been able to hear from there his
been able to hear from there his communication developed and he was able
communication developed and he was able
communication developed and he was able to tell his story he was heard and
to tell his story he was heard and
to tell his story he was heard and listened to the first time in the United
listened to the first time in the United
listened to the first time in the United States and from that he was set free in
States and from that he was set free in
States and from that he was set free in his hope for his new life the refusal to
his hope for his new life the refusal to
his hope for his new life the refusal to be reduced by deficiencies and the
be reduced by deficiencies and the
be reduced by deficiencies and the ability to build bridges between
ability to build bridges between
ability to build bridges between communities gives us the perseverance to
communities gives us the perseverance to
communities gives us the perseverance to continue I know firsthand there was
continue I know firsthand there was
continue I know firsthand there was nothing more relieving than a shared
nothing more relieving than a shared
nothing more relieving than a shared experience and so reading Pamela
experience and so reading Pamela
experience and so reading Pamela Wright’s work has led me to question
Wright’s work has led me to question
Wright’s work has led me to question what more I can do to allow the
what more I can do to allow the
what more I can do to allow the hard-of-hearing community to understand
hard-of-hearing community to understand
hard-of-hearing community to understand the hearing community and vice versa
the hearing community and vice versa
the hearing community and vice versa hence this talk who like me feels left
hence this talk who like me feels left
hence this talk who like me feels left behind because of communication barriers
behind because of communication barriers
behind because of communication barriers who like me was frustrated because of a
who like me was frustrated because of a
who like me was frustrated because of a lack of understanding as I mentioned
lack of understanding as I mentioned
lack of understanding as I mentioned before my deafness is only
before my deafness is only
before my deafness is only so I cannot understand the experience of
so I cannot understand the experience of
so I cannot understand the experience of a fully deaf person so my understanding
a fully deaf person so my understanding
a fully deaf person so my understanding comes in part from experience but also
comes in part from experience but also
comes in part from experience but also largely from empathy it seems logical to
largely from empathy it seems logical to
largely from empathy it seems logical to me that a member of a community is
me that a member of a community is
me that a member of a community is better than an outsider at explaining
better than an outsider at explaining
better than an outsider at explaining that community’s needs someone has spent
that community’s needs someone has spent
that community’s needs someone has spent sense I saw to speak this to other
sense I saw to speak this to other
sense I saw to speak this to other Outsiders those who can hear but those
Outsiders those who can hear but those
Outsiders those who can hear but those who may never have realized there is
who may never have realized there is
who may never have realized there is such a thing as deaf culture deaf
such a thing as deaf culture deaf
such a thing as deaf culture deaf culture is separate to many other
culture is separate to many other
culture is separate to many other cultures which are fixed within a race
cultures which are fixed within a race
cultures which are fixed within a race assigned geographically as one is born
assigned geographically as one is born
assigned geographically as one is born into it without socialization this is
into it without socialization this is
into it without socialization this is almost unique as it allows that culture
almost unique as it allows that culture
almost unique as it allows that culture to transcend time period race geography
to transcend time period race geography
to transcend time period race geography and gender which in terms of
and gender which in terms of
and gender which in terms of communication is fantastic for our
communication is fantastic for our
communication is fantastic for our concept of what it means to be human if
concept of what it means to be human if
concept of what it means to be human if we can understand communication which is
we can understand communication which is
we can understand communication which is unaffected by context we can understand
unaffected by context we can understand
unaffected by context we can understand more about the significance
more about the significance
more about the significance communication has on our lives about 90%
communication has on our lives about 90%
communication has on our lives about 90% of deaf people are born into hearing
of deaf people are born into hearing
of deaf people are born into hearing families so they absorb their culture
families so they absorb their culture
families so they absorb their culture experiences from their peers not
experiences from their peers not
experiences from their peers not necessarily their families which is
necessarily their families which is
necessarily their families which is almost unique Deaf culture placed a
almost unique Deaf culture placed a
almost unique Deaf culture placed a great deal of emphasis on physical
great deal of emphasis on physical
great deal of emphasis on physical contact
contact
contact so hugging is far more common and
so hugging is far more common and
so hugging is far more common and shaking hands especially when parting
shaking hands especially when parting
shaking hands especially when parting deaf goodbye is usually long and
deaf goodbye is usually long and
deaf goodbye is usually long and drawn-out and even in passing not taking
drawn-out and even in passing not taking
drawn-out and even in passing not taking the time to chat for a few minutes can
the time to chat for a few minutes can
the time to chat for a few minutes can because it can be considered quite rude
because it can be considered quite rude
because it can be considered quite rude the deaf community easily becomes a
the deaf community easily becomes a
the deaf community easily becomes a second family for those who are hard of
second family for those who are hard of
second family for those who are hard of hearing and British sign language isn’t
hearing and British sign language isn’t
hearing and British sign language isn’t simply English with signs added on it
simply English with signs added on it
simply English with signs added on it has its own sentence structure grammar
has its own sentence structure grammar
has its own sentence structure grammar and it’s totally different to other sign
and it’s totally different to other sign
and it’s totally different to other sign languages like American Sign Language or
languages like American Sign Language or
languages like American Sign Language or Japanese sign language most deaf people
Japanese sign language most deaf people
Japanese sign language most deaf people learn their language at specialist
learn their language at specialist
learn their language at specialist schools like the one in Exeter and which
schools like the one in Exeter and which
schools like the one in Exeter and which means that peers and teachers become a
means that peers and teachers become a
means that peers and teachers become a fantastic support network the British
fantastic support network the British
fantastic support network the British sign language needs to be expanded
sign language needs to be expanded
sign language needs to be expanded beyond into the general population to
beyond into the general population to
beyond into the general population to help remove barriers and daily
help remove barriers and daily
help remove barriers and daily communication just like Pamela helps at
communication just like Pamela helps at
communication just like Pamela helps at all it’s been really heartening to see
all it’s been really heartening to see
all it’s been really heartening to see recent numbers on course is accredited
recent numbers on course is accredited
recent numbers on course is accredited by the institute of british sign
by the institute of british sign
by the institute of british sign language our increasing government
language our increasing government
language our increasing government policy has been changing too so for the
policy has been changing too so for the
policy has been changing too so for the first time british sign language will be
first time british sign language will be
first time british sign language will be accepted as an alternative qualification
accepted as an alternative qualification
accepted as an alternative qualification to functional
to functional
to functional skills English for apprenticeships so it
skills English for apprenticeships so it
skills English for apprenticeships so it means that those who have British sign
means that those who have British sign
means that those who have British sign language their first language don’t need
language their first language don’t need
language their first language don’t need to take an English course and then of a
to take an English course and then of a
to take an English course and then of a sign language course we had to get their
sign language course we had to get their
sign language course we had to get their qualification this means they can get
qualification this means they can get
qualification this means they can get essential practical skills in maths and
essential practical skills in maths and
essential practical skills in maths and English which help them progress forward
English which help them progress forward
English which help them progress forward in life this removes the unnecessary
in life this removes the unnecessary
in life this removes the unnecessary barrier that has been preventing them in
barrier that has been preventing them in
barrier that has been preventing them in the past recognising and removing
the past recognising and removing
the past recognising and removing barriers like these is key to helping
barriers like these is key to helping
barriers like these is key to helping move our world thoughts as our existence
move our world thoughts as our existence
move our world thoughts as our existence as a collective our country is
as a collective our country is
as a collective our country is progressing for those with hearing
progressing for those with hearing
progressing for those with hearing impairments we are in a changing world
impairments we are in a changing world
impairments we are in a changing world but these changes are just recent or yet
but these changes are just recent or yet
but these changes are just recent or yet to be implemented but this is because of
to be implemented but this is because of
to be implemented but this is because of necessary political pressure sign
necessary political pressure sign
necessary political pressure sign language wasn’t an officially recognised
language wasn’t an officially recognised
language wasn’t an officially recognised language until 2003 and it wasn’t until
language until 2003 and it wasn’t until
language until 2003 and it wasn’t until March of this year 14 long years later
March of this year 14 long years later
March of this year 14 long years later that it was used in the House of Commons
that it was used in the House of Commons
that it was used in the House of Commons and so recorded on Hansa which is
and so recorded on Hansa which is
and so recorded on Hansa which is official record because those without
official record because those without
official record because those without hearing are speaking up and finding
hearing are speaking up and finding
hearing are speaking up and finding their voice systems are changing for the
their voice systems are changing for the
their voice systems are changing for the better
better
better but if we who can hear don’t seek to
but if we who can hear don’t seek to
but if we who can hear don’t seek to listen to such voices change is
listen to such voices change is
listen to such voices change is impossible one of our general societal
impossible one of our general societal
impossible one of our general societal resolutions to a lack of communication
resolutions to a lack of communication
resolutions to a lack of communication is our participation in our democracy
is our participation in our democracy
is our participation in our democracy but this poses its own problems as
but this poses its own problems as
but this poses its own problems as minority groups can often feel unheard
minority groups can often feel unheard
minority groups can often feel unheard in a majoritarian system Helen Keller an
in a majoritarian system Helen Keller an
in a majoritarian system Helen Keller an American author activist lecturer and
American author activist lecturer and
American author activist lecturer and was the first deafblind person to ever
was the first deafblind person to ever
was the first deafblind person to ever achieve a degree is alleged to have said
achieve a degree is alleged to have said
achieve a degree is alleged to have said blindness cuts people off from things
blindness cuts people off from things
blindness cuts people off from things deafness cuts people off from people so
deafness cuts people off from people so
deafness cuts people off from people so encouraging Democratic participation
encouraging Democratic participation
encouraging Democratic participation through using the right to vote through
through using the right to vote through
through using the right to vote through encouraging pressure groups and allowing
encouraging pressure groups and allowing
encouraging pressure groups and allowing a platform to those who may otherwise
a platform to those who may otherwise
a platform to those who may otherwise struggle ensures a small yet equal voice
struggle ensures a small yet equal voice
struggle ensures a small yet equal voice for all in a very large system our
for all in a very large system our
for all in a very large system our acknowledgement of barriers and our
acknowledgement of barriers and our
acknowledgement of barriers and our willingness to elevate the voices of
willingness to elevate the voices of
willingness to elevate the voices of others is a great importance and we must
others is a great importance and we must
others is a great importance and we must do what we can to bridge discrepancies
do what we can to bridge discrepancies
do what we can to bridge discrepancies between we or others have in daily life
between we or others have in daily life
between we or others have in daily life whether that be recognizing physical
whether that be recognizing physical
whether that be recognizing physical barriers language and communication
barriers language and communication
barriers language and communication barriers glass ceilings or similar this
barriers glass ceilings or similar this
barriers glass ceilings or similar this insure that we can comprehend
insure that we can comprehend
insure that we can comprehend the calls that community is different
the calls that community is different
the calls that community is different from our own faiths will that be because
from our own faiths will that be because
from our own faiths will that be because of ability race sex or otherwise from
of ability race sex or otherwise from
of ability race sex or otherwise from this we can grasp the essence of our
this we can grasp the essence of our
this we can grasp the essence of our changing organic diverse world and be
changing organic diverse world and be
changing organic diverse world and be conscious of how we successfully coexist
conscious of how we successfully coexist
conscious of how we successfully coexist together solidarity between minority
together solidarity between minority
together solidarity between minority groups gives us hope for better and
groups gives us hope for better and
groups gives us hope for better and education can extend the general remit
education can extend the general remit
education can extend the general remit of our understanding making an effort
of our understanding making an effort
of our understanding making an effort whether to understand the needs of
whether to understand the needs of
whether to understand the needs of others or to go the step further and
others or to go the step further and
others or to go the step further and actively seek to learn about their lives
actively seek to learn about their lives
actively seek to learn about their lives it’s crucial to progress because finding
it’s crucial to progress because finding
it’s crucial to progress because finding a friend in a system so much bigger than
a friend in a system so much bigger than
a friend in a system so much bigger than yours is the most wonderful thing in the
yours is the most wonderful thing in the
yours is the most wonderful thing in the world right and saw and their work for
world right and saw and their work for
world right and saw and their work for deaf refugees shows that despite
deaf refugees shows that despite
deaf refugees shows that despite barriers in the current political
barriers in the current political
barriers in the current political climates walls are breakable that gives
climates walls are breakable that gives
climates walls are breakable that gives me hope despite often feeling silenced
me hope despite often feeling silenced
me hope despite often feeling silenced right prove that even the most
right prove that even the most
right prove that even the most challenging of language barriers are
challenging of language barriers are
challenging of language barriers are able to be overcome and our progress
able to be overcome and our progress
able to be overcome and our progress together through empathy is how we are
together through empathy is how we are
together through empathy is how we are changing the world for the better
changing the world for the better
changing the world for the better creating opportunities through
creating opportunities through
creating opportunities through understanding is how we progress forward
understanding is how we progress forward
understanding is how we progress forward because ultimately no one is as deaf as
because ultimately no one is as deaf as
because ultimately no one is as deaf as the one not willing to listen thank you
”
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