Often deaf and hard of hearing people feel left out of conversation or they are actually ignored by other people. This is very difficult for some deaf people to deal with, as they want to join in but may feel embarrassed to ask people what they are talking about, to ask for things to be repeated again and again.

    It is important to realise that for many deaf and hard of hearing people, English may not be their first language. Many people use British Sign Language, Sign Supported English or other languages. This means that both written words in English and spoken words in English may not be recognised or understood.

    Deaf people want to be treated the same as other people, with equal rights and respect. We are people with skills, knowledge and valuable experiences which can be shared - we are not just "disabled" people.

Eric Thomson

Other story: My Story of the Fighter