Silent
Strength
"Being Deaf is not something sad and grey; it is instead another way of seeing the world."
Poppy
PhD Computer Science
Poppy is studying for PhD in Computer Science. As a disabled student, she struggled at school. As a student at York, she's developing new technologies to help Deaf and non-Deaf people communicate. Here's her story.
"Growing up hard of hearing, people expected that I would struggle to enter the world of work.
"After a conversation with another disabled student, I was inspired to try to bring positive change to the issue."
My school experience
“I was born hard of hearing, which progressed from mild to severe as I grew older. As it did, more daily tasks became inaccessible, making me feel isolated and alone. People were generally quite confused about my disability. I received a lot of pity, which is the last thing any disabled person wants.
"In school, I found it hard to advocate for myself, and the only way I could overcome barriers was to try to fit in with everyone else. This meant wearing my hearing aids almost constantly and putting incredible effort into lip-reading and listening, even when this affected my physical and mental health."
Overcoming assumptions
"Being Deaf is not something sad and grey; it is instead another way of seeing the world. It's just as bright and colourful as any other way. Many people assume that, because I use the label ‘Deaf’, I cannot talk or that it affects my mental aptitude, but it’s quite the opposite! I love to talk, and I love to listen. I may just need adaptations to facilitate this.
"I also have bright blue hearing aids, chosen so that you can’t miss them! I find that approaching disability from a fun and colourful perspective makes people more receptive and at ease when it comes to explaining my needs and advocating for myself."
Coming to York
"Coming to York was a breath of fresh air. Staff and students, in general, were very understanding and accommodating. Staff actively worked with me to create a Student Support Plan, helping give me autonomy.
"I found making friends easy too - other students were interested in being educated and excited about making diverse friends. I was welcomed and people were happy to accommodate any requirements in lectures or seminar groups."
Finding community
"I am able to take part in societies without needing a dedicated ‘disability group’, I can join anything I want, and I have always felt accepted and understood. But York has many communities specifically for disabled students, such as the Sunflower Society, a society for students with disabilities and those who care for them.
"There’s a great support network of staff and students within each department. Our Students’ Union is excellent at facilitating our independence, with an equalities committee dedicated to helping students."
Inspiring change
"My PhD focuses on developing responsible and trustworthy AI. I am creating sign language recognition software, using AI and machine learning, to help overcome barriers between Deaf and non-Deaf people.
"When I tell others what I do, I am often met with shock and awe, but all I want is for it not to be surprising! Any person, especially any Deaf person, can achieve anything. I truly feel like York is the place I can do it."
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