NativeBritish Sign Language (BSL) speaker Chris has worked at Deafconnect since 2023.Born profoundly deaf to hearing parents, at the age of three he discovered a love of football that fueled his determination to succeed…
Sport is such a great way of building confidence, but as with many things in life, it can be a real challenge for deaf people. Being part of a team empowers you. It gives you confidence, camaraderie, a drive to win and a healthy sense of competition. Being deaf or hard of hearing can be very isolating and many people don’t get to feel what it’s like to really belong. My passion for sport fueled my determination to qualify as a professional football coach for the deaf, and as a player I was so proud to represent my country at international level, winning gold at the Deaf Olympics in Australia in 2005.
When I was young, I was initially educated in a mainstream school, so I had to try and fit in. At the age of 13, I went to Derby Deaf School and it changed everything. My teachers were deaf so the communication was fluent and there were no barriers to learning. It gave me the confidence to go onto further education and study IT and Sport.
In my role as Adult Services Team Leader at Deafconnect, my aim is to break down barriers for deaf and hard of hearing people. I want to make a positive impact on their lives, building confidence and independence and equipping them with the skills they need to reach their full potential.
Like with sport, having a job and being a valued part of a team is crucial to mental health and wellbeing. I run drop-in clinics and a Job Club where people can come for advice on their CV, interviews, correspondence etc. I also run training and awareness sessions with employers to educate them about how best to recruit and support deaf people in the workplace.
Since leaving college, I have always worked, both on the football field and in my professional capacity in the healthcare sector. I passionately believe everyone should have that opportunity.
Life skills
As well as accessing employment, I also provide support on a wide range of other issues that affect daily life – hospital appointments, legal matters, benefit entitlements. I am not an expert in all these areas, but I make sure to provide the best support and guidance I can, including sign-posting other experts and organizations. For many deaf and hard of hearing people, travelling can be very intimidating. That’s why I go out across the region, offering bookable appointments and drop-in sessions in the hope of reaching as many people as possible.
The team at Deafconnect have a shared vision to fight for the rights of the deaf and hard of hearing communities. This determination bonds us, there is a definite sense of belonging. I am proud to be part of it.