Writers

Charlie Swinbourne (Editor)
Charlie is a deaf journalist (Guardian, BBC Online), scriptwriter (Coming Out, My Song), and father (Deaf Dad).
Personal website: http://charlieswinbourne.com
Twitter: @Charlie_Swin
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/charlie-swinbourne/
Sample article: Review: Rita Simons – My daughter, deafness and me

Andy Palmer (Editor-at-large)
Andy is the Customer Service and Information Line Manager for Action on Hearing Loss and he works for the Peterborough and District Deaf Children’s Society on their website, deaf football coaching and other events.
Twitter: @_andyp_
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/andy-palmer/

Ni Gallant (Contributing Editor)
Ni is a deaf teen studying Social Work at Birmingham City University. She’s worked with the NDCS for years and also runs a Youth Group for Worcestershire deaf teens called “Deafinity.”
Blog: http://www.nigallant.blogspot.co.uk/
Writing for Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/ni-gallant/
Sample article: The craze for pimping your hearing aids!

William Mager (Contributing Editor)
As well as being a new Dad, William Mager is an award-winning director for film and TV, who made his first film aged 14 when he “set fire to a model Audi Quattro and was subsequently banned from the school film club for excessive pyromania.”
Personal website: http://wlmager.com
Twitter: @wlmager
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/william-mager/
Sample article: Seeing my son for the first time

Emily Howlett (Contributing Editor)
Emily is a profoundly Deaf actress, writer and horsewoman.
Personal website: http://www.ehowlett.co.uk/
Twitter: @EHowlett
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/emily-howlett/
Sample article: From city to countryside 20th February 2012

Donna Williams (Contributing Editor)
Donna Williams is a deaf writer and blogger living in Bristol and studying part-time in Cardiff. As well as being a postgrad student, she’s a BSL poet, freelance writer, NDCS Deaf Role Model presenter, and occasional performer.
Blog: http://deaffirefly.wordpress.com
Twitter: @DeafFirefly
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/donna-williams/
Sample article: S*** people say to sign language interpreters 12th March 2012

Sadaqat Ali
Sadaqat Ali is a social entrepreneur who is deaf who counts among his aims improving life for deaf people.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/sadaqat-ali/
Sample article: My concerns for the interpreting industry 28th June 2012

Angie Aspinall
Angie is a part-time journalist, food and travel writer, photographer and co-founder of Twitter’s top weekly business networking event, #Yorkshirehour. She is also the new External Relationships Manager at Hearing Link.
Twitter: @Aspinall_Ink
Website: http://www.aspinallink.co.uk/
Blog: http://aspinallinkblog.wordpress.com/

Tony Barlow
Tony Barlow is an employment consultant who currently lives in Derby with a Deaf wife and 2 little girls.
Twitter: @Saltbar
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/tony-barlow/
Sample article: In employment, are deaf people bottom of the pecking order? - 29th March 2012

Georgie Barraclough
Georgina lives with her husband in West Yorkshire, where she works as a local government manager.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/georgie-barraclough/
Sample article: Watch out for the deaf kid, she bites - 10th July 2012

Edis Bevan
Edis Bevan went deaf when he was about four back in the days when signing was actively discouraged. He is a former lecturer in the Technology Faculty of the Open University and was one of the first deaf Open University tutors. He lives in Milton Keynes.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/edis-bevan/
Sample article: One small victory for online subtitles 12th July 2012

Luke Blackburn
Luke Blackburn is a budding film maker who enjoys shouting at the rugby on TV in his spare time.
Twitter: @lukeblackburn
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/luke-blackburn/
Sample article: The clueless jobcentre adviser 12th June 2012

Martyn Brown
Martyn Brown is a deaf grandad in a hearing family. He regularly speaks for NDCS and chairs a local deaf children’s society. He relies on digital aids, lip reading and is a black belt in the Deaf Nod.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/martyn-brown/
Sample poem: Identity January 2013

Laraine Callow
Laraine Callow MBE is the director of deaf training and consultancy Deafworks (who support this site).
Company website: http://deafworks.co.uk
Twitter: @DeafWorks
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/laraine-callow/
Sample article: Should deaf people speak for themselves? 2nd March 2012

Tamsin Coates
Tamsin juggles being being a mum to three lively children with writing and running the Wirral Deaf Children’s Society.
Twitter: @tamwirral
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/tamsin-coates/
Sample article: The importance of subtitled cinema 22nd June 2012

Jane Cordell
Jane Cordell runs Getting Equal, a social enterprise promoting equality. Deaf since adulthood, she chairs DaDa Fest and is a Trustee for Manchester Deaf Centre and Disability Rights UK.
Twitter: @CordellJane
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/jane-cordell/
Sample article: Understanding deaf voices 13th April 2012

Adrean Clark
Adrean Clark is a deaf artist from the US. She has just found her new ‘name sign’ in American Sign Language.
Website: http://www.adreanaline.com/
Twitter:  @adreanaline
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/adrean-clark/
Sample article: Finding my ASL name sign 9th March 2012

Reg Cobb (Commuting Chicken)
Reg is a deaf father of three, and has worked supporting people with disabilities for 20 years. He likes setting up his desk on trains so he doesn’t have to speak to hearing people.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/reg-cobb/
Sample article: Coping strategies for train journeys 20th March 2012

Catherine Cooper
Catherine lives in Norfolk and has a young family. Born profoundly deaf in 1978, she leads a busy life using a combination of hearing aids, lip reading and sign language. She is now in the early stages of getting a Cochlear Implant.
Blog: http://sounds-different.blogspot.co.uk/
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/catherine-cooper/
Sample article: The beginning of my cochlear implant journey 20th March 2012

John Cradden
John is a freelance journalist based in Co Kildare, Ireland, and writes for a variety of Irish publications. He used to be indecisive about his deaf identity, but now he’s not so sure.
Personal website: http://www.johncradden.ie
Twitter @johncradden
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/john-cradden/
Sample article: Why Rita Simons shouldn’t be criticised for wanting her child to hear

Craig Crowley
Craig Crowley is the Ex-Chair of UK Deaf Sport 2003-2006 and the President of International Committee of Sport for the Deaf (ICSD) 2009 – present.
Twitter: @ICSDPresident
Sample article: My personal thoughts about the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London 2012 20th March 2012

Bazza Deaf
Bazza Deaf is a permanently resting actor with a day job as an accountant. He is also a comedic writer for British Deaf News.
Twitter: @BazzaDeaf
Website: www.bazzadeaf.com
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/bazza-deaf/
Sample article: A list of debt organisations in Britain 13th April 2012

Ted Evans
Ted Evans is a freelance director, editor and all-round filmmaker based in London. His best-known film is the award-winning The End. You can check out his Tumblr account by clicking here, and follow him on Twitter as @Ted1Evans.
Sample article: Making the film for the Paralympics Opening ceremony! 17th September 2012

Amanda Everitt
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/amanda-everitt/
Sample article: Dancing in an L-shaped line 30th July 2012

Teresa Garratty
Teresa is a deaf actress and filmmaker who recently got ripped off.
Sample article: The perils of work 27th September 2012

PJ Gribbin
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/pj-gribbin/
Paul Gribbin is a semi-retired mainframe computer programmer who lives in the East Midlands.
Sample article: Deafies are like bikers. Really. 15th August 2012

Aliya Gulamani
Aliya Gulamani graduated last summer, went off to find herself in Sri Lanka and is now back in the good old UK. 
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/aliya-gulamani/
Sample article: Teaching in Sri Lanka 15th June 2012

Kate Foggo

Kate Foggo is a twice-graduate from Edinburgh who is looking to get into television or IT. She believes that being open about her deafness is the best way to ensure people become deaf aware.
Blog: www.katefoggo.co.uk, which mostly relates to TV (there is a slight addiction).
Twitter: @ketisfolk.

Tobie Fysh
Tobie Fysh has been told that the vowels in his name are all the wrong way round. He and his wife fell into the deaf world when his first son was born profoundly deaf. Now with a second child (hearing) he’s trying to remember to be quiet at night. Follow him on Twitter at @TobieFysh
Sample article: Having a deaf son 26th April 2012

Mike Hawthorne

Sample article: “How could we not be excited?” Behind the scenes at the Olympics 27th July 2012

Christina Hartmann

Christina is a writer who decided to give up a law career for the unexplored waters of writing. She strings words together and hopes for the best, saying: “Time will tell whether I’m an idiot or not.” She is currently finishing up the final touches on her first novel (The Secret Value of Zero), a YA sci-fi novel about genetic engineering and utilitarianism.

Twitter: @cmmhartmann.

Andrew Hearn
Andy is a fourth-generation Deafie and father of two, who has trouble getting through Gatwick airport without being arrested.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/andrew-hearn/
Sample article: Escaping the airport police 13th March 2012

Michelle Hedley
Michelle is a Geordie originally from Tyneside, and a captioned theatre fan.
Twitter: @Shelle02
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/michelle-hedley/
Sample article: I ♥ STAGETEXT 8th March 2012

Cathy Heffernan
Cathy is a Dubliner turned a Londoner who is now living in Dublin again! A Deaf journalist who has written and worked for the Guardian, she is also a director with extensive experience in television.
Writing for the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/cathyheffernan
Twitter: @cathyheffernan
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/cathy-heffernan/
Sample article: Report from DCAL’s Deaf Children’s Development Conference 3rd October 2012

Anna Hughes
Anna has long had a passion for writing and drama, and is a hearing aid user.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/anna-hughes/
Sample article: In a job interview, do I have ‘special requirements?’ 19th April 2012

Ni Gallant
Ni is a deaf teen in mainstream school. She runs a Youth Group for Worcestershire deaf teens called “Deafinity.”
Blog: www.nigallant.blogspot.com
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/ni-gallant/
Sample article: My journey – 30th March 2012

Mija Gwyn
Mija Gwyn grew up in a tiny dusty Australian country town where “Who is More Dysfunctional” competitions were held amongst the children. She now works in Wolverhampton.
Twitter: @Oxymoronia
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/mija-gwyn/
Sample article: From down under to up over 16th March 2012

Aliya Gulamani
Aliya graduated last summer, went off to find herself in Sri Lanka and is now back in the good old UK.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/aliya-gulamani/
Sample article: Teaching in Sri Lanka 15th June 2012

Katrina Jones
Katrina Jones is an artist and photographer in London, UK and says “I have studied art from when I sat on my grandma’s knees.”
Twitter: @bimbollectual
Website: http://www.katrina-jones.co.uk/
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/katrina-jones/
Sample article: My role in Sencity – 18th April 2012

Sarah Lawrence
Sarah Lawrence is a Deaf business woman and director of Deaf Friendly Business Solutions, with over 14 years’ experience of working with the public sector and private businesses
Twitter:@deaffriendly1 and @SLFirstLtd
Website: http://deaf-friendly.co.uk
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/sarah-lawrence/
Sample article: Is Text Relay holding deaf people back? 15th October 2012

Alison Leach
Alison is thirtysomething. She was born and bred near the south coast and currently resides in the West Midlands.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/alison-leach/
Sample article: Labour of love 13th April 2012

Stephen Lloyd

Stephen Lloyd aka @sirgarg Lives in Cheshire and works as a support worker with Adults with Learning disabilities, part time deaf philosopher and deaf “jedi” tweeter.
Sample article: Do you get ‘itchy lug syndrome’? 26th July 2012

Tamara Marshall

Tamara Marshall is a 21 year old Media Studies graduate and trainee journalist. She is keen to find a position in London journalism culture and achieve a high-flying career.

Samira Mohammed
Samira Mohammed is a BSL user, and is currently studying Film and Photography at university.
Twitter: @_MissSamira
Sample article: Fasting during the Olympic games 23rd July 2012

Martine Monksfield
Martine is a primary school teacher, teaching deaf children in a mainstream environment. She recently got married and decided to blog about it because she “can’t find enough stories about the happily ever after!”
Blog: http://mischapsanddrama.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @irishhabibi
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/martine-monksfield/
Sample article: My batteries went flat at a wedding 23rd February 2012

Mark Nelson
Mark Nelson is Chief Executive of Remark!, the UK’s largest deaf media company (who support this site). He has worked in deaf media for 21 years, and believes that access for deaf people may have reached its peak.
Company website: Remark!
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/mark-nelson/
Sample article: Peak Access Theory 7th March 2012

Ian Noon
Ian has been profoundly deaf since birth, giving him an interesting perspective “on what needs to change for deaf children and young people in the UK. It also means I have very questionable taste in music.”
Blog: Musings from a deaf campaigner
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/ian-noon/
Sample article: Is the government telling deaf people to PIP off on disability benefits? 28th February 2012

Reema Patel
Reema Patel is a twenty something deaf British Asian law student at City University. Among her obsessions, she loves spending far too much time people-watching on the South Bank in London.
Twitter: @ReemaSPatel
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/reema-patel/
Sample article: Growing up deaf in a hearing world – 28th March 2012

Ceilidh O’Sullivan
You can follow Ceilidh O’Sullivan on Twitter as @DeafUganda and find out all about her life and her project by visiting www.deafhearing.org
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/Ceilidh-OSullivan/
Sample article: Setting up a deaf school in Uganda- 28th March 2012

Karen Putz
Karen Putz is a deaf mom to three deaf and hard of hearing kids, from Chicago. The husband is deaf too. The dog, however, has hearing in the normal range. In her spare time, Karen walks on water.
Website:http://karenputz.com/
Twitter: @Deafmom
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/karen-putz/
Sample article: Finding my passion again, on bare feet – 27th March 2012

Michelle Quayle
Michelle Quayle grew up in Manchester and currently lives in Derby. She works for a Deaf charity and recently discovered the world of tweeting & blogging.
Blog: http://geekydumbblonde.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @geekydumbblonde
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/michelle-quayle/
Sample article: Audiology = Shushology 28th February 2012

Jonathan Reid
Jonathan Reid is an occasional comedy writer and director. He lives in South London, 12 minutes away from Purley on the train.
Twitter: @DeafComedy
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/jonathan-reid/
Sample article: Purley, where deaf people go to die 1st March 2012

Kate Rowley
Kate Rowley is a sign language researcher. Her favourite things in the world are watching TV series, reading, spending time chatting and debating with other deafies!
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/kate-rowley/
Sample article: Note to my doctor. I’m ‘alright’ and my son is ‘alright’ – 3rd April 2012

Haley Sadler
Hayley describes herself as a “22 year old girl from Liverpool who likes listening to music and works her arse off to live life to its fullest.” She’s the proud creator of a 7000-member strong group for deaf people on Facebook.
Twitter: @HaleySadler
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/haley-sadler/
Sample article: Beating the bullies 23rd March 2012

Lana Senchal
Lana is a BSL level 1 and 2 tutor working in Lewisham and Tower Hamlets – she loves London and her Shih Tzu dog.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/lana-senchal/
Sample article: Why do deaf people have to pay to learn BSL? 9th May 2012

Joanne Skeels
Joanne Skeels is a writer and aspiring actress living in Essex (TOWIE cast, watch out!). She watches TV and films obsessively, often accompanied by her two dogs, although they tend to steal all the popcorn.
Sample article: Masked superheroes – the ‘bane’ of lipreading? 31st July 2012

Catherine Small
Catherine Small has been a journalist for 25 years. She is deaf in one ear and sits in the corner so she can hear everyone.
Twitter: @cath_small
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/catheine-small/
Sample article: Tackling labyrinthitis 27th April 2012

Lara Steward
Lara Steward is 22 years old, an actor (My Song, The Silence) with a pet shop. She loves goat milk and cookies so someday, she will own nanny goats and hire a baker to make cookies 24/7.

.Website: http://larasteward.com/
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/lara-steward/
Sample article: Carrying the Olympic torch 5th July 2012

AJW Smith
AJW Smith is blessed by being married to a wonderful wife and having two children who he is very proud of (all hearing). He is cursed by being a loyal supporter of Leeds United.
Twitter: @AJWSmith
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/ajw-smith/
Sample article: Longing for belonging 24th February 2012

Roy Staines
Roy Staines is deaf with Ushers Syndrome. He has campaigned for many years for deaf and deafblind people mainly on consumer and technology issues.
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/roy-staines/
Sample article: How live subtitles ruined Boris Johnson’s election speech 8th May 2012

Lara Steward
Lara Steward is 22 years old, an actor (My Song, The Silence) with a pet shop. She loves goat milk and cookies so someday, she will own nanny goats and hire a baker to make cookies 24/7.
Website: http://larasteward.com/
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/lara-steward/
Sample article: From acting to opening my own pet shop  3rd May 2012

Nick Sturley
Nick Sturley is an award–winning author & writer, director and screenwriter. He has Usher, but he has never let it get in the way of his never–ending challenges in life.
Twitter: @NickSturley
Website: http://sturley.co.uk
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/nick-sturley
Sample article: Dusting off my minicom to call the DSS - 2nd April 2012

Maggi Summerhill
If Maggi had been more organised she would have been a millionaire but alas, she spends two thirds of her life looking for something she has just put down.
Twitter: @maggisummerhill
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/maggi-summerhill/
Sample article: Being shot… by a Nerf gun -4th April 2012

Tiger Mother

Tiger Mother is mum to 14-year-old moderately deaf Hayley, who has autistic spectrum disorder, and her brothers Lee and Harry. Every month she shares her frank insight into the ups and downs of family life with a deaf child who has additional needs. Read her experiences and post your own at www.ndcs.org.uk/soundingoff.

Gary Thomas
Gary Thomas is an artist, filmmaker and writer. He’s made 8 short films, and has been funded by Arts Council, DADA-South, Screen South and Unltd.
Twitter: @2weddings
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/gary-thomas/
Sample article: Coming out as being deaf 10th May 2012

Sasha Thorpe
Sasha Thorpe is a deafie from a hearing family, discovering herself as deaf person. She is currently studying for qualifications in counselling studies and BSL. She wears hearing aids.
Blog: http://deaf-girl88.tumblr.com/
Twitter: @queeniegalz
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/sasha-thorpe/
Sample article: Finding the deaf world at 23

John Walker
John Walker is a senior research fellow at University of Brighton. Deaf, and sign language user by informed choice.
Blog: http://deafcapital.blog.com
Twitter: @chereme
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/john-walker/
Sample article: The Belgian Twins – Euthanasia and the Myth

Lizzie Ward
Lizzie is a cupcake baking, rock loving, blogging, writing, scrapbook making, theatre going, sci fi and fantasy obsessed geek-feminist.
Twitter: @destinyischoice
Blog: Cats and Chocolate
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/lizzie-ward/
Sample article: Music and Me - 20th April 2012

Kathryn Wilkins
Sample article: Deaf education v mainstream education – 20th July 2012

Rob Wilks
Rob is a qualified solicitor who specialises in employment and discrimination law and is passionate about achieving equality for Deaf people.
Twitter: @RWilks
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/rob-wilks/
Sample article: Can social media beat Deaf apathy? - 23rd April 2012

Asher Woodman-Worrell
Asher is a 2nd year ICT student at Nottingham Trent University. He likes to think he is a forward-thinking young man exploring and seeking out his place in this strange world. In reality, he spends far too much time on his Playstation 3.
Twitter: @AsherWW
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/asher-woodman-worrell/
Sample article: How my friend Ben Thomson conquered university 25th April 2012

Joanna Wootten
Writing for The Limping Chicken: http://limpingchicken.com/category/joanna-wootten/
Sample article: Quiz: What kind of deaf person are you? 24th April 2012