Deafie Blogger: How blogging helped me find my deaf identity

I cast my mind back to my teenage years, studying for my GCSEs amongst hearing peers, a time where I never really acknowledged my deafness.

I was young, inexperienced, wanting to fit in and be like my friends, but if I could go back and tell myself one thing, it would be that we’re all unique and to accept and embrace who I am.

Here we are in my twenties, writing this blog and reflecting on my blogging journey…

Where it all started

Growing up, I was never fully immersed in Deaf culture as my parents brought me up in the hearing world, going to a mainstream school and learning to speak (Disclaimer: every deaf person’s communication methods are different, I’m happy with my parents choice and I’ve recently started learning Sign Language!)

I recall a time as a child when my parents took me along to the local Deaf club but I was almost petrified as they were all signing to each other and I didn’t really understand them, so I never really went back until I was an adult, with more understanding of the Deaf world.

During GCSEs, I was in and out of different friend groups, as one particular group of girls I used to be around always left me out and weren’t really understanding of my deafness.

Whether it’s down to lack of understanding or ignorance, I’ll never know! I stumbled upon a different group in the school library, the outsiders if you like, and they welcomed me into their friendship circle as I, along with them all had our unique qualities which don’t make us any different to the other not-so-accepting groups.

In Sixth Form, transitioning into a young adult left me pondering my deaf identity, wanting somewhere to vent my frustrations of the barriers that deafness brings, a place to share my experiences… so my deaf boyfriend suggested writing a blog!

At first, I thought he was joking, as I thought my language skills would never be good enough, but I gave it a go and now, nearly four years later, I’m an award-winning blogger!

‘Life as a deaf blogger’ tells the story of how I overcame language challenges to become a blogger

Discovering the deaf world

The more I wrote, the more comments and praise I received from my small fan base of how they could relate to my stories, experiences and challenges I faced and it encouraged me to continue writing, to inspire ‘deaf people that they can achieve anything’, as my motto states.

Blogging opened up a door of opportunities, from writing for different organisations to attending deaf events and working with charities for various campaigns. Through each occasion, I met more and more deaf and hard of hearing people.

It inspired me to accept my deafness and to embrace it, as it’s a part of me that’s never going away, so why live life in regret, wishing to be someone else when you can shout from the rooftops that it’s one of my unique qualities that makes me; ME!

I also learnt British Sign Language so I could communicate with Deaf signers, and it now gives me the best of both worlds.

Overcoming barriers and inspiring others

Deaf people are faced with barriers every day. I’ve learnt this the hard way, it’s not nice, and can be incredibly stressful, frustrating and isolating, but I’ve had to be strong.

I use every experience as a learning curve, standing through the hard times and rising at the other end.

Raising awareness and writing about these experiences helps to get the word out, in the hope that another deaf person doesn’t have to go through what I did. Deafness is an invisible disability and we all need to work together to make it visible!

Most of my blogs or social media posts I aim to write in a positive light (when I’m not frustrated with discrimination and barriers!) as I wish to encourage other deaf people not to let anything stand in their way and to inspire the next generation of deaf young people to lead change in their lives!

So, if it wasn’t for my blogging, I’d probably still be wandering around trying to find my deaf identity… and I’m thankful for that! Who knows what the future will bring!

Ellie (Deafie Blogger)

Deafie Blogger, aka Ellie, was born profoundly deaf, uses verbal communication, lipreads and wears Phonak hearing aids. Ellie embraces every new challenge; working as a Marketing Executive for a Spa & Health Club and blogging for Hearing Like Me and British Deaf News. She is passionate about deaf awareness, campaigning for equality and helping others through her personal blog as Deafie Blogger.