Christopher Keeley Receives Award At National Deaf Children's Society Awards Ceremony

Christopher Keeley receives his award at the Young Authors and Artists awards ceremony, organised by the National Deaf Children's Society.

A vibrant new generation has a story to tell Deaf talkabout

By Bob McCullough (Belfast Telegraph)

PARENTS and teachers of deaf schoolchildren from all over Northern Ireland packed the lecture room at the Ulster Museum for last week's Young Authors and Artists awards ceremony, organised by the National Deaf Children's Society.

Guest speaker was Caroline Doherty, of the Northern Ireland Deaf Youth Association, who said: "Jill has asked me here today to present these awards to the people who did these fantastic pieces of writing.

"I have read them, I laughed at them and some made me feel sad. They were so good. But they made me very worried - you lot are getting smarter and smarter!

"My job at NIDYA, (apart from bossing people about) is to work with young people who are deaf and hard of hearing, just like all of you sitting out there.

"The young people I work with often tell me - just like in your stories - how hard it can be being deaf and managing day-to-day things at school and at home. They know that their deafness makes things difficult sometimes ? and it can be a right pain being deaf!

"But they also tell me it's great to sleep-in when mum or dad is yelling at you to get up. Or being able to turn your hearing aids off. And to lip-read people at the end of the room, especially if they are talking about your birthday or Christmas present.

"So being deaf can be a good thing sometimes!

"I want to share with you some of the things I feel about my own deafness. I'm profoundly deaf. For me that means I rely on lip-reading and sometimes sign language. When I was a small child I found it hard at times, but I really enjoyed getting treats like extra money and sweets from granny, aunts and uncles.

"I remember playing in a park and having children coming up and calling me names. My way of dealing with it was to bash them! Not recommended, but we each have our own way of dealing with issues.

"But as I got older, things became easier because I learned to share my worries with friends, parents and teachers. Telling people how you feel can help you find solutions? and bashing is not one of them!

"I have had so many brilliant opportunities to go to places and do things. My deafness introduced me to organisations and clubs that gave me the chance to experience a wide range of activities - like speaking at a conference in New York and potholing in Fermanagh.

"Anywhere I go in this country or over the water, I often bump into a deaf person I know or who knows someone connected to us. That's an amazing thing to be part of, and you today are all part of this deaf connection.

"I'm in my second year of doing my master's degree and I still find it hard, but the important thing is that I've come to realise - just as your stories relate - that I am the same as someone who can hear.

"Yes, they needed to slow down when they spoke to me. Yes, some things needed to be repeated. Yes, my speech may have sounded weird to them. Yes, they might have had to learn a few signs. But they, too, had things in their lives that were difficult and worried them.

"So being deaf is a big part of who you are. It is what makes you different from anyone else. All of your stories talked about being deaf and how it made you different. Be proud of being different and be proud of being deaf.

"Today is a celebration of being who you are; these fantastic stories tell us you are the vibrant new generation in Northern Ireland of whom we are all proud. Well done!"

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