Resources

In 2017, Nadia led a series of storytelling workshops with Deaf ethnic women, culminating in a performance show at the Old Diorama Arts Centre. The project gave participants the chance to share their stories, express creativity, and celebrate their culture. This inspiring event was proudly funded by Awards for All in 2017, supporting community arts and empowerment for Deaf ethnic women.

The BSL Act: A Conversation with David Buxton (Chair of the British Deaf Association)

In this video, Rubbena speaks with David Buxton, Chair of the British Deaf Association (BDA), about the British Sign Language (BSL) Act. They discuss why BSL was officially recognised in 2003, yet little changed for many years.

Key questions are raised about why progress took so long, what happened after the 2003 recognition, and how campaigning led to the BSL Bill and, eventually, the BSL Act being passed. David Buxton explains the process, the challenges along the way, and what official recognition through the BSL Act means for the Deaf community today.

This conversation sheds light on Deaf-led advocacy, policy change, and the ongoing fight for equality and access.

In this video, Deaf ethnic women share their personal stories about starting a career in the arts. They talk about how their journeys began, the challenges they faced, and the moments that shaped their paths as artists. The discussion explores who influenced them, what inspired their creativity, and what motivated them to become artists. Through lived experience, they highlight the importance of representation, culture, identity, and community in the arts. This video aims to inspire Deaf ethnic women who aspire to work in the arts, showing that their voices, stories, and creativity matter.

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DEWA: Advice on Loneliness and Depression
In this video, Sahera, trustee of the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA), shares an important message about supporting someone who is feeling lonely or experiencing depression. She offers practical advice on how to help, including contacting Deaf organisations for support. Knowing how to respond can make a real difference—it could even save a life.

In 2017,Nadia Nadarajah led a groundbreaking drama workshop for Deaf ethnic women the first-ever workshop of its kind, giving participants the chance to explore performance, creativity, and self-expression.

Rescuers: campaign

In this video, we explore economic injustice experienced by Deaf ethnic people, focusing on the difficulties they face in finding employment, earning a fair income, and accessing pensions. The discussion highlights how Deaf ethnic people often experience inequality compared to white people, including fewer job opportunities, lower pay, insecure work, and unfair pension outcomes. These challenges are shaped by the combined impact of racism, audism, and systemic barriers. Through lived experiences, this video raises awareness of unfair systems and calls for greater equality, access, and justice for Deaf ethnic communities.

This video features a training session by the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA) on the history of women’s rights. Participants explore key milestones, challenges, and achievements in the fight for equality, with a focus on the experiences of Deaf ethnic women. The session highlights the importance of education, empowerment, and community support in understanding and advancing women’s rights today.

In 2014, the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA) produced “Let’s Get Better Together”, a project aimed at supporting Deaf ethnic women to develop skills, confidence, and well-being.

In 2014, the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA) produced “Let’s Learn Together”, a project aimed at supporting Deaf ethnic women to learn, grow, and connect. The video highlights educational activities, skill-building, and community engagement, giving participants the tools and confidence to navigate everyday life, education, and work. It celebrates the strength, resilience, and voices of Deaf ethnic women.

In 2014, the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA) produced “Let’s Work Together”, a project focused on empowering Deaf ethnic women to develop skills, collaborate, and succeed in the workplace.

In 2014, the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA) produced “Let’s Make Ourselves Understood”, a project focused on empowering Deaf ethnic women to communicate confidently and effectively. This video is presented without an interpreter, highlighting the voices and experiences of Deaf ethnic women as they share practical strategies for self-expression and advocacy in everyday life, education, and work. It celebrates their agency in being heard and understood.

This video captures an open panel and Q&A session held over Zoom, where deaf women discussed issues around identity, ethnicity, and community belonging. Participants shared their perspectives on how they identify themselves—whether by ethnic group, such as Asian, Black, or other—and the challenges they face in finding a sense of community. The discussion also highlighted DEWA (Deaf Ethnic Women Association)’s recent logo change. Previously featuring an Asian identity, the logo was updated to better represent the diversity of deaf women who wished to join the community. The panel explored how members feel about this change and what it means for inclusivity within DEWA. This session provides a thoughtful conversation about representation, identity, and the importance of inclusive spaces for deaf women of all backgrounds.

Before becoming the Asian Deaf Women’s Association, this video highlights the first ever Asian Deaf Women’s Group, which was set up at Forest Gate Youth Club in Forest Gate. Produced and broadcast by the popular Sign On programme on Channel 4 in 1992, this clip captures the early voices and experiences of Asian Deaf women. The same year, See Hear also aired its first Black Deaf programme, marking an important moment in Deaf media history.

In this video, we discuss what the word “abuse” means and how Deaf people understand its meaning. The conversation explores whether abuse is always clearly understood, especially when there are many BSL signs related to harm, such as bullying, kicking, hitting, unkind words, and financial control. We talk about the challenges of knowing which signs are correct and how different signs can describe different types of abuse. The discussion also highlights the importance of professional knowledge, recognising that professionals may have a deeper understanding of abuse and the correct terminology than everyday users. This video raises awareness about using the right sign language, improving understanding, and ensuring that serious topics like abuse are communicated clearly and accurately within the Deaf community.

In 2016, women and girls from diverse ethnic backgrounds came together for a day of fun, creativity, and empowerment! The event featured art, dance, and music workshops, giving participants a chance to connect, express themselves, and celebrate their culture. A big thank you to Rosa the UK fund, for supporting this amazing and inspiring day!

In this video, we explore why women are frequently misrepresented compared to Deaf ethnic men, focusing on identity, representation, and cultural expectations. The discussion dives into religious education (RE), personal religious preferences, and how religion shapes identity differently across cultures. We compare country-based religious values with religion in England, highlighting how cultural rules, traditions, and levels of strictness affect the way people find and express their identity. Through this conversation, we examine how gender, deafness, ethnicity, and religion intersect and why women’s voices are often misunderstood or overlooked. This video encourages open dialogue about culture, belief, and representation in a diverse society.