Fiona’s journey of self-discovery

Fiona didn’t grow up with other deaf people around her, so it took time for her to accept this part of her identity.

“I was diagnosed as profoundly deaf in my left ear when I was six, and that really only came about because I was having difficulty learning how to read and write,” Fiona recalls. “Once I learned how to read, I didn't really think of myself as deaf. I thought I had overcome it.”

Fiona spent the next twenty years hiding her deafness, relying on lip reading to communicate with others.

She explains, “I developed a lot of strategies to manage my disability, to the point where most people didn’t even realise I was deaf.”

It was only when she started to experience hearing loss in her right ear, that Fiona began to process her disability. This journey eventually led her to write a memoir about how and why she hid her deafness.

“Everyone can relate to the idea of keeping secrets,” Fiona says. “I thought sharing my story might help people to realise we all have our reasons for doing so, and to be more kind and inclusive.”

Through her freelance writing and social media, Fiona has been able to connect with other artists living with disabilities. This community has been a strong source of support and inspiration in her life.

“I was catapulted into a world of other people with disability, who were making art and completely proud of being disabled. I’ve never seen that before,” Fiona says. “It’s so welcoming and diverse, and people actively help and support one another.”

Aside from her writing, Fiona also works full time in health care. Her days are made up of meetings, so she’s found ways to keep her energy levels up.

“Lip reading is an incredibly physical experience, you’re listening with your whole body which is very tiring,” Fiona explains. “Some things that have helped me are turning captions on in virtual meetings, taking regular breaks and not scheduling meetings back to back.”

When she explored the Disability Gateway, the navigation of the website was something that particularly stood out to Fiona.

“It is so rare to find a website that is truly accessible,” she says. “The layout of the Disability Gateway is easy to navigate and there are different accessibility functions. It just makes finding information a lot easier.”

Fiona adds, “It feels like people with disability are truly embedded throughout the website, which gives you a sense of trust and confidence in the resources.”

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