Niamdh Braid wore a powder blue sweatshirt that boldly stated, “I define my deaf identity.”
“We live in a world that’s made for hearing people,” reflects the 16-year-old from Glenroth, Fife.
Earlier this year, she and her peers successfully fought for a British Sign Language interpreter in their classes, realizing just how much they had missed without one.
Niamdh, who has been deaf since birth, uses hearing aids but finds it difficult to focus in noisy environments. Her preferred method of communication is British Sign Language.
As a child, she rarely saw people with hearing impairments represented on television or in the news. Now, she hopes her advocacy will inspire “young deaf individuals to respect themselves and realize they can achieve anything.”
“A lot of people think we can’t pursue high-paying careers or succeed in jobs,” Niamdh states, expressing a keen interest in contemporary issues and a desire to enter politics someday. “But really, the only thing we can’t do is hear. There’s nothing inherently wrong; we can accomplish so much if we just apply ourselves.”
The National Deaf Children’s Society, which supported Niamdh’s legal action, reports that deaf individuals are eight times more likely to leave school without qualifications.
Niamdh spoke out following a report showing a drop in the number of specialist teachers for the deaf in Scotland. The Society is warning about a “growing crisis in education for hearing-impaired students” and the lack of direction from local authorities regarding the support needed in schools.
In high school, she has encountered assumptions about her abilities; despite achieving decent grades, there’s a belief that she doesn’t need support.
However, an independent assessment revealed she was catching only 70% of what was said in class, even with teachers using microphones connected to her hearing aids.
Her father, Steve, remarked, “Just think of what she could accomplish if she had full access to her education. Why should she settle for less simply because she’s deaf?”
Constantly struggling to hear took a toll on Niamdh, leaving her exhausted. “I’ve been so tired I’d ask to go to bed by 4 PM,” she explained, noting that she was too drained on weekends to socialize with friends.
After her request for an interpreter was initially denied by her school and the local council, Niamdh felt compelled to take action.
During her court testimony, she emphasized, “It’s often hearing individuals deciding for the deaf, and that shouldn’t be the case; they don’t know what it’s like to navigate a world not designed for them.”
Last year, the court acknowledged that Niamdh faced “substantial disadvantage,” but the appeal process dragged on until this spring.
This teenager, who enjoys Taekwondo and is a fan of the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, feels lucky to have a close-knit group of friends from nursery. “That’s just how they approach our friendship; when we talk, they need to be facing me.”
Niamdh firmly believes that young deaf people should have the autonomy to choose what kind of support they need, emphasizing that they are not a monolithic group.
Angela Logue, head of Education and Children’s Services at Fife Council, mentioned, “We work closely with Niamdh and her family to ensure we’re meeting the needs identified by the court results.”
