With the National Week of Deaf People & International Week of Deaf People wrapping up, I reflect on yesterday’s theme: innovate, inspire, impact. This is more than just a theme – it also reflects the way Deaf people have always contributed to society, and how we will continue to shape the future.
Deaf people are natural innovators. Our lived experience gives us unique perspectives on the world, which enables us to create solutions that benefit not only ourselves but society as a whole. This is the essence of Deaf Gain: when Deaf people contribute, everyone also gains.
I remember Melissa Malzkuhn, a global Deaf social innovator, reminding us that Deaf people are “imagineers” during her presentation at the XVI World Congress for the World Federation of the Deaf in Istanbul, Turkey a decade ago. She challenged us not to wait for access but to create it – which is still so very relevant today. Imagineers are visionaries who design new ways of being. This is clear in projects like SignHow, a global sign language dictionary developed by Deaf innovators Nikhil Bora and Sophie Li. By breaking down barriers across sign languages, they have redefined what access can look like.
Technology is rapidly advancing, and we need to embrace it to drive innovation. Artificial intelligence (AI) has enormous potential with Deaf people being included at the start. Deaf-led AI projects such as SignGPT are excellent examples of how AI can be harnessed to create inclusive and innovative solutions. At the same time, we’re seeing Deaf artists around the world being proactive and leading creative projects that push boundaries, spark conversation, and reimagine what’s possible. At the recent Flow Festival, Joanna Agius OAM led ground-breaking work to provide an immersive exhibition with accessibility at the very core to ensure Deaf and Deafblind people could enjoy the exhibition.
Innovation naturally leads to inspiration. Deaf communities continually inspire the world – not only through achievements but also through creativity, resilience, and everyday acts of leadership that often go unseen. Inspiration is also found in Deaf children learning sign language for the first time, in Deaf professionals breaking barriers and glass ceilings in their fields, and in Deaf seniors who carry and pass on stories and cultural knowledge.
Inspiration is everywhere in Australia and the world. From Dr Breda Carty AO, whose lifelong work has strengthened Deaf history and education, to young emerging leaders at Deaf Youth Australia, Deaf people are showing what is possible when barriers are dismantled to create opportunities.
As a Deaf person from a hearing family, I sought access to Deaf role models and the Deaf community through my links at school. I didn’t grow up in the era where Deaf clubs were buzzing, yet I knew the importance of having access to Deaf people everywhere especially older Deaf people who are a wealth of knowledge and stories of Deaf culture, history, and community. Every Deaf person I’ve met has inspired me in a way or another, and showed me what was possible.
I carry those lessons with me in my own work, and I hope to do the same for others. Inspiration is not limited to high-profile figures; it lives in every Deaf person’s story, and in the way we share those stories with each other and the wider society.
Storytelling is another powerful source of inspiration. Through theatre, film, poetry, art, digital media, and other mediums, Deaf creatives are reshaping the cultural landscape, offering audiences new ways of seeing the world. These stories remind us that every Deaf person carries a spark that can ignite change.
When Deaf innovation and inspiration combine, the result is impact. Deaf people influence society in ways that ripple far beyond our community. Whether it is creating new technology, leading grassroots movements, advancing research, or shaping the arts, Deaf contributions transform the environments we live in.
Impact is visible in many forms across Deaf people in Australia and the world. Advocacy has led to the rights of Deaf people being strengthened. Deaf-led organisations continue to push for greater inclusion and equity, creating impact at both community and policy levels.
For me, impact is about seeing the difference we make when our stories are heard. Whether it’s through research, fundraising, advocacy, or community projects, I’ve witnessed firsthand how Deaf-led initiatives shift perceptions and create lasting change. Impact doesn’t always make headlines, but it can change lives – sometimes in quiet yet powerful ways.
As we conclude this year’s NWDP/IWDP, let us carry forward the spirit of innovate, inspire, impact. Deaf people are the forefront of creating change – not only for ourselves, but for everyone. By recognising and championing Deaf leadership and creativity, we build a future that celebrates diversity, fosters inclusion, and ensures that no sign is left unseen.