In April, 19 year old Harrison joined us for a two week work placement. Harrison is one of AVUK's earliest graduates, having been taught to listen and speak with our founder Jacqueline Stokes.

Harrison wrote a series of blog posts for us, exploring various topics that are important to him and that relate to his deafness.

This first blog post, selected especially for Deaf Awareness Week, covers the topic of his future.

---

In September I am starting University in Aberystwyth studying History and Film and I am really looking forward to it and having that extra bit of independence. I have no idea what I want to do as a job but I do enjoy finding out about how films are made so I’m just going to follow that. I have already applied for accommodation and the university has said they will provide a flashing light in my room in case the fire alarm goes off. Usually my Dad wakes me up but I recently got a vibrating alarm wristwatch called ‘ZBand’ which works really well. Beyond university and the next three years of my life I have no idea what is going to happen which is scary but exciting at the same time.

I remember talking to my first teacher last year from when I was younger who also happens to be one of my favourite teachers as well and she said she considers deafness to be a difficulty rather than a disability which I found interesting. After thinking about it I realised that I agreed with her because with developments in cochlear implants and auditory verbal therapy deaf people have a chance to have a ‘normal’ life and integrate with society. I don’t know many other people who are deaf but I have encountered some over the years and it’s nice to know I’m not alone. Although I do get the odd stare or glance because of my CI I do feel very much ‘normal’ because of recent developments in therapy and technology.