Laraine Callow, Director of Deafworks, is awarded an MBE for services to Deaf and Hearing Impaired people

This honour was announced on New Year’s Eve in the National Press. The official presentation will take place at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 8th February 2011.

The local press, including Hackney Times, have asked these questions:

What does your Director role involve at Deafworks?

I set up Deafworks in response to a strong desire to correct people’s misconceptions about deafness, which is something you can only really do if you are deaf yourself. At the time there were only hearing professionals working on our behalf. Deafworks is a small independent company, we don’t rely on grants, so we are paid on our results and thus are completely independent. Our work varies from providing advice to social services, education, and the Civil Service on deaf issues. We employ a number of deaf freelancers who carry out research on how the arts, for example, can provide better access for deaf people. We also advise courts in our role as expert witnesses.

My role as Director is to ensure that anyone who comes to us gets the consultancy and advice that they need so that they can solve their deaf-related issues.

How long have you been there for?

I set up the organisation 21 years ago. Prior to that I was one of the first deaf people in the UK to be accepted to train as a teacher.  I am always wanting to push boundaries!

What have been the highlights of your career so far?

Setting up Playmix (a charity playscheme for deaf children in the summer holidays) was great. My own childhood was spent at a boarding school for deaf children and I experienced lonely summer holidays away from my deaf friends. Deaf children are very often isolated at home and during holidays without other deaf people around.

Producing the book Teach Yourself BSL (along with Paul Redfern and Nicholas Callow) was also a highlight as it’s a groundbreaking book. As BSL is a visual, rather than a written, language, some people said it couldn’t be taught in a book. It is the first book to teach British Sign Language in sentences and grammar rather than just vocabulary.

Setting up (with SignHealth) DeafHope (a charity supporting deaf women who have suffered domestic violence) has also been a highlight. My personal aim is to look for an empty building to convert into a refuge.

Do you have hearing difficulties yourself?

Yes. I became deaf after being given medicine (Streptomycin) as a one day old baby. I can hear about one in five words. I find a hearing aid helpful, but still need people to face me and speak clearly to me.

What was your emotion on finding out you’d been honoured?

I was very surprised, and knocked sideways on seeing it in the National Press. I had received a letter six weeks earlier asking if I would accept the MBE (this is the normal procedure) but it was still a fresh shock on the day! My partner (husband and business partner) was not surprised, but very pleased as he knows how hard I have worked over the years.

Do you feel that your award is a perfect recognition for your work in the deaf community?

I have worked extensively in voluntary work over the last twenty five years, including setting up several self help groups (Deaf Teachers Group for example), and a charity, and have generally provided a ‘listening ear’ for deaf people who want help with their problem solving. I have worked pro bono for at least 23 not-for-profit (charitable) organisations, being Chair of eight of them including Deafinitely Theatre and Hearing Concern. I also work with hearing people, encouraging them to think how they can best support deaf colleagues and to come up with practical (and non patronising) solutions. Deafworks (which is my small independent company) and Playmix (deaf children’s playscheme) have always consistently employed D/deaf people and I am pleased to see how many volunteers and staff members have gone on to greater things.

Why not email Laraine with your question? lc@deafworks.co.uk