Monthly cafes bringing the LSE Deaf and Hard of Hearing community together
Join us for the monthly Deaf/Hard of Hearing Café which takes place on the last Thursday of each month from 4pm to 5pm in the Hall-Carpenter Room, 3rd floor in the Saw Swee Hock Building. All LSE staff and students are very welcome to join!
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People reports that one in five adults (or roughly 12 million adults) in the UK experience deafness, hearing loss, or tinnitus at some point in their lives. Recognising the significance of fostering a supportive community, Lorna Severn, Graduate Admissions Administrator in the Department of Economics, who has worked at LSE for over five years, had the great idea to bring together LSE employees and students experiencing deafness or are hard of hearing. This initiative aims to create a platform for individuals to connect and share their experiences. You are also welcome to join us if you do not yourself live with deafness or hard of hearing but wish to understand more about the life experiences of those who do.
Lorna explains how her idea came about:
The idea of launching a Deaf/Hard of Hearing café at LSE came about after I started wearing hearing aids earlier this year and wanted to connect with other members of staff who have faced similar experiences.
Having spent my whole life struggling with my hearing whilst simultaneously not feeling like I was “deaf enough” to warrant support or help, getting hearing aids has made me re-evaluate my own difficulties as a hard of hearing person and affirmed my right to seek support.
By reaching out and connecting with other deaf and hard of hearing staff and students, we hope to create a community where people can share their experiences in a relaxed atmosphere over tea and cake (and perhaps a crochet or knitting project or two).
There is strength in community and collective experience, and we want everyone who struggles or experiences deafness and hearing loss to feel welcome to join us.
The café is supported by Human Resources and the staff Disability and Wellbeing Network (DAWN), emphasising the School’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all members of the LSE community.
All are welcome, tea and coffee will be available and also an induction loop. Attendees are also welcome to bring a craft project, such as crochet or knitting, if they would like to.
There is no need to register, just come and join us! Please contact Lorna Severn (L.Severn@lse.ac.uk) or Thandi Lazarus (t.lazarus@lse.ac.uk) if you have any questions about the cafe or have any adjustment needs.
We hope to see you there!