Hi, my name is Jackie Wan Brown. I’m really pleased to join the advisory group. I joined because of my personal and professional experience. I grew up attending mainstream school and the sign for mainstream school as “isolated not integrated” is very true. 

I was isolated, struggled with communication and was very passive. In the end, I attended a deaf school and was delighted to learn from deaf peers – deaf children my age, vitally – they were my role models. 

I became empowered and learned communication strategies. I now work as a mental health nurse, and have 17 years experience. There is a vast inequity in mental health service access for deaf people, and access is very difficult. So, I’m happy to be involved with, and supporting SignHealth. Thank you. Bye.