The primary objective of this project, and the investigative consortium, is to develop a Pan-Wales network, in coordination with and led by Deaf community leaders and local partners, to identify people, assets, and services and to collect personal experiences, and improve participation and involvement with respect to five subject areas (or research hubs) that impact the health and wellbeing of the Deaf community in Wales: (1) law and equality, (2) public health, (3) mental health, (4) interpreting services, and (5) language and communication.

In collaboration with: Dr Anouschka Foltz, Associate Professor in English Linguistics, Institute of English Studies, University of Graz, Austria; Dr Julia Terry, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Wales; Dr. Rob Wilks, Senior Lecturer in Law, Faculty of Creative Industries, University of South Wales, Wales (BSL user); Dr. Sara Rhys-Jones, Clinical Psychologist, Swansea Bay UHB - Learning Disabilities (BSL user); Louise Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer, Wales Council for Deaf People, Pontypridd, Wales; Sarah Thomas, Managing Director, Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound (COS), Colwyn Bay Wales; Paul Redfern, (retired BDA) Chair, All Wales Deaf Mental Health, and Wellbeing Group (BSL user); Michelle Fowler-Powe, Access and Inclusion Advocacy Coordination, British Deaf Association. (BSL user); Rebecca Mansell, Chief Executive Officer, British Deaf Association (BDA); Roger Hewitt, retired, British Society for Mental Health and Deafness (BSMHD) (BSL user); Helen Green MSc, MPH, Programme Manager, Public Health Wales, Cardiff ; Anne Silman, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Bangor, Gwynedd.

Funding awarded through the Bangor University Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £34,347