In support of Deaf Awareness Week, we had a chat with James Dixon, our new Empower project coordinator, who has been deaf since birth.

He knows first-hand about the communication difficulties that deaf people can face, as well as the challenge of finding the right support.

James was born into a cricketing family and was encouraged to play from an early age. He joined a team aged seven and started to play competitively at nine. Up until the age of fifteen he was part of a hearing team, until his potential was spotted and he was signposted to England Deaf Cricket.

As part of the England team, he has been given the honour of being a torch bearer for London 2012 (in Blackpool) and has travelled extensively to represent his country with tours including United Arab Emirates and Australia.

James is also a  UK Deaf Sport Ambassador, a role which helps him to support grassroots and elite deaf participants to achieve sporting success.

James said:

“One of my proudest career moments was organising the North West Panathlon Deaf Challenge at Greenbank Sports Academy.

The event demonstrates what deaf children can achieve, simply by removing the communication barrier.”

James, 31 and from Formby, has been working for Greenbank for the past 5 years remains passionate about the difference that sport and physical activity can make to disabled people. He is looking forward to starting work on the Big Lottery funded Empower project.

James commented:

“Disabled people can do anything – there are no barriers to achievement – they just need to be identified and broken down.

I’d love to hear from disabled people who would like to know more about what the project can offer them.”