Unity in deaf and hearing loss communities will spark necessary progression for all of us. It’s estimated that by 2050, around 900 million people will have disabling hearing loss. This is known as the “hearing loss epidemic” and it’s expected to be driven by an aging population, increased exposure to loud noise, and the proliferation of personal listening devices such as headphones and earbuds – estimated in a report published by the World Health Foundation (WHO) in 2019.

Collaboration & Community

The term “crabs in a bucket” refers to a situation where a group of people are trying to climb up and out of a difficult situation or social class, but instead of supporting each other, they pull each other down or prevent each other from succeeding. This phrase is often used to describe behaviour that is self-defeating or counterproductive. It suggests that the people involved are like crabs in a bucket, where one crab which is trying to escape will be pulled back down by the others. The phrase is often used to critique or criticise this type of behaviour and to encourage people to support and lift each other and deaf events up rather than hindering each other’s progress. It strongly suggests that far more collaboration is needed. It is a term I have come across several times in the deaf community and the hearing loss community – one deaf club referring to another.

Collaboration is viewed as the polar opposite of competition, and while it’s true that competition can sometimes be healthy, it is now recognised as less effective than collaboration in achieving common goals. Collaboration has in fact been shown to be a more powerful and effective way to achieve success, both personally and professionally. It creates empowerment in deaf community.

Deaf individuals, those with hearing loss, deaf clubs, deaf businesses and deaf charities can all achieve more when they’re together and reverse the negative impact that a scarcity, competitive mindset has.

Here are some key reasons why Deaf and Hearing Loss Collaboration is powerful:

1. Collaboration promotes mutual benefit: When people work together, they can achieve more than they would individually. Collaboration allows individuals to share their strengths and expertise, and to build on each other’s ideas and skills. This creates a mutual benefit for all involved, as each person’s contributions help to bring the group closer to its goal.
   
   
2. Collaboration encourages creativity and innovation: Collaboration allows people to come together and brainstorm ideas, which can lead to the creation of new and innovative solutions. This is especially true when people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to work on a problem, as this can lead to a more well-rounded and creative approach.
   
   
3. Collaboration fosters trust and respect: When people work together, they must learn to trust and respect each other in order to be effective. This creates a sense of community and helps to build strong relationships between team members. This can lead to increased productivity and morale, as people are more likely to work together and support each other when they feel trusted and respected.
   
   
4. Collaboration promotes inclusivity: Collaboration allows for the inclusion of different perspectives and experiences, which can lead to more well-rounded and effective solutions. This is especially important in today’s diverse and globalised world, where it is crucial to consider a variety of viewpoints in order to make informed decisions.
   
   

Overall, collaboration is a more powerful and effective way for deaf and hearing loss communities to achieve success because it promotes mutual benefit, encourages creativity and innovation, fosters trust and respect, and promotes inclusivity in deaf society. We CAN work together to achieve greater success and make a more positive impact on the world as deaf people and people with hearing loss. We have a lot we can learn from each other particularly in respect of deaf culture. Despite a lack of deaf clubs near me (deaf clubs UK) – perhaps that’s due to where I live…

One key reason why collaboration is often more powerful than competition is because it is based on a different mindset. Competition is often driven by a scarcity mindset, which is the belief that there is not enough of something to go around and that we must therefore fight to get our share. This mindset can lead to selfish behaviour, as people try to protect their own interests and resources at the expense of others.

In contrast, collaboration is based on an abundance mindset, which is the belief that there is enough for everyone and that working together can lead to greater success and abundance for all. This mindset promotes cooperation and mutual benefit, as people are willing to share their resources and expertise in order to achieve a common as well as a personal goal. Including goals people didn’t even realise they could achieve!

The scarcity mindset is a natural and instinctive way of thinking that has evolved over time as a way of ensuring survival. However, in today’s world, where resources are often abundant and collaboration can lead to greater success, the scarcity mindset is a hindrance. By embracing an abundance mindset and focusing on collaboration, we can overcome the limitations of the scarcity mindset and achieve greater success.

Join our unique online deaf club and meet others who would love to meet you and you’ll find other deaf people and those with hearing loss who would love to collaborate and support. Inspired by the lack of diverse deaf communities near me. An online deaf centre – for people, charity, business, entrepreneurship and all the deaf dynamics that make each of us individual and unique.

Personal or professional – the benefits of coming together are huge and 2023 is going to be all about collaboration!

Want to meet other deaf people or people with hearing loss – with an abundance mindset? Join us and be part of the conversation!

Wishing you and all our community members a very happy and healthy New Year!