“Hello, my name is Alanis Millar and this is my voice. I stand here proudly to say I am a graduate of Ulster University.”

So announced a young woman, loud and strong, at her graduation ceremony, nothing unusual about the introduction or the fact that she studied for three years before leaving the Jordanstown campus.

“When it came to the dissertation year, I knew it was my chance to shine by advocating for the NI Sign Language Bill, which is currently in the works at Stormont to help the deaf community have access to public services in their native language BSL and ISL.”

Alanis has more than a passing interest in the subject as she was born profoundly deaf. Initially, she grew up in a silent world, no sound of laughter, talking with friends, no music, no communication. But she had a loving family, parents who were her role models and a grandfather who she says was there for her throughout her journey but sadly died only five days before her graduation. He knew all about it and had planned to be there. How difficult it was for Alanis to make that speech, but she was determined to pay tribute to the man who championed her and to introduce people to her life.

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