Katie’s deaf, Visual impaired and has Dyslexia. Shes has health obstacles, and goes to class with her guide dog Domino (a black labradoodle).
As a child Katie attended to a mainstream school with a deaf unit, and she was conditioned by teachers “deaf people dont work, deaf people cant act, deaf people cant achieve” She left school with 7 GCSE’s and went to college to further her career, and attended a Deaf drama group. But after 3 years it collapsed due to lack of numbers.
Katie felt very disappointed because it was her passion, something she was really good at, and somewhere where she felt a bit of belonging. however after it collapsed she got a job and tried to put it to the back of her mind. Life wasn’t kind to Katie but she went from strength to strength and that voice in her head was always nagging her to get back into acting.
July 2017, Katie Saw an advert on facebook, an advert about acting and joining Northern Star Acting, she applied and she didn’t think she would get in, because like everything else her hearing and vision is usually the big let down. “If i don’t get in, I haven’t lost anything, but if I do, I will gain so much more.” feeling SCARED of another no, she kept waiting and waiting for the email to say one way or another.
2 Weeks later the email came through with questions “HOW do you communicate?” she communicates by both SPOKEN English and SIGN LANGUAGE. she was then invited to attend an audition, SHE was TERRIFIED, will she be able to hear? will they understand her? HOW WILL IT WORK?
But, she managed, and understood most people there, and fitted in so perfectly, got on with the audition as if its another day. SHE was ACCEPTED ON THE COURSE. She’s met likewise people, doing the coursework, committed and shining. She’s now confident in using sign language in class and participating in activities beyond her dreams.
Katie has won the nomination inspiring attitude of the year 2018, ( despite personal problems, despite health issues, despite what’s going on around her outside class and NSA) she’s put in 100% attendance and been really focused, and committed to the course. Katie has now written her own script and its being filmed on may 26th and 27th.
If Katie can achieve her dreams and goals, anyone can.