Sahera Khan (she/her) is a Muslim, Deaf and BSL (British Sign Language) user, Writer, Creator, Artist, Actress, Filmmaker & YouTuber. She works with creative industries and charity organisations.
She is an artist and is featured on SPOTLIGHT. She performs as a poet, performer, actor and participates in short films, videos, indoor/outdoor shows and creates her own solo shows, videos and live performances. Sahera is a filmmaker and produces short films. Her short film ‘FAITH’ has received awards from international film festivals. She is also a writer of poems, videos and stories and has published nine Kindle books.
In an interview with Asian Voice, Sahera Khan shared details about her work and approach as a freelancer and her thoughts on the support that the community needs to extend in order to help the disabled.
Q - Please tell us a bit about your family and background.
I was born here in the United Kingdom and I grew up in East London. My parents were born in South Asia; India and Pakistan. I have two brothers. I am the only one who is Deaf in my family. I am married, my husband is Deaf, and I have two children.
Q - As a freelancer, and as an artist who dons several hats, how have you nurtured your skills and interests using sign language?
I nurtured my skills through learning by myself but I also learned from various courses, workshops and other artists and people from the creative industries. This was how I developed skills in writing, acting and filmmaking. This journey and experience led me to where I am today.
Q - With reference to my previous question, what kind of support have you had so far and what improvements would you like to see?
When creating my own work without support. I find it quite a struggle with English grammar and with communication barriers with other people. Eventually, when I became a freelancer, I applied for Access to Work funding. I received support from them to fund BSL communication support workers and interpreters. It is a massive help in building my career. I hope to continue using Access to Work funding for my support needs.
Q - What are the biggest takeaways and lessons that we can learn from the pandemic when it comes to strengthening infrastructure and social support for specially-abled and disabled people?
I lost a few jobs due to Covid-19 but I was grateful for the creative industries offering me some work opportunities e.g. Zoom and online performances.
I did experience some barriers e.g. no BSL interpreter at health services appointments.
But I learned the issues Deaf and disabled people have faced during the pandemic; cuts to benefits, cuts in support, increase in mental illness, no support from health services, lack of accessibility (for example, no access or BSL information provided about vaccinations, Covid-19 etc).
Q - As a woman from an ethnic minority background, what has kept you going and how do you think more people, families and community members can come forward to strengthen their support for disabled women?
I am a trustee of the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association (DEWA) and work with the deaf trustees to support Deaf ethnic women in the United Kingdom. It is positive that people are supporting Deaf and disabled ethnic women but improvements are slow. It is important to have a role model to look up to.
Q - If you were to explain the key issues and concerns of disabled people in the current climate, what would they be?
- Accessibility e.g. interpreters
- Receiving support from health services e.g. mental health, counselling
- Continuing access to benefits
- Continuing access to care support
- Providing interpreters for deaf people for vaccinations and other health appointments.
