15/10/2026
“Access is not special treatment,” says Stephanie. “It is what allows me to take part properly, like everyone else.”
Stephanie is Deaf, a mum of three boys and has called Wokingham home since 2012. She is a member of the Inclusive Design Group, a resident-led group that brings lived experience of disability into the design of future buildings and public and outdoor spaces across the borough, so accessibility is considered from the start.
For Stephanie, small details make the biggest difference. Clear sightlines mean she can see who is speaking. Good lighting means she can see faces and signing properly. At Dinton Pastures wider paths mean she can walk side by side with a friend and sign as they go.
She recently signed her speech at Full Council while an interpreter voiced it for the room. It was something she once would have avoided.
“In that moment, I wasn’t trying to fit myself into somebody else’s way of communicating. The room was making space for mine.”
Her hope for the future is simple: “I want my son to grow up expecting access, not learning that he has to fight for it.”
Stephanie’s story is part of a series about Social Care Future: people living the life they want, with the people and things that matter to them, in communities where everyone belongs. She is also featured in the Black History Month exhibition at Wokingham Borough Libraries throughout October.
Read more of Stephanie’s story in the news section of our website.
