The Discover UCL summer school is run by UCL Access and Widening Participation, in partnership with DCAL (UCL Deafness, Cognition, and Language Research Centre) and Deaf Unity. The summer school is open exclusively to deaf and hard of hearing Year 11 and 12 students that want to discover university life.
We are excited to be hosting a Deaf Role Model talk and Q&A Panel with four deaf role models and chaired by our trustee, Paul Ntulila.
Read on to discover more about the role models!
Fatima Farhan (she/her)
Fatima is a Senior Clinical Scientist specialising in paediatric audiology, supporting deaf children and their families. After graduating with First Class Honours in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Southampton, she completed the Scientist Training Programme and an MSc in Neurosensory Sciences at the University of Manchester. As a deaf professional, she is passionate about empowering young people and improving accessibility within education and the workplace.
Renee Palmer
Renee currently works as a Reintegration support coach working with adults in Approved premises. She graduated in special education need , disability and inclusion studies in Birmingham. She is excited to return to UCL deaf summer school.
Kirsty Jade (she/her)
Kirsty is a deaf professional, content creator, and advocate. She is currently the Services Manager at Manchester Deaf Centre. She holds a First Class degree in Deaf Studies and Education and has spent the last four years working across Communications, Campaigns, and Policy, with a strong focus on tackling deaf health inequity and improving accessibility and inclusion for deaf communities.
Alongside her professional work, Kirsty Jade creates online content sharing authentic insight into life as a deaf person. Kirsty previously attended the UCL Deaf Summer School and is excited to return to share her journey and experiences. Through both her career and online platform, she is passionate about empowering young people to feel confident in pursuing university, embracing their identity, and creating opportunities for themselves.
Max Fisher (they/them)
Max is a multi-award winning disability and LGBTQIA+ activist, scientist, and author who was recognised in 2024 as the UK’s most influential disabled scientist. They talk extensively about intersectionality in the workplace, and their experiences as a queer, DeafBlind, and disabled person in STEM. They work hard to be a role model for other marginalised people who are interested in science, and the future scientists of tomorrow. Max has been an intersectional activist and advocate for over a decade, and has spent most of that time advocating for dignity and respect for all. In their working life, they are a registered scientist (RSci) with The Science Council and a member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB), and currently work as a senior research associate in nanomedicine, growing cells in flasks and talking to robots.
Paul Ntulila (he/him)
Paul is originally from Tanzania and grew up in East London. He is a Senior Travel Adviser at Amsaan Accessible Tours and a Trustee of Deaf Unity. Fluent in British Sign Language (BSL), American Sign Language (ASL), and International Sign (IS), Paul is passionate about accessible travel, deaf inclusion, and connecting with communities worldwide. Having travelled to more than 30 countries, he is committed to promoting equality, cultural exchange, and inclusive opportunities for deaf and disabled people.
We’d like to thank all of our role models and trustee, Paul, for providing an opportunity for prospective students to learn more about the endless possibilities that are out there for young deaf people. At Deaf Unity, we want to ensure that all deaf people can thrive and enjoy the same rights and opportunities as others.
If you’re a deaf student and would like to learn more about our work and events, sign up to our student mailing list.
You can visit our Deaf Role Model page for more information about our work in that area.