Deaf culture pioneer honoured by University

A campaigner who has spent 50 years raising awareness of Deaf culture and fighting for the recognition of British Sign Language has received an honorary degree from the University of Reading.

Paddy Ladd, a former director of postgraduate programmes at the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol, was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in a ceremony on Wednesday 22 July.

Ladd was born deaf in 1952 and was among the first deaf children in the UK to attend mainstream school. He studied English Literature at the University of Reading before working as a social worker, then returned to Reading to complete a master's degree in Linguistics.

In 1976, he co-founded the National Union of the Deaf. He went on to help establish the Federation of Deaf People, which campaigned for the formal recognition of British Sign Language, achieved in part in 2003 and then the full recognition in 2024.

He helped launch the BBC's first Deaf-led programme, See Hear, in 1982, working as a presenter, researcher and director. In 1991, he pioneered SignSong, performing songs in British Sign Language for a BBC broadcast, and later provided sign language interpretation for concerts by Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead in the United States.

Ladd then completed a PhD in Deaf Culture at the University of Bristol and was later appointed director of postgraduate programmes at the university's Centre for Deaf Studies. It was in this role that he developed the world's only MSc in Deafhood Studies and secured Leverhulme Trust funding for the UK's first Deaf-led research projects. He also became the first non-American to hold a visiting chair at Gallaudet University in Washington DC, a university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

In 2003, Ladd published Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood, exploring the historical, cultural and linguistic reality of deaf people and arguing that deafness should be seen as a positive identity rather than something to be cured. The book has been translated into seven languages and is regarded as the catalyst for a global shift in Deaf awareness. 

In 2009, Ladd received the EM Gallaudet Award for international leadership in promoting the wellbeing of Deaf people worldwide.

Dr Ilan Dwek, Lecturer at the Institute of Education, University of Reading, said: "Paddy deserves celebration as a true pioneer who transformed how society understands and supports the Deaf community. Paddy has broken barriers in media and academia, dedicating his life to elevating Deaf culture and ensuring Deaf voices are heard. His work spanning various fields, industries and platforms has created lasting change that benefits deaf communities worldwide."

Images: 

Top: Dr Ilan Dwek, Paddy Ladd, Professor Robert Van de Noort

Middle: Paddy Ladd

Bottom: Paddy Ladd with friends and family