Stories of Everyday Resistance: An Interview with Pembe Alp
By Raisha Jesmin, Communications Assistant
From hopping around Bristol signposting services to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to making history on the Deaflympics stage, Pembe is an active advocate for equality and disability inclusion. In an interview with Bristol Women’s Voice, she shares her experiences as a deaf woman, her commitment to fostering accessible and inclusive spaces, and future plans.
What prompted you to join the Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CfD)? What do you like about working there?
I’ve been profoundly Deaf since birth and I am a proud British Sign Language user. I grew up immersed in the Deaf community, and because of that, Deaf culture isn’t just something I know about, it’s something I have lived, and that lives in me. I see, every single day, the realities we navigate, the barriers; the resilience, and the quiet strength it takes just to exist in a world that isn’t built with us in mind. That’s why CfD means so much to me. They’re an incredible charity supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, while actively encouraging Deaf and hearing communities to integrate into one society without barriers. True inclusion isn’t about “fitting in” or forcing round pegs into square holes. It’s about reshaping systems so everyone belongs.
Are there small or micro acts of resistance you engage in in your daily life to challenge disability and/ or gender injustice/ inequalities?
One thing I’ve learned is that change doesn’t always come from huge, dramatic actions. Sometimes it starts with small micro-acts, noticing what’s missing and daring to question it. Take gender inequality, for example. Support spaces exist, but they’re often limited or inaccessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing women. Society is still deeply hearing-centred, and that has real consequences.
There are talk clubs for men, but can deaf men be part of those? Where are the women’s talk clubs? And if they exist, are they set up well enough for all deaf women to meaningfully participate? These are questions that matter. If we want real equality, accessibility can’t be an afterthought.
Where do you see yourself in a few years time?
Looking ahead, I have big dreams. I want to buy a land and a grow vegetable patch and live in a little hut. I want to do many things, but one vision stands out clearly; in a few years’ time, I see myself completing a degree and becoming a qualified Deaf therapist. Mental health support by Deaf people, for Deaf people, is something we desperately need and something I’m passionate about helping to build.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work and study, I express myself through art and on the football pitch. Recently, I returned from the Deaflympics, where I had the honour of playing football at an international level and coming home with a bronze medal. It’s hard to put into words what that experience meant to me. Being selected to represent your country is an incredible honour – one I’ll carry with me forever. I met inspiring people from around the world and experienced a completely different side of football, one rooted in shared understanding, pride, and community. It reminded me why representation matters, and why our stories deserve to be seen, signed, and celebrated.
This journey as a Deaf, female, athlete, advocate is far from over. And I’m excited to see where it leads next.