As explained on the Home Page, my name is Ndioba (nin-jo-ba) and I am the founder of The Deaf Scene. On this page, I wanted to explain why I created TDS.

From a young age, I have always loved reading books and watching TV shows and movies. I loved all genres and it was a way to exercise my brain and learn more about the diverse world around me. When I was about 9 years old, I began watching a show called "Switched at Birth". The show was about these two families that realize that their daughters were switched in the hospital after childbirth. They learn how to blend their families and live their lives after that shocking revelation. One of the two daughters, Daphne (played by Katie Leclerc) was deaf and wore cochlear implants. This was my first time seeing anyone else have cochlear implants, just like my hard-of-hearing sister does.

I have always been intrigued with American Sign Language and how members of the deaf community lived. Since my sister uses primarily English to communicate with my family, I have lost most of the sign language I learned as a kid. Nevertheless, my fascination with the deaf community and deaf culture has only grown, and I have seen many more shows, movies, and books with deaf characters. However, I rarely came across media with deaf characters and wondered why.

After researching, I realized that the community was often shunned from the entertainment industry and extreme misrepresentation and lack thereof persists  I decided to create this website as a way to advocate for deaf individuals and bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities. I hope after people leave this website, they are more informed about the struggles that persist in the deaf community because of their lack of representation and will advocate as well! My ultimate goal is to make deaf individuals seen in all scenes on and off the camera, and with the help of everyone reading, we can make it happen.

Though this website originally started as a fun way for me to talk all things deaf entertainment and advocate for a community close to my heart, it has also led me to some amazing medical projects, further fueling my interest in medicine. In the research tab, you'll learn more about the research I have done on some of the health disparities Deaf individuals often face and some awesome resources to check out and learn more.

In the future, I hope to be a healthcare leader that makes all patients feel seen, no matter who they are. Thanks for reading!