Sallie Baker

“The groups, the people and the staff at the library have taught me that society can be inclusive and that my hearing loss isn’t a problem and not embarrassing to others like I had previously thought.”

Communications challenges from a hearing impairment and a lengthy period of time spent at home as a carer for her Nan left Sallie Baker isolated and withdrawn. But Sallie has found a warm welcome, acceptance of her disability and a sense of belonging at Cullompton Library.

Sallie, 43, has lived near Cullompton all her life and moved into the town in 2015.

“I visited the library as a child and love the quiet space. As an adult I kept my love of reading but time constraints meant I left the library and instead grew my own extensive book collection. I’ve also crafted for decades and found that giving something handmade whether a card or gift makes me feel good.”

Despite having hearing loss since birth, Sallie was only properly diagnosed with a congenital sensory neural hearing problem in 2005.  She is unable to hear lower frequencies like male voices. She was also diagnosed with hyperacusis, a condition where everyday sounds are amplified, causing a pain in her ear drum. Sallie also has two preauricular sinuses – extra openings in her ears – which cause repeated ear and sinus infections. This makes it impossible to wear hearing aids as they increase the infection risk and are uncomfortable.

“All my close friends live a considerable distance away, including overseas in Canada. Although they are a great support system and we spend a lot of time messaging and hand writing letters there is still a level of social isolation involved where I live because of the difficulties in communication. I still devoured books and did crafts at home as much as possible, with art journaling becoming therapeutic for me during this period. In fact it was through art journaling the negative aspects of hearing loss and reading books with Deaf characters as the protagonists that I started to gain more confidence with my hearing loss.”

In around 2010 Sallie began to learn Lipreading at a local group. She had considered learning British Sign Language (BSL) but found the cost prohibitive and feared without others fluent in BSL around her it wouldn’t help her situation. In 2014 Sallie also gave up work to become a carer for her elderly Nan. She began to feel more and more isolated.

“Whilst Lipreading classes were a positive experience I still struggled to settle into the group and my confidence was low. But there was one lady there who took me under her wing and encouraged me. In 2022 my Nan died, and I met up with the lady afterwards. After the usual condolences she said ‘Book Club is on Friday at 10.30 at Cullompton Library, I’ll meet you there’. There wasn’t a chance I’d let her down but I was shaking and extremely worried about it as I stood waiting for her. This was the pivotal moment where I could either continue to be isolated or I could embrace becoming part of the group, however it was fraught with concerns. This was a library. Because I can’t hear my own voice I am loud and I feared it would upset other users of the library, I would be spoiling it for everyone or so I thought.”

But Sallie’s fears were instantly allayed.

“I was made so welcome that almost two years on I’m still there. I still get nervous when my confidence dips but usually by the time we’re half way through the session I’m fine again.”

After losing her Nan, Sallie also decided to go back to work and took up a part time job as a school cleaner. “It was the first I was offered and I wasn’t fussy with what I took as long as I was working. Being part time, it meant I got to join the Craft Club at the library. Had I got a full time position I’d have had to give up Book Club and wouldn’t have been able to join the Craft Club. Ultimately working part time and being able to participate in events at the library have allowed me to relax into being myself, enjoy what I do and be happy.

“The groups, the people and the staff at the library have taught me that society can be inclusive and that my hearing loss isn’t a problem and not embarrassing to others like I had previously thought.”

Sallie is still a voracious reader outside Book Club, particularly of her favourite genre – forensic crime. Her favourite books include Nell Pattinson’s Silent Night, Erin Gruewell’s The Freedom Writers Diary, Kathy Reich’s Devil Bones, Tracy Buchannon’s Venom in the Blood and Jodi Picoult’s The Storyteller.

“Without Cullompton Library I wouldn’t have been as active in the community, I would have stayed in, read and crafted alone because I felt and occasionally still feel as though I shouldn’t be participating because it’s unfair on others to adapt how they communicate because I can’t always hear them.

“Whilst I’d used the library as a child I hadn’t been aware of how the library has now become a centre for the community where people come together sharing their love of books and hobbies with those who have similar interests. I’ve always felt safe in libraries and the library in Cullompton is very much like a second home. Its somewhere I feel I’m accepted for who I am, the creative book-lover who’s loud because she can’t hear. Even when I’m feeling like I shouldn’t be that person and ask for the staff to tell me to quieten down they are quick to reassure me that it’s okay and it’s an inclusive place!”

“The library and the groups along with events they hold is an essential part of the community particularly for those who would otherwise become isolated through disability, age etc. Over the course of 2023 and 2024 the library staff have always encouraged me and ensure it is a warm, friendly and most of all inclusive place for everyone.”