About Us

CODA UK & Ireland is a community organisation created for CODAs, by CODAs.

We know that growing up with one or more Deaf parents can bring experiences that are sometimes difficult to explain to people who haven't lived them.

For some, it's growing up using sign language and feeling at home in both Deaf and hearing communities. For others, it's navigating different cultures, languages and expectations, or discovering later in life just how much their family experiences have shaped who they are.

And sometimes, it's simply those little moments that only another CODA would understand!

But there's no single way to be a CODA. Our experiences, families, languages and identities are all different, and that's something worth celebrating.

We believe that having the opportunity to connect with others who share similar experiences can make a real difference. It can help us understand ourselves, build confidence, develop lasting friendships and feel proud of the communities and cultures we're part of.

That's why CODA UK & Ireland exists.

To connect, support and celebrate CODAs of all ages across the UK and Ireland.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: every CODA deserves to feel understood, valued and connected.

We want to create a welcoming and inclusive community where Children of Deaf Adults can explore their identities, celebrate their heritage, share their experiences and develop meaningful connections with others.

Our mission is built around three important aims.

We believe there's something incredibly special about meeting another CODA.

That moment when you realise someone else understands the experiences you thought were yours alone can create a sense of connection that lasts a lifetime.

We bring CODAs together through camps, social events, workshops and community activities, creating opportunities to make friends, share stories and build relationships across generations.

Every CODA's journey is different, and sometimes it helps to speak to someone who understands where you're coming from.

We aim to create supportive spaces where CODAs can share experiences, learn from one another and explore what their identities mean to them, without judgement or expectations.

Whether you're a young person finding your place in the world or an adult reflecting on your experiences, we want you to know that you're not alone.

Our connections to Deaf culture, community and sign languages are important parts of many of our stories.

We're proud of the rich heritage that CODAs share and the contributions that generations of CODAs have made within Deaf and hearing communities.

We want to celebrate those connections, respect the different ways CODAs experience their identities, and help future generations feel proud of where they come from.

Although CODA UK & Ireland was formally established in 2011, the CODA community has a history stretching back much further.

The international CODA movement began in 1983, when Millie Brother founded CODA International in the United States, creating opportunities for adult Children of Deaf Adults to connect and share their experiences.

Over the following years, CODAs across the UK and Ireland began coming together, recognising the importance of having spaces where their identities, experiences and connections to Deaf culture could be explored and celebrated.

Early gatherings, conferences and community initiatives helped build the foundations of what would become CODA UK & Ireland.

In 2011, our organisation was established to build on this work, bringing CODAs together through friendship, peer support and a shared commitment to celebrating our heritage. In 2012, the organisation became a Community Interest Company (CIC).

Since then, our community has continued to develop through workshops, social gatherings, international connections and our much-loved CODA Camps.

Over the years, we've brought together CODAs from different backgrounds, generations and parts of the UK and Ireland, helping create friendships and connections that might never otherwise have happened.

Our history is something we're incredibly proud of, but we're even more excited about what comes next.