In The Media
ABC Kids is bringing an incredibly exciting development to children’s media – ABC Kids Auslan. More Australian content is beginning to reflect the lives, language and experiences of deaf and hard of hearing children.
Accessibility in Children’s Media
This marks a significant and exciting step forward in children’s media accessibility. From 13 April 2026, families will be able to enjoy Auslan-accessible episodes of some of Australia’s most loved preschool programs, including Bluey, Gardening Australia Junior, Ginger and the Vegesaurs, Kangaroo Beach, Fizzy & Suds and Knee High Spies, with Flower & Flour to follow later in the year. The ABC has also shared that more Auslan-accessible preschool titles, series and episodes will continue to roll out each year. This reflects growing recognition that inclusion should be built into the content children watch, not added as an afterthought.
One recent example is Bluey. In the episode Turtleboy, viewers meet Dougie, a profoundly deaf child who uses Auslan to communicate with his mum. The story itself is gentle and familiar, centred around a toy turtle found at the playground, but what makes the episode especially powerful is how naturally Auslan is woven into the world of the show. It is not treated as unusual or explained away. It is simply part of how Dougie and his mum connect. This builds deaf role models to children from a young age. That kind of everyday representation is incredibly important.
The Power of Representation
When children’s media include deaf characters and Auslan in a thoughtful and authentic way, it sends a powerful message to deaf and hard of hearing children that their communication, identity and relationships belong in mainstream spaces. It says that deaf children are not on the sidelines of childhood. They are at the centre of stories too.
Another example of this is in the show Emma Memma. Emma Memma’s character Elvin Melvin is described as Emma’s best friend, a deaf child whose primary language is Auslan. He is presented as thoughtful, observant, kind and creative. His deafness is part of who he is, but it is not framed as a limitation. Instead, he is shown as a full, valued and much-loved character with his own personality, strengths and place within the story world.
For all children, seeing characters who communicate like them, or families who share similar experiences, builds identity, confidence and belonging. Children’s books, shows and movies are a powerful tool at helping children discover who they are, where they belong and understand the world around them. If they never see themselves reflected in books, television, classrooms or public life, that absence can quietly shape how included they feel. On the other hand, when they do see themselves represented with care, warmth and authenticity, it can strengthen confidence, pride and a sense of belonging.
A Personal Experience with Representation in Children’s Media:
Kayla, born with bilateral sensorineural severe hearing loss from Connexin 26, shared a passage on her experience and what it means to her:
“Growing up, I had very limited access to deaf role models on TV, and I rarely saw people who communicated like me reflected in everyday stories. Seeing deafness and Auslan now becoming more visible in mainstream children’s media feels incredibly powerful. It’s something I didn’t have as a child, and it genuinely makes me feel less alone knowing the next generation will grow up seeing themselves represented and included from the very beginning.”
Children thrive when they feel understood, recognised and connected. When access needs are acknowledged and respected, it supports mental health and reduces the emotional strain that can come from constantly having to adapt, miss out, or feel different. Representation in media can support positive self-image by showing children that their language and identity are valuable.
This kind of visibility has a ripple effect beyond the deaf community too. Hearing children who grow up watching inclusive content are exposed to different ways of communicating and connecting. They learn that difference is not something to fear or pity, but something normal and important within the broader community. That helps build more inclusive attitudes from an early age.
Because when deaf and hard of hearing children see themselves in the stories around them, they receive a message every child deserves to hear; you belong, your language matters, and your story matters too.
