You are now in the main content area

An Interview with Kashif Bin Arif

By: Jeremy Tobing
March 01, 2022

Kashif is a recent graduate from the Image Arts: Photography Studies program. We wanted to learn about his experience as one of the first Deaf students to graduate from the School of Image Arts. Check out our interview with him below! 

1.  Introduce yourself! What program did you graduate from and what are you up to now? 

Hi there, my name is Kashif, and my sign name is a letter K and an A. I just graduated from the Photography Studies program, and I’m currently taking the next steps to pursue a job. My first degree is in graphic design, and now I also have a degree in photography—I want to merge those two careers together. Before university, I went to the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester New York. 

2.  How would you describe the Image Arts: Photography Studies in one sentence? 

I would have to say the Image Arts: Photography Studies program helped me to be able to express art in a variety of creative ways and showcase it to the world. 

3. What made you interested in photography and why study it at our university?

How I became interested in photography specifically was the influence of my mother. My mom actually loves photography—always has—ever since I was a young boy. She was always taking photos, and I would watch her do that. She taught me on an old reel camera, and I honed in my skills from it. I really started to get a passion for documentary style portraitures. It’s really great to be able to capture emotions, candid moments—to see the value in everybody's lives and to be able to continue to share that through generations to come through the medium of photography. 

Why I chose this school specifically is because a lot of my family members are alumni, and I thought that it would be really great. When I was growing up, I found I was always off the beaten path because I’m Deaf, so I had to go to a school for the Deaf. I found I was just on the outskirts of what the majority of my family was doing, and where they were studying. When I saw that the photography program specifically collaborated with the Toronto International Film Festival, I thought that’s even more reputable. I was able to finally be on the same path as some of my family members, and I could then become an alumni as well. 

4.  What does being one of the first Deaf students to graduate from the School of Image Arts mean to you? 

In the Image Arts: Film Studies program, there was a Deaf graduate, and I want to recognize that individual: Catherine J Mackinnon. She is an actress, filmmaker and an individual who inspired me. She encouraged me to join the School of Image Arts. She really couldn’t say enough good things about the program, so that really was an inspiration to me. As a Deaf individual, I feel very lucky and honoured to have gone to such a reputable institution for a photography program. It was a great honour. 

In terms of being a Deaf individual, and accessing the university as a whole, it isn’t always easy. English isn’t always a Deaf individual’s first language, and neither is American Sign Language, or even other languages, depending on the origins of the individual. It can be quite complex to navigate, and also to incorporate so many different perspectives. I am somebody who really likes to learn and pursue education, so I want to be able to see more Deaf exposure, advocate for future incoming students, support students with disabilities and emphasize you have the ability to not focus on the disability, but to focus on the abilities within. I had one instructor by the name of Tom Bachard, and Tom pretty much said “you can do it”. Tom is actually hard of hearing, and he has some of his own struggles pertaining to accessibility. He was so positive and encouraging throughout my entire undergrad. 

5.  What was your experience working with Academic Accommodation Support like? 

Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) was great. I really did struggle my first year as it was new navigating the system and how they operate. In terms of me, at times I felt my own rights or accessibility opportunities were hindered by their parameters. I just think making a comparison to students who can hear, they have no barriers or they don’t have to fight for their rights to join “xyz” on campus. You have to think, there are so many forms of privilege that are prevalent in society and hearing privilege is one of them. For me to really be able to access and pursue a diverse range of experiences and opportunities, I had to navigate that regularly and that was sometimes a daily struggle. I found that, after first year, things went a bit smoother. I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful the team (AAS) is. They provide ASL interpreters and note taking services, but it wasn’t easy in terms of the preliminary processes from day one. I have to very much commend AAS for all of their support in my undergrad. 

Kashif poses for a selfie with two of his favourite ASL interpreters at the university

Kashif with some of his favourite ASL interpreters at the university.

6.  What clubs or organizations were you involved with as a student? What advice would you give to incoming students to help them find opportunities to get involved? 

I would say I’ve had a rich and diverse experience in my undergrad. I know it’s just a small snippet of our lives. I first have to give a “thank you” to the Rochester Institute of Technology. I studied there from 2012 to 2016, and they actually have a Deaf and hard of hearing program housed within the school. That truly grew and developed who I am inside as an individual, taught me how to interact with others and to advocate for myself as a Deaf individual working in a hearing world. That’s where the steppingstone for me to be so heavily involved in school happened. I was the only Deaf individual in my program, and you have the masses that can hear. You are just that one little fish in the pond trying to shift those powers and dynamics. 

Now, my first year as a new student, I was still trying to navigate the systems, and I was feeling a little bit overwhelmed. I was part of the Image Arts Course Union. I would volunteer with events and provide assistance—that was my stepping stone at university. 

In second year, I was heavily involved with the Ryerson Communication and Design Society (RCDS, known today as the Society of The Creative School), Image Arts Course Union and Orientation week to push myself, and to learn a lot about accessibility. I started to really get involved then in terms of what may be missing, and I was trying to fill in the gaps as well as preparing to go on exchange in third year.

In my third year I wasn’t able to participate in many clubs as I went to Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and it was amazing. 

Now, my fourth and final year, I was really all over the place. I applied to work with RCDS as the director of Image Arts, and I was working on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee there. A lot of this was housed within The Creative School, and I really focused on advocacy for Deaf and hard of hearing students, as well as accommodations campus-wide to really implement some change and identify where some of the accessibility gaps are. Also, I was the creative director and did marketing for Function Magazine. 

Being able to actively pursue clubs, organizations and committees can build confidence, trust, experience and assertiveness. I really do believe there should be one or two individuals with disabilities welcomed and invited to basically any committee or subcommittee that’s out there. The scope can really and truly be inclusive, while keeping in mind equity and diversity. One thing I would say to new students is just do it, sign up. There’s the Tri-Mentoring Program, the students' union and even clubs within your prospective program. Sign up, put yourself out there—you will really maximize and enrich your undergrad. 

Kashif holds a Scottish flag as it blows in the wind

Kashif on exchange in Scotland. 

7.  If you have to choose one, what would be the defining moment of your time at university?

To be honest, I would say my best moment would be third and fourth year. It was my exchange student experience. For a Deaf and hard of hearing individual to access that opportunity, it is rare, and that was the best and most defining experience. During my last year the RCDS allowed me to be strongly involved in networking. I am gleaning from these rich experiences, and that was a great moment to be the only Deaf person in the sea of hearing individuals. 

8.  You were an Orientation leader! How can students make the most of the experience?

A: Based on my own personal experience as an Orientation leader, it was so rich. I felt maybe some students coming in would be giving me attitude trying to communicate. They are fresh out of high school, potentially never meeting a Deaf individual or a mature student. It was actually amazing, and I realized some of my preconceived notions of being an Orientation leader were completely wrong. People were great, they were so humble. They would say, “Oh hi! I’ve never met a Deaf person before”. Maybe they’d had some exposure to American Sign Language (ASL), and some wanted to learn some signs. I really felt that helped my own confidence as well. I had an ASL interpreter there if I needed to call on them for specific communications, but I really did try to work with the students, and not just rely on interpreters. There are ways to communicate— people get locked in one way of thinking, but I taught some signs and we worked together to build that one-on-one rapport. I would highly recommend to students that when they do have an opportunity to become an Orientation leader to just do it. Additionally, just to focus on learning about equity, diversity and inclusion, and to not have those bullying or oppressive tendencies is important. 

9. What is one piece of advice you'd give to incoming Deaf students?

I would say I have a lot of advice for incoming Deaf students. 

Don’t isolate yourself because it can only get worse if you separate yourself from the masses. I encourage you to pursue Tri-Mentoring, the student union, and once again, opportunities in your own program. I couldn’t encourage them enough to research and look into finding allies on campus, whether that be second, third or fourth-year Deaf or hard of hearing students. Put yourself out there because if you isolate yourself the first year it can feel very overwhelming. I know that during my first year I felt very lonely, and I found I really had to exercise my patience to try and make it through it. Looking back on that first year I wish I was more assertive. 

I actually met another Deaf student on campus, and they were great. It was after almost a full year that I met them, and we became friends. They were also in the same boat as I was. They were feeling isolated, they were feeling lonely, but we didn’t know each other, and we didn’t know how to look into making connections with fellow Deaf students. After that, we became very good friends and in turn, we supported each other. Try to meet two to five other Deaf students so that you can support each other because you don’t want to feel like you are in a silo. It can be very challenging and very lonely, especially when we are trying to be mindful of mental health. There’s already so many challenges entering a new environment, but when you have a disability and you’re feeling isolated and alone, it can impact your mental health. When you have the masses of people who can hear, everybody can just talk and you can take in everything auditorily based, but when you are Deaf you don’t have that advantage, so it’s important to connect with people like yourself

I really just want to say: put yourself out there, be assertive, don’t give up and make Deaf and hard of hearing connections.