The late Mairian Corker was a freelance researcher, writer and trainer on all issues affecting the lives of deaf and disabled people. She published widely in the areas of deaf education, psychology and support services and was Editor of Deafness and an honorary editor of Disability and Society. Mairian, who was deaf herself, was a trained counsellor who used a flexible, integrated approach. She was also a seminar leader on the Counselling Skills and Attitudes Course for Deaf Trainees at Westminster Pastoral Foundation in London.