Charity
VIDEO: ‘I Tried To Learn The Alphabet Using Sign Language’
Today (September 23) marks International Day of Sign Languages 2024.
And to mark the occasion, Gef visited the Manx Deaf Society HQ to interview Lucy Buxton, the CEO of the Charity.
Lucy was kind (and patient) enough to attempt to teach me how to ‘sign’ the alphabet using sign language.
Lucy taught me the ‘British Sign Language Finger Spelling Alphabet’.
It is a two-handed form of sign language using the ‘paper hand’ and the ‘pen hand’ – the hand you use to write with becomes the ‘pen hand’ while the other becomes the ‘paper hand’.
I am sure Lucy will agree I need quite some practice before I can claim to be a proficient signer however, I surprised myself at how easy it was to remember.
The sign language alphabet in my opinion flows in a sequence that is easy to understand.
Also, the idea that taking a little bit of time out of my day to try something that could potentially make all the difference to someone with a hearing impairment was quite comforting.
Lucy provides sign language lessons at the Manx Deaf Society and one of her aims is to bring inclusivity into the Manx community.
Only a small number of people actually understand and are able to communicate through signing.
Lucy said: ‘Here on the Island, if we say we have a population of about 85,000 people. One in six of that population (12,000-15,000) will have some degree of hearing loss.
‘The number of sign language users who use sign language as their first language is decreasing here on the island.
‘We probably have about ten people, out of that 85,000 who would use sign language as their first language.’
She went on to say: ‘You would find that out of all the children born with hearing loss, 90% of these children are born into a fully hearing family.’
