Residents and staff at Torrens Grove have been breaking down barriers to communication and learning new skills with sign language.
Marie Dalitz, a former Auslan interpreter, made the first of several planned visits to the village this week to present an overview of the language used by 20,000 Australians.
Marie said having even a beginner’s knowledge of Auslan helps people of any age communicate with those with hearing impairments.
“People are more comfortable communicating with deaf people when they have a basic idea of how it works,” she said.
“I asked the residents how they would sign ‘milk’, and straight away a lady did the action of milking a cow, which is spot on.
“The same for ‘car’ – someone did the action for turning a steering wheel of a car.”
Village Manager Kaye Coats said the class was a great way to bring residents closer together.
“It was fantastic to see everyone so engaged and keen to learn,” she said.
Marie discussed the range of sign languages in existence, and invited residents to create their own home sign; an individual or unique form of sign language used by a single group of people.
“A lot of deaf families have home sign, churches and social clubs have home signs, and it’s only in that location those signs are used,” she said.
Marie will return to Torrens Grove in the New Year.
“Kaye has asked me back once people have started to get their head around it and feel more comfortable with it,” she said.
“I’ll also do a session with the staff, to introduce them to some useable signs.”
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