Entire street learn sign language – for one sweet reason
The kind-hearted neighbours of a little deaf girl have rallied together so she can experience trick or treating for the first time. Ada Hawkes, who is now six years old, was diagnosed as being profoundly deaf when she was just 18 months old.
She has always wanted to join in with the Halloween tradition alongside her mother Tilly, but they have been cautious due to potential communication barriers, as British Sign Language (BSL) is Ada’s primary language.
Trick or treating can present challenges for the deaf community due to the darkness and mask-wearing, which can make lip reading and communication more difficult.
Cadbury Fingers and the National Deaf Children’s Society have teamed up with Tilly, who runs Learning.Adas.Language, to encourage their community to learn BSL ahead of Halloween, making it as inclusive as possible for those who are hard of hearing.
So far, they have encouraged 60% of the households in her neighbourhood to learn BSL and help Ada have her first trick or treating experience.
All residents received a package to learn Halloween themed BSL phrases such as ‘trick or treat’ and ‘you look spooky’. Those participating have displayed in their window that they are learning BSL, with expert sign-linguists visiting residents to support their progress ahead of the spooky season.
Tilly, a Worcester resident, shared her excitement about taking her daughter Ada trick or treating for the first time. She said: “We haven’t taken Ada trick or treating before as we’ve been wary that there could be barriers in communication with other households, and we haven’t wanted her to feel left out.
“The fact that our street now knows a little BSL, we’re really looking forward to taking her out trick or treating for the first time. Having her neighbours communicate with her in BSL is going to be so exciting.”
This comes after research into 2,000 adults revealed that 59% have never used any BSL before – and 67% admit they would struggle to communicate with a deaf person. Furthermore, 71% wouldn’t even be confident to greet someone with BSL.
In fact, 33% have typed messages on their phone to communicate, with 61% speaking slowly to help deaf people to lip read.
It comes after research into 2,000 adults revealed that 59% have never used any BSL before – and 67% admit they would struggle to communicate with a deaf person. Furthermore, 71% wouldn’t even be confident to greet someone with BSL.
In fact, 33% have typed messages on their phone to communicate, with 61% speaking slowly to help deaf people to lip read.
A separate survey of 400 people from the deaf community found one in four have never trick or treated, and as a result, 43% felt like they missed out.
To help bridge the gap between hearing and deaf people at Halloween, Cadbury’s Fingers has translated Halloween BSL expressions, which are available to learn online, as part of the Sign With Fingers Big and Small initiative.
Anastasia Lutskovskaya, from Cadbury Fingers, commented: “Just knowing even basic BSL can make a deaf person feel more included in moments of sharing and celebration.
“That’s why, at Halloween, when costumes and masks create extra barriers for deaf and those with hearing loss to interact, we wanted to encourage people to learn a little BSL. To help people in their BSL journey, we’ve hosted Halloween themed phrases on our site, so more people can feel included.”
