‘Talking’ NZ Sign Language

New Zealand sign language means being able to communicate clearly and succinctly to Vicki Carter.

The 33-year-old support worker from Maungatapere has been deaf since contracting meningitis as a baby. Through an interpreter, Vicki says there are no drawbacks to using NZ sign language.

Story courtesy of the Whangarei Leader

This week is the first NZ Sign Language week, after it was adopted about a year ago as the nation’s third official language. Vicki learned sign language from age seven to 13 at Kelston School for the Deaf in Auckland. Before then, she learned to lip-read and speak to her parents. “My family’s a very hearing family – they don’t sign,” she says. Vicki learned a type of signed English but says NZ Sign Language is more succinct and is a true and natural language – not based on English or other spoken languages. Without sign language and interpreters, Vicki says it would be a constant challenge to understand what was being said.

“Sign language suits me best. It’s easy to pick up signs and is easy to use to express myself. ”She has the right to have an interpreter for appointments who can help her understand clearly what is said. While there are no qualified interpreters in Whangarei, one can come from Auckland. Vicki often resorts to notes when shopping. “I go to the counter and say ‘I’m deaf’ and try to communicate but it can be difficult. I resort to pen and paper to tell them what I want for lunch.”

Vicki is a support worker for Access Home Health, working with intellectually disadvantaged deaf clients. She supports them using sign language and gives them basic tuition. Vicki has a 15-yearold son living nearby with his aunt. In her spare time, Vicki volunteers for the Deaf Association Northland branch, which has about 150 members across the region.

Vicki has applied for a hearing dog and if successful will have one of the first in Northland. The dog can tell her when someone is at the door or when an alarm activates. Vicki has also applied for a modifi ed car, which she can control with her hands, as she was born with cerebral palsy, which is unrelated to her deafness. Vicki has started playing Boccia, a sport for physically disabled people, and is a member of Whangarei Deaf Club, which meets fortnightly.

Several events in Whangarei this week mark NZ Sign Language week, including a stall in Cameron St Mall from 10am to 2pm today. On Saturday, a free introductory sign language course runs at the Whangarei Central Library from 10am. There will also be storytelling at Manaia View School and Tikipunga High School and a talk at Women’s Institute Ruatangata on Thursday.

For more details, phone the deaf association 09 437 2022