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Tina, a woman in her late fifties, steps onto the stage with a radiant smile, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. She is there to receive her British Sign Language (BSL) certificate, a significant achievement that marks the end of a journey fraught with tragedy. Following a harrowing incident in 2018 where she fell down a staircase returning from a vacation and slipped into a coma for six weeks, Tina was left with a traumatic brain injury that severely impacted her ability to speak. Prior to the accident, Tina had led a successful life, working alongside her husband Mark as navigators in the RAF before retraining as a lawyer.
The aftermath of the fall left Tina grappling with speech difficulties, but learning sign language provided her with a fresh avenue for communication, allowing her to express words she struggled to vocalize. Moving to the Hughenden Gardens Retirement Village in High Wycombe three years ago provided Tina and Mark with greater support, leading them to participate in a BBC series titled “Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks,” which delved into the transformative power of British Sign Language for older individuals. As part of the documentary, Tina and a group of residents under the guidance of Rose, who is deaf herself, worked towards achieving a Level 1 BSL qualification.
The experience of learning sign language was both challenging and rewarding for Tina and her fellow residents. Led by Mark, who took on a teaching role after the show, the group engaged in regular practice sessions and formal lessons to enhance their skills. Despite the significant effort required, the lessons not only expanded their communication abilities but also brought unexpected benefits, such as being able to discreetly communicate during medical appointments. Beyond personal growth, Tina and Mark have initiated various initiatives at the retirement village to promote deaf awareness and inclusivity, including deaf classes, collaboration with local deaf communities, and the introduction of new technologies to support those with hearing impairments.
The ripple effect of their journey extends beyond the confines of the retirement village, with visitors from across the globe expressing interest in their efforts to promote deaf awareness. Plans are underway to further enhance deaf inclusivity at the village by providing staff with deaf awareness training and implementing technologies like SignLive, a video interpreting app developed by the deaf community. Through their perseverance and dedication, Tina and Mark have not only improved their own lives but have inspired others to embrace sign language as a means of fostering communication and connection
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