Everly’s story
Hello everyone!
My name is Everly, I’m 20 months old and I was born profoundly deaf in both ears.
I am the first deaf member of my family and mummy and daddy were so surprised when they found out!
We all started learning British Sign Language (BSL) very soon and when I was 7 months old I signed for the first time the word ‘mummy’!
My mum was so happy! Fast forward to today, I use BSL everyday, I know more than 100 signs and make more than 30 (my favourite is ‘water’ mummy says it’s very important to be hydrated!).
I love signing and being able to communicate with my family and friends and my mum says I’m her inspiration every day because I learn new signs so quickly!
However, there are situations that make it difficult for me to get full use of BSL: I don’t like when people have a mask on (it was difficult during the pandemic) because I can’t see facial expressions (called NMF- non manual features in BSL) and also their face needs to be in full light for me to understand at best (no shades or poor lit rooms please!).
To get my attention, mummy usually taps my shoulder or waves her hand in front of my eyes, it’s ok to do both with your deaf friends – or, if you are indoor you can switch on and off the lights to attract my attention!
When that doesn’t work and mummy is behind my back, she stomps her feet on the floor, I’ll feel the vibrations and turn my head (usually when I mischief haha!) so that we can communicate.
I am also a bilateral cochelar implant user, and I love my magic ears! I put them on when I wake up and take them off before bed (oh and for a nap if I have one).
Mummy and I do a lot of speech therapy to help me learn to listen and recognise sounds so that one day I will be able to speak (technology is amazing!)
BSL plays an important role in my therapy as mummy uses a ‘sandwich approach’: she says one word – she pauses 10 seconds- she signs the same word- another 10 seconds pause- and she says the word again!
The fact that she uses signs I already know the meaning of helps me giving a meaningful meaning to the ‘sound’ I hear (the word!).
How cool right?
BSL can be used so widely and I made so many new friends going to meet ups, events and getting to know the deaf community- there is SO MUCH to learn!
This year marks the one year anniversary since BSL has been officially recognised as a UK language and I can’t wait to see more people learning and using in so that society becomes more inclusive and services more accessible to our needs!
It really is a rich and beautiful language, it is so fun to learn as well – my mummy and daddy are just finishing a BSL level 1 course and my mummy is also learning to sign some nursery rhymes I really like that!
Our journey has just started, it was difficult in the beginning but now that we are ‘on track’ it’s beautiful to discover how unique we are as individuals and that is something to ALWAYS be proud of!
Don’t tell my mum and my dad, but they are my true inspiration!
They chose to give me access to language so early in life while they were thrown in the unknown world of deafness, and I will always be thankful to them. This way I am growing well and developing my communication skills and brain connections.
They say it will be my choice when I grow up to choose the method of communication I prefer, and I am so grateful to be given all the options!
My mum is very open to share her knowledge of BSL and all she learnt so far so please if you or your family are struggling as you begin you journey please do get in touch with us, we can become friends and sign together!
Now I have to go, mummy is taking me for a stroll! Bye bye!!
Everly 😉
(Please note that this article was written by an external author and any views expressed do not represent Signature)
