Norma supports Talk Sign campaign

NORMA Millar is a mother of three beautiful children, and is also what is known in the Deaf community as a CODA, Child of a Deaf Adult, as both her parents are profoundly Deaf.

When asked how she coped growing up, Norma shrugs her shoulders and says it was the only reality she knew. Looking back, she now realises that she matured quickly and became a very early communicator, being the spokesperson for the family.

“One of the first things people ask when they know my background, is how I learnt to speak growing up. And I can never answer, because as far as I was concerned, I always thought I had a normal childhood and learnt to speak like everybody else. I remember being five and having to phone the doctor, dentist and hairdresser to make appointments for myself, mom and dad,” explains Norma who has a sister six years younger than her. She said that to this day, when she goes to a restaurant, she orders for the whole table. “My husband has given up placing his own order,” laughs Norma.

Norma points out that people who are Deaf and hard of hearing make up the biggest handicap group, and that if someone temporarily loses their ability to hear, they need to readjust to sounds when this sense returns, as the auditory processing parts of the brain need to be constantly stimulated. This is not the case with sight.

“The Deaf community is the closest-knit community I have been exposed to. It is very difficult for people who are Deaf to be fully part of a hearing social event, as it is difficult to lip read unless someone is facing you squarely, so group conversations in a hearing environment are incredibly strenuous, and difficult. If more people knew Sign Language, people who are Deaf or hard of hearing would not feel so isolated and lonely in this environment,” continued Norma. She said in addition, if people were made aware of the best way to communicate with Deaf people such as making sure that your mouth is visible for lip-reading and not covering your mouth, it would also be of great value.

She said she battles when people make excuses for not being able to achieve something.

“Four years ago, I studied hearing aid acoustics through the University of Pretoria. It was quite a challenge, as I had to study from Durban, and travel to Pretoria to attend pracs and assessments. I found it quite tough to do, while still trying to run my family and home. Nevertheless, I graduated after two years, and was ready to enter in a field that I was super excited about.”

Shortly after that, however, she was diagnosed with cancer, and had to have surgery that left her unable to speak for a few months.

“My mother came down from Johannesburg to care for me, and because I could only make myself understood by signing, she was the only one who could effectively communicate with me. What a lovely thing it was, to have, in a role reversal, my mother as my spokesperson, and my link to the outside world. It was an amazing experience for us both, and one that allowed me to feel to my core how very important Sign Language is,” she said.

Six months after her recovery, she was determined to create some sort of awareness of the importance of Sign Language, and also, to assert herself as being very much alive and still capable.

“My best friend and I climbed Kilimanjaro in support of the Talk Sign Campaign, and raised a healthy contribution due to the kind support of so many people. For now, I am hoping for no more excitement in the foreseeable future, and a good stretch of peace,” she said.

Talk Sign Campaign, an initiative of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, aims to popularise South African Sign Language (SASL) and raise money, through the sale of stickers, to educate and find employment for people who are Deaf. To order stickers to sell for R10 each at your business or school, email: alice@thealist.co.za.

Talk Sign Day is on 10 March.