SIGN TOGETHER – SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES

With over 100 applications received for the Sign Together project, 30 persons enrolled in the nine-month programme, which offered Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) classes from Levels One to Three, to LGBTQI+ community members and/or service providers to the community. The 17 persons who completed the course in April 2022:

• Learned 500+ TTSL signs and phases (Levels 1 thru 3)
• Spent 60 contact hours in classes over 9 months
• Interacted with Trinidad and Tobago Deaf community members
• Completed LGBTQI+ Sensitivity and Deaf Culture Training Workshops.

DETAILS OF THE PROJECT

Classes were led by five Deaf Sign Language Educators who are all self-advocates, with years of experience in teaching sign language. Participants were guided through the complex history of sign language usage in Trinidad and Tobago, the cultural context and lived experiences of the Deaf community and of course, Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language.

Recruitment for other project activities was conducted through the educators’ and project leaders’ networks and included training for social service providers and active sign interpreters as well as support for Deaf LGBTQI+ leaders.

Sign Together proved to be a brave space where participants learned from each other and journeyed towards a just future. For more information, contact CAISO’s Project and Community Outreach Officer Johannah-Rae Reyes at outreach@caisott.org.

Testimonials

Sign Together proved to be a valuable, supportive virtual space for me during the pandemic. I feel blessed to have met so many wonderful people, both D/deaf and hearing, invested in the learning/teaching of Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language. My experience with TTSL has typically been within a research capacity, and this community-oriented programme felt much more rewarding and joyous than many of my previous academic endeavours studying sign linguistics. I believe Sign Together is an important programme, and I hope to see many, many iterations in the future. Building community is key and Sign Together does just that!
Lily Kwok
Sign Together Participant

This is what solidarity looks like.
This is what building community looks like

Hannah Grosberg
Sign Together Participant

This is honestly one of the most special things I ever had the privilege to be a part of. I always wanted to learn sign language as I was exposed to the signed alphabet by my primary school librarian, but the online resources available were only ASL related and I didn’t have the oney to pursue TTSL classes. Although I learned some ASL on my own, I always hoped for the opportunity to learn TTSL and through this programme I was finally able to ! And not only that, it was such a beautiful intersection of marginalised communities sharing our strength and learning about each other with all the love and respect I wish the rest of the world had for us. This has changed my life in a big way and my heart is so full being a part of this!
Ameerah
Sign Together Participant

Project Details

BACKGROUND
The inclusion of a sign language interpreter as a peer leader in a 2018-19 CAISO community safety initiative called Safer Together resulted in a participation rate by Deaf people of one in seven – a record occurrence. When the Deaf participants were asked what was the most powerful way to address homophobia faced by Deaf LGBTQI+ persons, they responded: more hearing people learning to sign. This response inspired the then CAISO Director of Imagination, Colin Robinson, to initiate the development of the Sign Together project.

DETAILS OF THE PROJECT
This project was designed in collaboration with Dr Ben Braithwaite of the Lloyd Best Institute of the Caribbean. The project includes several linked activities: 1) Training in Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language; 2) Peer Support for LGBTQI+ Deaf Leaders; 3) LGBTQI+ Competency and Sensitivity Training for Active Sign Interpreters; 4) Group Activities.

The classes were led by five Deaf Sign Language Educators who are all self-advocates, with years of experience in teaching sign language. The participants will be guided through the complex history of sign language usage in Trinidad and Tobago, the cultural context and lived experiences of the Deaf community and of course, Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language.

Other activities were organised throughout the year and recruitment was conducted through the educators’ and project leaders’ networks — including training for social service providers and active sign interpreters as well as support for Deaf LGBTQI+ leaders.

Sign Together is a brave space where we learn from each other and journey towards a just future. For more info, please contact CAISO’s Project and Community Outreach Officer Johannah-Rae Reyes at outreach@caisott.org.