I came to Auslan ‘late’, as seems to be common with deaf people who were not exposed to it when they were young. It’s now one of the most important parts of how I connect, communicate and show up in the world. So when parents I work with ask me “Have we left it too late to start learning Auslan?”, my answer is always the same – no.
Growing up without access
Growing up in regional Victoria meant I didn’t see a lot of profoundly deaf people, let alone those that used sign language. I was diagnosed at almost 4 years old with a mild-moderate hearing loss. My parents were told that it wasn’t ‘severe enough’ to warrant moving towns for me to attend a Deaf Facility when I started school, nor did they need to learn sign language (yep, it wasn’t called Auslan then and certainly wasn’t considered for those that weren’t profoundly deaf). At the time, it seemed like the right decision, but it also meant I grew up without access to a language that could have made communication easier, clearer and more natural.
Discovering Auslan
The first time I really recall seeing sign language was at a family camp near Melbourne when I was 7. There were all these other deaf kids and so many moving hands! I was amazed watching people sign and was fascinated that there were even deaf people who couldn’t hear anything at all! A year later, an annual family camp started in my local area and so seeing (and becoming friends with) families and other kids signing was a more regular occurrence.
Learning the hard way
I guess this exposure sparked my interest in wanting to learn, but it wasn’t easy. There were no courses in my local area and online barely existed (and certainly not at our fingertips). When I was in Year 10, there was a group of us who were super keen to learn, and so we managed to get some Auslan teachers from Melbourne to travel 4 hours to us and teach a short course. This was fantastic and what made it more fun for me was that my best friend at the time wanted to learn too. This meant I had a practice partner and we were able to use it when we didn’t want others to know what we were saying!
When I moved to Melbourne, I became part of the Deaf community and so my access to more signers increased, as did my own signing. I was also learning Auslan at university, 1 night a week for 3 hours, where I was the only Deaf person in the class (other than the teacher). I enjoyed the classes, but I don’t feel I retained much of the information that was taught. Looking back, I can see that a night class (6-9pm) wasn’t particularly great for me when I’d already had a full day of university classes which required a lot of listening. I remember often being super tired by the end of the night, and then I still had to travel an hour home on public transport! Upon reflection, I can see it clearly now. It wasn’t my ability to learn Auslan that was the issue, it was the environment I was learning in.
When Auslan became part of my life
It was through these classes that I met a guy (spoiler alert – he became my boyfriend, then my husband!) and Auslan was a part of our relationship from the start. Having a boyfriend who could sign made a huge difference and allowed me to express a part of myself that hadn’t always had space before. It meant I had access to what was happening, not just hearing parts of conversations, but actually understanding, participating and feeling included. Given Auslan was so ingrained in our relationship, we were going to sign with our kids, whether they were deaf or not!
Now we use Auslan daily in our family (especially when devices are off!), and like many families it didn’t start perfectly. We’ve used a mix of speech and sign – it’s not ‘pure’ Auslan, but it’s what works in our everyday life. As our children’s skills have grown, we’re now becoming more intentional about creating time for Auslan only communication. It’s quite rare these days that I’m in spaces where there’s only Auslan, but what’s important is that I have the choice for how I access information and how I communicate.
It’s never too late
Over the years, the biggest shift in my Auslan skills didn’t come from classes, it came from being in the company of those in the signing Deaf community. Being around other signers allows me to see different signs and get real time feedback if I’m unsure of a sign or even sign incorrectly (yep, I do that!) It can be hard to put yourself into those spaces, especially when you’re learning (I know I stayed away for far too long), but it is so very valuable.
I really do admire the parents who are learning Auslan for their children and are integrating it into family life. It takes so much work when you’re starting from nothing (or maybe knowledge of the alphabet from the Yellow Pages or a school diary!). No matter when or where you’re beginning, I want to let you know that it’s never too late and you’re not behind. You’re building connection with your deaf child in real time. Every sign you use builds connection, reduces frustration and makes communication easier for you both. And that kind of access changes everything.