SIGN TOGETHER

CAISO celebrated Deaf Awareness Month with the Sign Together Graduation and Closing Ceremony on September 28, 2023, at the British High Commissioner’s Residence. Six students successfully completed the five-level Trinidad and Tobago Sign Language (TTSL) program introduced by CAISO in 2021. With 33 initial enrollees, the program had 17 hearing participants from the LGBTQI+ community, civil society, and private sector organizations in its first phase who achieved Level 3 certification in TTSL.

In the second phase, conducted in partnership with the Deaf Empowerment and Advancement Foundation (DEAF), nine students enrolled, and six of them completed Level 5 in August. Sign Together is the only free TTSL program offering tuition up to Levels 4 and 5. As a result of the program, over 20 LGBTQI+ individuals and service providers now have various levels of TTSL proficiency.

Congratulations to the six Level 5 graduates for their achievement and best wishes for their continued journey toward cultural integration and providing more inclusive services to Deaf LGBTQI+ individuals.

Sign language interpreters are powerful gatekeepers between Deaf people and a hearing world. Deaf people often require interpretation to communicate with others about sensitive, personal and emotional matters (e.g., sexual health, domestic violence), and may be victims of their interpreters’ values, biases and sense of shame. Opportunities for Deaf LGBTQI+ persons to enjoy LGBTQI+ community and access the services and programmes provided by LGBTQI+ organisations are similarly hindered by language barriers. This project supports those who want to bridge the gap between the hearing and Deaf worlds. Cycle One – Levels 1-3 – T&T Sign Language Classes

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.

DESIGN WORK & ACTIVITIES
This project was designed in collaboration with Dr Ben Braithwaite of the Lloyd Best Institute of the Caribbean. The project included 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 [email protected].