For Chloe, communication has always been important. As someone who works at our Support Centre and attends Alex Hills L&L, she loves engaging with those around her. But as she gradually loses her hearing, she’s had to find new ways to connect with the world.
That’s where Australian Sign Language, more commonly known as Auslan, has made all the difference for Chloe.
Determined to stay connected, Chloe and her family have been learning Auslan together.
It helps to communicate with those who are deaf or have trouble hearing,
But it also promotes better awareness about deaf people and the hard of hearing to the hearing community.
Chloe has been facilitating Auslan lessons at Alex Hills L&L where an enthusiastic group of people is learning the language with her guidance.
“Sometimes, it’s like a secret code that only we understand!” she jokes. But it’s also incredibly practical.
“When I had a tummy problem, I used Auslan all the time because I couldn’t speak. It made it so much easier to tell people how I was feeling.”
At home, Chloe and her family often sign to each other even when they don’t have to.
Sometimes we just use it because we can
But most of the time it’s useful, especially when you don’t feel like talking out loud or if you need to communicate something private.
Beyond her own journey, Chloe is passionate about encouraging more people to learn Auslan. She believes it’s a skill that benefits everyone, whether they’re deaf, hard of hearing, or simply want to communicate in a more inclusive way.
People should use Auslan because it helps them communicate better. It means anyone can communicate with anyone.
This Auslan Day we celebrate Chloe and all those who are embracing Auslan as a way to connect, express themselves and break down barriers. By learning Auslan we can all play a role in communicating in a more inclusive way.
Happy Auslan Day!
You can learn more about Auslan and Chloe’s journey here.
To download resources for Auslan Day head to the Deaf Australia website.
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