Neighbours learn sign language to help deaf girl go trick or treating for first time

Big-hearted neighbours of a six-year-old deaf girl have rallied together so she can trick or treat for the first time.

Ada Hawkes was diagnosed as profoundly deaf aged 18 months and British Sign Language (BSL) is her first language. She has always wanted to participate in with her mother Tilly but has been deterred by the communication barriers.

Trick or treating can also pose obstacles for the deaf community because of the darkness and mask-wearing, which makes lip reading and interaction more difficult.

Now Tilly has partnered with Cadbury Fingers and the National Deaf Children's Society to encourage their community to learn basic BSL ahead of Halloween, and be as inclusive as possible for those who are hard of hearing.

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So far, they have encouraged 60 per cent of the households in her Worcester neighbourhood to learn BSL and help Ada have her first trick or treating experience.

All residents received a package to learn Halloween themed BSL phrases such as 'trick or treat' and 'you look spooky'. Those participating have displayed in their window that they are learning BSL, with expert sign-linguists visiting residents to support their progress ahead of spooky season.

Tilly, who runs Learning.Adas.Language, said: "We haven't taken Ada trick or treating before as we've been wary that there could be barriers in communication with other households, and we haven't wanted her to feel left out. The fact that our street now knows a little BSL, we're really looking forward to taking her out trick or treating for the first time. Having her neighbours communicate with her in BSL is going to be so exciting."

It comes after research among 2,000 adults found 59 per cent have never used any BSL before - and 67 per cent admit they would struggle to communicate with a deaf person. While 71 per cent wouldn't even be confident to greet someone with BSL. In fact, 33 per cent have typed messages on their phone to communicate, with 61 per cent speaking slowly to help deaf people to lip read.

While a separate survey, of 400 people from the deaf community, found one in four have never trick or treated, and as a result, 43 per cent felt like they missed out.

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