Tyrese Dibba is teaching thousands of people across the UK British Sign Language (BSL), with videos released during Deaf Awareness Week.
Monday (4 May) was the start of Deaf Awareness Week, a campaign to help raise awareness of life with hearing loss, acquired hearing loss and the D/deaf community.
Now, 15-year-old Tyrese Dibba from Birmingham is getting thousands of people across the UK learning BSL during lockdown, helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation amongst disabled people.
Sign up FREE by following the simple steps on the Sense website.
CAMPAIGN
Tyrese, who is Deaf and partially sighted, is fronting the new campaign from the national disability charity, Sense.
Tyrese Dibba, says: “I want more people to learn to sign, so Deaf people don’t get excluded. You should be able to chat to someone, whatever their disability might be. After all, no one likes feeling left out.”
The aim of the campaign is to encourage more people to learn BSL, the main language and form of communication for people who are Deaf or living with a hearing impairment.
SUPPORT
Living with CHARGE syndrome, Tyrese’s body is affected in many ways, and he and his family have been supported by Sense since Tyrese was six months old.
Now, Tyrese is giving back with his BSL videos.
“I’m very proud of how Tyrese just got on with filming, not hiding any of his personality,” enthuses Vicky Dibba, Tyrese’s mother.
“Tyrese is proud to be Deaf and feels more people should treat everybody equally and I’m happy to support him.”
EDUCATION
With BSL the first language for over 145,000 people in the UK alone, it is important to continue raising awareness of BSL and the people who use it.
Richard Kramer, Sense chief executive adds: “If more people are able to use it we can ensure that less people are left out, helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation amongst disabled people.
“It’s really fun to learn and an ideal time to learn, with so many of us stuck at home looking for new things to do.”
You can sign up for free British Sign Language lessons with Tyrese by visiting the Sense website here.
Are you learning BSL during lockdown? Share your progress with the #EnableCommunity online at Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.