How learning NZSL as a teacher aide changed Wendy's life

More than words: How learning NZSL changed Wendy's life

When Wendy first heard that a profoundly Deaf five-year-old little girl would be joining her primary school class, her first thought was: “How will I communicate with her?”

She had never met a Deaf person before. But when a Deaf visitor later came into the staffroom and no one knew how to communicate, Wendy realised something needed to change.

“I thought, this is just so rude — she’s come to see us, and we can’t even say hello.”

Wendy and Jorja during a school picture photoshoot That moment lit a spark. Joined by a friend, Wendy enrolled in a night class at Hagley High School to learn New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). “We went every week for five years,” she says. “It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done.”

Learning through connection

Six weeks into her NZSL classes, Wendy could already tell her efforts were paying off.

“I was finally able to tell the Deaf lady in the staffroom, ‘I’m learning sign language!’ After that, every morning teatime we’d sit together and sign. It was wonderful.”

Wendy’s new skills didn’t just bridge a communication gap — they opened her heart.
When the young Deaf student’s teacher aide left, Wendy was offered the chance to take over.

“I said yes straight away. I might have been teaching our young student, but she taught me so much. She made me a better person.”

Creating ripples of inclusion

Over the years, Wendy’s passion for NZSL flowed far beyond the classroom.
She began volunteering at a local preschool, teaching sign language to young children.

“The kids loved it! They’d go home and show their parents signs. One mum told me she could now communicate with her child in the swimming pool — it was amazing.”

Even today, years later, Wendy still uses signs in her small groups. “The other day a child showed his teacher the sign for ‘who’. That tiny moment meant so much to me,” she says.

The ripple effect of her work has been remarkable. Some teachers Wendy worked alongside went on to work at Van Asch Deaf Education Centre, inspired by their experience with NZSL. “It’s wonderful to know that what started with one little girl spread so far.”

A language that brings joy and belonging

For Wendy, learning NZSL didn’t just change how she communicates — it changed how she sees the world.

“Sign language took the fear out of difference. It opened a world of understanding,” she says.

She believes every school should teach it. “Even if it’s just the alphabet — it’s enough to make a Deaf person feel seen and included.”

Wendy still feels emotional remembering classmates, who by Year 8 could all sign. One girl even interpreted at a funeral when the interpreter didn’t arrive. “That made me cry. The flow-on effect was incredible.”

Giving back to keep the conversation going

Wendy’s connection to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community continues to this day — through her teaching, her volunteering, and her donations to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation.

“One young Deaf student started me on this journey,” she says. “Without her, I’d still be where I was all those years ago — unable to communicate, missing out on connection.”

She donates to help other students thrive. “It’s close to my heart. I know the difference it makes when someone feels included and understood.”

Keeping the language alive

Now, Wendy dreams of teaching sign language to every class in her school — even just 15 minutes a day. “The children are like little sponges,” she says. “It would be amazing to see them grow up knowing NZSL — because something as simple as saying hello in someone’s language can change their whole day.”

For Wendy, NZSL isn’t just a skill. It’s a lifelong source of joy — and a way of showing that connection matters more than words.

If you’d like to help build a more inclusive Aotearoa — where Deaf and hard of hearing people can thrive in every part of life — you can support programmes like our Game On! Deaf Awareness in Sports initiative. This workshop helps coaches and clubs make sport accessible for athletes of all ages and hearing abilities, so everyone has the chance to play, connect, and belong.