New Zealand Sign Language Week

This week is New Zealand Sign Language Week, a week to celebrate New Zealand Sign Language and raise awareness of Aotearoa’s Deaf community and proudly promote their language and culture. Craccum encourages everyone to get amongst learning New Zealand sign language – even if it is just the basics. 

On the page across, we have attached the NZSL Fingerspelling Alphabet – an easy way to get started with learning to sign your name. Deaf Aotearoa have a great range of resources available on their website and also on the New Zealand Sign Language Week page – with booklets for family, medical and work situations alongside Māori concepts too. 

Learn NZSL is a free learning portal that can be accessed at learnnzsl.nz This site offers modules that guide you through some of the language and how to sign it. The NZSL Online Dictionary is a key tool that can be used to view and understand sign language.

Deaf Aotearoa have several tips for communicating with Deaf people.

• Talk face to face
• Tap on the individual’s shoulder to get their attention
• Otherwise, wave your hand in front of the person
• Use a pen and paper 
• Do not shout 
• Try to not cover your mouth and to not look down