Promoting sign language – one video clip at a time

Promoting sign language 
– one video clip at a time

42-year-old Danny O’Connell who has been severely deaf since birth is posting daily videos on Facebook and Instagram to teach people different words and phrases using BSL.

The idea came to him after plans to move to the UK last month to take up a job fell through. With time on his hands, he decided to promote a language he is now so proficient in he has learned more than 10,000 signs.

He said: ‘I just woke up and thought “I’m going to start doing some signing videos”. With my passion for signing I can do interpreting and talking. I did them myself with my mobile phone and a tripod. I edit them all myself. I go round the island to record them. I’ve done some Christmas ones, so it’s going to be really nice.’

Danny says it’s his way of raising awareness of the 4,000 Islanders who, he says, have some form of hearing loss.

‘I’ve got lots I want to do with it to bring awareness for hearing people who want to learn it. I want to do one-to-one tutorials. I want to make people aware.’

He wasn’t diagnosed as severely deaf until the age of five. Until that point he was non-verbal but says it was put down by others to him being ‘just a naughty boy who didn’t want to speak’. It took his parents seeking out an expert in the UK for him to be diagnosed.

Danny learned sign language at the age of 16, and is continually learning new words. It is thought only 35 to 40 people in Jersey use BSL to communicate, he hopes awareness of his videos will in turn generate more interest in it.

‘People have said they’re good, fantastic. It’s something small at the moment that I’m just doing it at the weekend. I work ahead so, at the moment I’m recording signs that I’ll put out next February. I do different themes, including transport, colours and Christmas.’

Danny’s ambitions stretch beyond his videos, though. Having been inspired by the Beresford Street Kitchen in St Helier – a cafe where people with learning difficulties can gain employment and skills – he’d like something similar for the deaf community.

He explained: ‘My future plan is to open a deaf café to offer a warm welcome. It will create jobs for deaf people who can’t currently work. I think it could be great. A nice atmosphere so deaf people can chat with other deaf people, and others can come in and learn.’

For now, he’s just hoping more people like his Facebook page and Instagram feed which can both be found at @jerseybsltasters.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –