Sign of the times

There’s a different kind of sign being made across the agency desks, but it’s not the sort you may be thinking of.

No, these signs are entirely above board. Phoenix artworker Esther Maycock is profoundly deaf and she’s been running weekly sign language sessions for her colleagues.

In her first job since leaving college, Esther has found working in a large fully hearing office a considerable communication challenge. Using mainly a special agency chat room facility, email and lip-reading, she says it’s the little things that make a big difference.

Esther started the sessions after some deaf awareness talks arranged by Surrey County Council that sparked much interest from colleagues. They’ve since continued at Friday lunchtimes and apparently everyone laughs more than they sign. She’s been teaching full alphabet finger spelling, most common conversations, hand shapes, facial expressions and fun games including Chinese Whispers and sign-nicknames.

Esther’s a bit of sporting hero as well. She’s a member of the British Deaflympic Women’s Football Team and, through a skilful dummy move that deceived the Danish goalkeeper, she helped Britain win a bronze medal at the Melbourne Games earlier this year.