When I was at Wits Language School, my team and I were asked to design a course for Deaf teachers fluent in South African Sign Language (SASL). It wasn’t a tweak to an existing programme. It was a full redesign.

Because here’s the truth: teaching a spoken and written language to professionals who communicate visually, spatially and expressively requires more than translation. It requires transformation.

The Challenge:
How do you teach someone to write in English when they don’t think in its grammar? How do you respect the richness of SASL while helping learners gain access to a different system?

The Approach:
We didn’t copy-and-paste a curriculum. We co-created one. We built bridges between SASL and English. We taught with visuals, expression and patience. And most importantly, we listened.

The Impact:
Deaf educators saw English not as a barrier, but a bridge. They grew in confidence. They developed tools not just for language, but for self-expression and connection.

One partner said:
“The belief that English language acquisition in the Deaf community is not far-fetched… has become a reality.”

We didn’t just shift skills. We shifted mindsets.

And that’s the power of transformational learning. It doesn’t just change what people do. It changes what they believe they’re capable of.

This Deaf Awareness Month, let’s remember: language is identity, access and power. When we co-create with care, transformation is possible.