09/23/2025
From Student to Teacher: Kelly’s Sign Language Success Story
On Wednesday afternoons, you can find Kelly teaching a sign language class at Karis Toronto. Kelly started out as a student in that very same class, learning the alphabet and conversation starters with other people who use Karis services in Toronto. “I didn’t learn just for myself. My cousin is in a wheelchair and the only way he can communicate is through his eyes. I wanted to learn sign language to try to communicate with him through that way.”
Her giftedness for picking up sign and her observation of non-verbal communication was quickly noticed by her teacher. When a spot opened up to teach the sign language class, Kelly was recommended and she said YES.
“When you’re doing sign language, you have to show your feelings and emotions with your whole body language, and your facial features,” said Kelly. “I can understand people a lot more than I did before.”
Kelly’s advice for hearing people who want to learn sign? “It’s not just learning or watching videos, you have to do the work and want to really understand what it’s like to not use your voice box.”
