Northlands Parkway Collegiate (NPC) congratulated one of their students this week for being awarded the Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CAEDHH) award for Personal Accomplishments.

The national organization supports equal access to education for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, giving awards in each province to students to recognize their hard work and accomplishments.

Jacobo Wall, grade 12, was awarded for Personal Accomplishments. Anita Dyck Consultant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education explains why Wall was chosen for this award.

"He competed at the Red River Technical Vocational Area (RRTVA) within the field of Heavy Industrial Mechanics, which has a super specific vocabulary. Here we have a student who’s working with English as a second language."

Dyck explains English is structured much differently than the 3D American Sign Language (ASL) Wall communicates in.

Even though Wall had to grasp and learn all the technical terms in his non-native language, he was able to compete on par with the other hearing students.

Wall was honoured to receive the award and plans on pursuing a career in mechanics after he finishes High School.

Members of the school division administration, the school, community, front-line, as well as Wall’s parents, Jacob and Nettie Wall, supported Wall and vouch for his personal accomplishments leading to this award.

Wall was also invited to compete in Edmonton as a member Manitoba’s team attending Youth Canada Tournament of the Deaf 2017, but turned it down, keeping his commitment to his RRTVA team.

Dyck explains that as a teacher there are many challenges that arise when trying to relay information and communications to deaf or hard of hearing students.

"ASL is their native and natural language. Even if they come to school and they haven't completely learned their ASL, it is the language that’s most natural to learn because it’s visual. I'm not fluent, so here I am trying to communicate visually when it’s not my native language."

Dyck says though she and others in her position are struggling to try to communicate using ASL and the students are learning their stutters, the students remain resilient and despite the language barrier continue to learn.