Nelson supermarket to test sign language aisle at checkout

By RNZ’s Tracy Neal

A Nelson supermarket will test a sign language aisle at its checkout.

The trial is led by Hearing Nelson, who offered counseling and support to the hearing impaired and their whānau.

He said methacrylate masks and screens used as barriers against Covid-19 were causing significant problems for people with hearing problems.

President Connie Charleton said many relied on lip reading, but anyone who had a hard time hearing people behind masks and screens could also benefit from the trial, which would include sign language posters on the box.

Charleton said the idea came from a conversation with friends.

“We were talking about Covid, as you do, and one in particular with hearing problems said how hard it was to hear with the methacrylate barrier in the supermarket.

“Another spoke and said he could hear well and was still having difficulty.”

Charleton said the problems grew when people were encouraged to wear masks.

“Since I’m hearing impaired myself, I read lips a lot so I got to thinking about how we could help hearing impaired people, which is what Hearing Nelson is all about, how can we help those people communicate . “

He said it was also a good way to celebrate Sign Language Week later this month. Sign language became the official language of New Zealand in 2006.

Charleton said the trial was a way to help hearing-impaired people feel appreciated, valued and welcomed by society at a difficult time.

He said the supermarket’s checkout staff was being trained in basic sign language and that posters would be posted in the aisle.

“People who choose to use that hallway can talk if they want to, but they also use sign language to communicate.

“It will be just basic things like ‘hello’ and ‘do you have your club card?’, ‘You have a shopping bag,’ just little things like that, which make the payment process easier.

Charleton said the test had been approved by the supermarket chain’s central office and accepted by the store manager.

“I think once people get over the initial shyness of using a different language, once they get familiar with things, it will work out well.”

She hoped that the Hearing Nelson initiative would be adopted nationally.

The test will begin at the New World supermarket in Nelson on September 14.