Sisipho signs away BY THANDI ZONDO ILLUSTRATED BY AMY SANG

SISIPHO LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH HER MUM AND DAD. THEY WENT SHOPPING, THEY PLAYED IN THE PARK AND THEY DID MANY OTHER FUN THINGS AS A FAMILY. 1 Page illustrated by Jenna Hampson

THEY LOVED TO CHAT AND TELL JOKES ALL IN SIGN LANGUAGE BECAUSE BOTH OF SISIPHO’S PARENTS WERE DEAF. SISIPHO WAS NOT DEAF BUT SHE WAS VERY GOOD AT SIGN LANGUAGE. 2 Page illustrated by Alice Saulez

SHE DID NOT LEARN TO TALK BECAUSE SHE LIVED ONLY WITH HER MUM AND DAD WHO COULD NOT TALK. THEY GOT HER GRAN AND GRANDPA AND OTHER FAMILY TO SPEND TIME WITH HER SO THAT SHE COULD PRACTISE SPEAKING. 3 Illustrated by Nabeela Abdool

THEY BOUGHT HER STORY BOOKS WITH TAPES LISTEN TO WHICH THEY PLAYED FOR HER EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BETIME. SHE LOVED LISTENING TO THE STORIES BECAUSE EVERY NIGHT SHE WOULD BEG FOR ONE MORE. EVEN WITH ALL THE STORIES SHE STILL WOULD NOT USE HER VOICE TO TALK TO HER ‘HEARING’ FAMILY. 4 Illustrated by Alyssia Mathysen

HER GRANDPARENTS LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH HER. WHENEVER SHE CAME TO VISIT, THEY WOULD PLAN A LOT OF FUN STUFF TO DO WITH HER. THEY PLAYED GAMES LIKE “KNOCK KNOCK”, TO GET HER TO TALK. THEY WOULD ALSO ASK HER QUESTIONS ON THE OUTINGS THEY TOOK HER TO, BUT SHE WOULD JUST SIGN WHEN SHE ANSWERED. 5 Illustrated by Shannon Blades

HER MUM AND DAD THEN TALKED TO THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TO HELP THEM GET HER TO USE HER VOICE. WHEN SHE DREW A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF A GIRL SINGING ON STAGE. THE TEACHER ASKED HER TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT IT. SHE GOT UP AND TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT IT, IN SIGN LANGUAGE. 6 Illustrated by Amal Vaid

ONE DAY HER WHOLE FAMILY WENT TO SEE HER COUSIN MANDISA’S SCHOOL CONCERT. WHILE MANDISA WENT TO MEET HER TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM, HER PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND HER AUNT AND UNCLE ALL WENT TO THE HALL. THEY SAT TO WATCH CHILDREN PLAYING TAKING TURNS TO PLAY ON THE PIANO. 7 Illustrated by Grade 3 girl

THE FIRST CHILD PLAYED “TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR”. THE NEXT ONE PLAYED “OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM” SISIPHO STARTED MOVING HER HEAD TO THE MUSIC BUT NO ONE SAW HER BECAUSE THEY WERE BUSY CHATTING. WHEN THE CHILD GOT TO THE CHORUS SISIPHO SANG ALONG WHILE SHE DANCED TO THE MUSIC. 8 Illustrated by Kate Jarvis

EVERYONE KEPT QUIET AND LISTENED TO HER SINGING AND WHEN SHE REALISED WHAT SHE HAD DONE. SHE COVERED HER MOUTH AND LOOKED AROUND THE HALL WITH HER EYES WIDE OPEN IN SURPRISE. GRANDPA SAID,” WE ALWAYS SING THAT SONG FOR HER AND SHE HAS NEVER JOINED IN BEFORE TODAY.” 9 Illustrated by Kate Jarvis

HER FAMILY WAS SMILING AT HER AND THEY SIGNED TO ‘CHAT’ ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED SO THAT HER PARENTS CAN UNDERSTAND. HER MUM AND DAD HUGGED HER AND SIGNED, TELLING HER TO KEEP ON SINGING. 10 Illustrated by a Grade 3 girl.

THEY LAUGHED WHEN SHE SANG. HER DAD SIGNED, “ I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT YOU TO THIS SCHOOL A LONG TIME AGO IF I KNEW THAT A PIANO WOULD MAKE YOU USE YOUR VOICE! 11 Illustrated by Willow Eberle and Nabeela Masood