Signing on!

Nearly 50 staff are learning how to use sign language to communicate with customers who have impaired hearing.

Their new skills mean they will also be able to enjoy a closer working relationship, as well as coffee break chats in the canteen.

"We're an equal opportunities employer and if people with a disability have skills which are needed here we do all we can to help them fit in," said Helen Winfield, the store's full-time events co-ordinator.

Tutor at the sign language classes is 41-year-old Theresa Ludlow, who learned signing 20 years ago in South Wales so she could talk to hard of hearing friends.

Theresa, who now lives in Tetbury, is the new store's checkout trainer.

"When we noticed that on her application form she said sign language was one of her skills we decided this was a wonderful opportunity," said Helen.

Two of the pupils at her first signing class yesterday have a hearing problem themselves.

Bernadette Davis, 45, is deaf in one ear but says her hearing is getting worse.

"It's very difficult for deaf people to find jobs," she said. "I'm very happy to be working here and I thought this class would be very useful," she said.

Bernie's husband Michael is also deaf. Both have been taken on as stock assistants in the groceries department.

Stephanie Thrush is studying graphics and design at Swindon College but has taken a weekend job as a checkout assistant at the new hypermarket.

"It's will be great to communicate with colleagues here," said 18-year-old Stephanie. "It's hard to do that at the College."

Mother and daughter Diana, 35, and 18-year-old Lindsay Heatley were both at Theresa's Wednesday morning signing class.

"It's not as difficult as it looks," said Diana, who will be an optical assistant in the store's optician's department.

"My biggest difficulty is that I get my hands mixed up at times."

Lindsay, who is on the admin staff, has friends who are deaf but admitted she was finding sign language pretty confusing. "Once you get used to it and have had a chance to practise it should come right," she said. "I hope we'll soon be able to hold proper conversations."

Sonia Toner and Karen Manning, who are both 39, reckoned that once they have learned the signs for letters of the alphabet it will be a question of basic common sense.

John Fisher, 19, said he decided to join the class because his mum works at a special school.

"I think this is going to be very useful. It's also quite enjoyable," said 35-year-old housewares manager Nick Harwood.

Their teacher Theresa reckons it won't be long before they are all proficient at signing. Within minutes of the class starting they had already learned how to say Father Christmas in sign language.

www.handspeak.com