He learned to sign before he could talk.

Abraham Aiken was born to deaf parents, and as an infant he communicated with his parents largely through sign language.

So unlike many children whose parents celebrated their first words, Aiken celebrated his first signs. And there was never any oddity — it was their beautiful normalcy.

“Sign language has been a part of my life since the day I was born. It is how I communicate with my parents as they are both deaf. Sign language has given me a lot of opportunities, as I am actively involved with sporting events in the deaf community and it has also given me the opportunity to generate some income as I have worked with different organisations and for many people who are in need of interpreting services,” the 19-year-old told the Jamaica Observer.

Sign language, Aiken continued, came naturally.

“The same way how an infant adapts their first language by hearing their parents or guardians talk every day, and at times, the parents might try to communicate with their child from time-to-time by saying little things; it was the same for me. However, I used my eyes to listen to what they said to me and they signed to me every day. Both of my parents are deaf, however, they can still speak, maybe not so clearly as other regular hearing people do, but I can understand every single word they say to me without them having to use sign language sign. However, sign language and English are totally different. But due to how I was raised, I am naturally able to translate from English to sign language,” he said.

While attending Calabar High School, Aiken had the opportunity to provide sign language services for the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

His older sister, Antoinette Aiken, has become a familiar face over the last couple of years through similar endeavors —doing interpretations at the top corner of a screen for various Government broadcasts.

“I have even had the opportunity to sign in the House of Parliament for my sister when she had emergencies come up, or when she was away. Sign language has also given me the opportunity to be a part of the deaf community, so I interpret for their small deaf club meetings when they have presentations and this has many benefits as I learn from the presentations myself while I interpret and meet and interact with deaf people all across Jamaica,” the Hellshire Glades, St Catherine told the Sunday Observer.

With the skills honed at home, Aiken said it was always highly probable that he would end up signing professionally. And he believes his sister’s career as a sign language interpreter didn’t really give impetus to his involvement.

“I have been interpreting for my parents for my entire life since the day I could speak. Whenever I am on the road with them and they try to communicate with people, most of the time people cannot understand them so I step in and explain what is needed,” he related.

“When at home and they get business calls or need to call a place, due to the barriers of communication, most places at the time didn’t have an option to text. I had to answer the phone and make calls for them so interpreting was really something I was naturally born with as well. Luckily for my parents, they have me, so I can provide interpreting, but other people need these services as well and that’s where I step in and provide my services,” he stated.

Aiken told the Sunday Observer that growing up, his parents were deaf and he had other family members who weren’t. As such, he just accepted his parents’ reality.

“However, I was never at any point in time ashamed of them,” he said, recalling his first time signing at an event. At the time, he wasn’t even a teenager.

“I was at a funeral for my father’s friend when I was very young. Even though I wasn’t paid, I had enjoyed it nevertheless, and after the funeral, the thanks that I got from the deaf community was what really made me feel good for my service. And ever since then, I started to work for an organisation by the name of Ready to Sign. I was hired by an astounding man by the name of Andre Witter, who is deaf and is the owner of this organisation,” he remembered.

But with school and a focus on Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations, Aiken had to strike a balance. He started working on weekends, and upon being admitted to Calabar’s Sixth Form programme, he had more free sessions.

He said he used the opportunity to work and gain revenue for himself.

“I explained to my form teacher and my grade supervisor that I worked, and with the permission of my grade supervisor, I was granted a pass to leave school a few times for work. This has changed my outlook as I realise that I can utilise my free time to help out the deaf community and make some change for myself,” he told the Sunday Observer.

“I would encourage every youngster to learn sign language, as it is a skill and it would help break the disability stigma [that is] present in Jamaica for deaf people. If youngsters learn sign language, they can be able to communicate with deaf people and even in the future, if they encounter deaf people at their workplaces, they can provide assistance or get communication access.”

Aiken, who said he “truly loves” animals and wants to become a veterinarian, plans to study animal biology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), having been accepted.

“…But sign language will forever be a part of my life. I still work with Ready to Sign in my free time and I don’t think I will ever stop working with this wonderful organisation. And who knows? Maybe in the future I might come across deaf people who need to get their animals checked out and so on, and I would be able to provide assistance for them because of my ability to sign fluently.”