The Berry’s have lived in this street for 20 years. Neighbours help in emergencies and
even take phone calls for them.
What do you need me to do?
I’d like to ring my work and ask them what time I start work – can you ring for me?
Can you give me the number?
I think growing up spoken communication around me left me feeling isolated, now having my
own family and they’re all deaf, communication is just so smooth we can understand what everybody’s
wants and needs are. I think there were a lot more barriers when we were growing up,
for the younger generation it’s easier for them. We didn’t have fax machines, computers,
text phones – they’ve got text phones, they’ve got Relay service, computers, internet,
access to interpreters – we didn’t have interpreters, we had to rely on writing notes
back and forth. Today the younger generation are better off in regards to technology.
Here we are at Baker Boys, Baker Boys is really quite a Berry family affair. My dad’s worked
here for quite a number of years and me and my brother used to work here as a summer job.
My sister Kylie has worked here for more than a year full time.
When I first started the job communication was a bit difficult, two or three of the staff
picked it up really quickly while others were a bit slower but we just learnt from each
other, hours spent together and we don’t have any problems.
I think I’m pretty animated, the other staff pick up my facial expressions, if I sign something
like this they understand that I need help and if I say it’s time for a break they’ll
understand that in sign language.
I’m deaf but half hearing as well. I know what people are saying but there might be
a conversation I’ve missed and people are laughing and I’ll laugh along with them
but I’ve missed the punch line. I’d like them to tell me one to one what they have
said.
What did you do last weekend?
I went away with a group of friends.
There is one colleague of mine called Sam, she’s really picked up the sign language
very quickly but some others sometimes find it a bit difficult to understand me so this
staff member Sam will work sometimes like an interpreter in the workplace and that really
makes me happy that we’re able to communicate.
Kylie left school early, she did a computer course but she has other dreams – for now
she works at the bakery.
I’m keen to work as a hairdresser, I think I could manage that with the hearing that
I have.
Mark thought he would become an actor, he starred in school drama productions and two
deaf films but there are few opportunities.
The reason behind me majoring in education is that it’s very hard for deaf actors to
get work in the media. I’m a realist really because I know at the moment in New Zealand
for deaf people there’s not a lot of work in acting and media. It may happen some time
in the future. I needed a backup really so my second major would allow me to work with
people.
Mark likes watching TV with subtitles but the family video recorder can’t capture
teletext, it can only be seen live so they set up a camera to record shows. Mark says
TV does little to promote deaf culture.
During Maori Language Week Shortland Street included Te Reo in their programming which
is fine, it’s one of our official languages and people complained about it but it’s
just one week. We could complain too, not all programmes are captioned and I might be
really keen to watch a movie or programme but I can’t access it because it’s not
captioned. We have three official languages here and we need to make these part of who
we are.
It’s a hectic household but Mark and Kylie plan to shift to Auckland so for now the Berry’s
are happy being together.
Poker is one of our favourite family games, it’s a game we can play together but you
have to watch Rachel, she tends to look over your shoulder at the cards. Kylie is OK she’s
just learning, Dad’s pretty clever, he has a good poker face so it’s hard to tell if
he’s bluffing. Mum’s OK, she’s average, me? I’m average…. yeah I’ve got a pretty
good poker face. So from us the Berry family this is our life,
hope you enjoyed watching, thanks and bye.