A Deaf tradie whose teacher was willing to learn to sign while he was an apprentice has now had the confidence to start his own business.
This New Zealand Sign Language Week he’s hoping his story will encourage other Deaf Kiwis to believe they can do the same.
Sitting down with 1News, with an NZSL interpreter at hand, Gino Haynes explained: “To start with, it was quite difficult. There was a lot to read and a lot to learn and a lot to set up.”
The hurdles of building a client base and arranging jobs complicated further when those hiring you don’t speak your language.
Haynes said he starts off by visiting customers face to face, and letting them know he’s Deaf.
“I usually at that point pull out my cell phone and I type up a text message and I show them, they read that and then they usually invite me into their home and through gesture we communicate.
“Some people might want to ask a question so again, I pull out my phone and we communicate through text messages.
He said some are quite smart and pull out their own phone using speech to text methods or AI.
“I congratulate them for thinking of that”, Gino added.
Haynes has been Deaf since birth, with New Zealand Sign Language his first language.
1News first met the Auckland-based flooring installer in 2022 when he was an apprentice.
His employer learnt New Zealand Sign Language especially.
At the time Hamish Frost told 1News: “I said ‘please can you teach me sign language’, so [Gino] did.
“You don’t need to learn it in a week, I’ve spent four years learning it with Gino and we’ve enjoyed the journey.”
Haynes was complimentary of his boss: “He’s keeping on going with his progress and it does take a few years but now I’m surprised we can actually communicate really fluently together.”
Reflecting on it now, Haynes said Frost was an important role model in the way he worked alongside him.
Gino got his qualification with the support of BCITO.
The building and construction apprenticeship provider currently has 40 Deaf or hard of hearing trainees.
The head of the organisation’s disability programme has encouraged anyone to get in contact if they’re interested in starting an apprenticeship.
“If you have a disability, please come forward. Let us know how we can help you to succeed. You are the expert in you, and we’re interested to help you to achieve what you want to achieve” said Andrew Green.
Haynes admits some clients haven’t always been sure of him.
“One man when I arrived at his house he let me in and I could read that he wasn’t sure about me because I said to him I’m Deaf.
“I could see that he was a bit taken back and unsure about that… he allowed me in but he didn’t look impressed so I felt that our relationship wasn’t great at that point, but I thought I can show him through action you know that phrase that action speaks louder than words.”
He explained that he got to work, and the client was happy with the job.
“Gave me a good handshake, smiled and I could see on his face that he was a happy customer,” Haynes said.
He also recalled working with a customer who’d gone through a number of tradespeople before him.
“I went in with that awareness and I thought right, I’ll try my best.”
He worked alongside the builder to complete the client’s job successfully.
“I really appreciate that builder working with me and us working together and able to protect everything and keep the customer happy. So that’s another part of the job I guess having good working relationships with other team members and making sure that you look after the client’s needs.”
His success so far with his company G8 Flooring, showing his lack of hearing doesn’t need to be a barrier.
The tradie offering a message to other Deaf New Zealanders this Sign Language Week, who may want to start their own business too.
“I encourage others just to be confident and give it a go. Use your initiative, you can. I am living proof that we can,” Haynes said.
