The Singapore Association of the Deaf

The Story of Mr C

A few years ago now one of our senior staff Mr. Nelson living in the Telok Blangah Area of Singapore happen to notice a old man sitting on a bench each day as he was walking to catch the bus to his nearby MRT station. The old man was wearing shipyard clothing and had construction workers personal safety equipment on. As he began pass the old man, the old man began to make strange noises and strange signs with his hands to what at the time seemed like a mental disorder.

Time went by and as the end of the working day was drawing near Mr. Nelson was making his way home; when he was confronted again by the old man. Who again was making some involuntary noises and actions that he looked like he had no control over them. But then through the midst of the chaos the old man repeated one action several times; the action of pointing to his watch. Mr. Nelson walked on by and some moments later pondered the idea that the old man was making this sign to refer to mean that it was either end of work time or time to go home.

The next day and the next after that the old man was still sitting there on the park bench and continuing to make his strange noise and strange signs. Months went by day in day out seeing the old man sitting there each day. He was always wearing what became clear by now was his old working uniform for his old shipyard construction company. The old man from a far seamed lonely, unhappy, broken. but whenever he spotted a person that he could interact with he was happy, even that the feeling was not two ways.

One day Mr. Nelson noticed that the old man had a newspaper he had seen the old man with one before but for some unknown reason it accrued to him that the old man was actually reading the news paper not just holding it.

Mr. Nelson went and sat with the old man and tried to communicate with the old man pointing to world. That was when he discoed the old man was not mentally ill but deaf. It was that day that Mr. Nelson met Mr. C, and it was that day that Mr. C joined our company.

There are a lot of people in the world that just need a chance to get back on their feet. Spending time to understand our fellow man and show compassion is not a difficult task. The littlest actions can mean a lot to people. Mr. C was without work because of his disability and not able to support himself or contribute to his family. With very little effort Mr. Nelson helped to teach Mr. C some basic sign language to the point that he is now ready to go on a course to learn further for himself.

Mr. C now has paid employment, a purpose in life. He is such a kind, warm hearted old man and we are very happy to have him as a security guard at the company and general building caretaker. The rewards of making a difference to his life and bringing him happiness is rewards enough for us.

Make a difference today, help someone in your local community.