By RUSSELL BENNETT
ON Sunday for the first time in Ryan Emerson’s young football journey he was able to receive his coach’s instructions loud and clear.
The Pakenham under-10s star, like his parents Jane and Paul, is profoundly deaf.
But on Sunday at Timbarra Reserve against rivals the Tornados he was able to feel completely involved in the team huddle, thanks to Deaf Children Australia interpreter Neil Ray.
Ryan has been playing footy for four years and he’s never had interpreting support.
“This has been a really good opportunity for him, as well as Paul, to see what’s going on around the club and in the team talks as well – both of them felt much more confident,” mum, Jane said.
Mr Emerson is involved with the Lions under-10s as a trainer. While he’s loved his time in the role so far, he wasn’t able to understand Ryan’s coach until Sunday either.
“It’s been very beneficial for me today because I didn’t know what the coach was saying most of the time and, being a deaf person, I can’t lip-read, I don’t know what they’re saying and I can’t access any information,” he said straight after the game.
“Our wish is to make it a more permanent arrangement to help Ryan throughout the future in his development.”
Mr Emerson was once involved with the Diamond Valley Football League and he knows many current AFL umpires.
His name was once put forward to join the umpiring ranks at the top level but, being deaf, he missed out on the opportunity.
“When I applied to be an umpire there were 600 or so umpires and they all knew the deaf kid – they all knew who I was,” Mr Emerson said.
“Now, at AFL level, five of those umpires came out of the Diamond Valley league and I know all of them.”
Mrs Emerson said she didn’t want her son to face the same sorts of problems as he grows up.
“We want him to be able to access the opportunities available to him because it will help him with his own self-esteem and confidence,” she said.
“He finds school a bit difficult as it’s been hard for him lately so anything that can make Ryan feel more confident is really important to us.
“Kids are not aware of what it’s like to be deaf. Football has been great for Ryan because it’s an opportunity for him to show what he can achieve.”
Ryan has shown great promise, both in the ruck and at centre-half back. He has outstanding skills and his team-mates at the club accept him for who he is.
But not having an interpreter to this point has been a huge source of frustration for him – not knowing where to be on the ground and not knowing what the coaches are saying.
“I can sort of understand what’s going on and I can talk to Ryan separately because I’ve got football knowledge but that’s not my job – it’s the coach’s job,” Mr Emerson said.
“I don’t want him to feel out of the team – I want him to feel more equal with the other players so that’s why I try to support him as best I can.
“Other parents have roles in helping their kids and calling out instructions, so why can’t Ryan have that sort of inclusion?”
Ryan got a best-on-ground trophy for his first match this year but an inability to communicate directly with his team-mates makes his role as a ruckman infinitely harder.
“He can’t hear where the kids are calling for the ball,” Mr Emerson said.
“We were fortunate enough to see that report on Seven News about that interpreter at Murrumbeena and I thought maybe that was an opportunity for us to jump on the bandwagon and see if we could get some support for Ryan to help him through.”
Mrs Emerson said Deaf Children Australia offered plenty of services but they couldn’t do what they do without money.
“To provide the service for Ryan, the organisation – as well as Ryan himself – needs support,” she said.
“What we want is to create some awareness in our community because there are other deaf people in our community that might be able to play football but they’re holding back because they think they can’t do it.”
Another Pakenham player – in the under-15s – is also deaf.
South East Juniors general manager Shaun Connell said the league was keen to explore options to provide funding for interpreters where needed.
To help support the interpreting program at the Pakenham Junior Football Club, contact South East Juniors on (03) 5955 0555.
