Learning to drive is a challenge for many people, but for Sarah-Jade Walker, a deaf woman from Selby, North Yorkshire, it became an extraordinary journey of teamwork, patience, and mutual learning. While preparing for her driving test, Sarah-Jade found herself not only gaining confidence behind the wheel but also teaching her driving instructor British Sign Language (BSL) along the way.
What started as a simple driving lesson soon turned into a powerful example of how understanding and communication can remove barriers.
Sarah-Jade was running a British Sign Language “bootcamp” in North Yorkshire when she met Adele Oldroyd, a driving instructor from Selby. Adele had joined the course because she had long wanted to learn BSL, without realising that this decision would soon reshape her professional life.
As the two spent time together, they quickly realised they could help each other in meaningful ways. Sarah-Jade needed a driving instructor who understood deaf communication, while Adele was eager to improve her BSL skills. That shared goal brought them together.
Although Sarah-Jade had taken driving lessons before, she had been searching for someone who could truly understand the needs of a deaf learner. When she began lessons with Adele, the connection was instant.
They worked as a team from the very beginning. While Sarah-Jade focused on improving her driving skills, Adele continued learning BSL during lessons. According to Sarah-Jade, they “gelled” straight away, creating an environment built on trust, respect, and patience.
Driving lessons were different from the norm. There was frequent stopping to talk things through, with Adele always making sure to face Sarah-Jade so she could lip-read. Adele also communicated using BSL, openly admitting that her signing was not perfect—but both were committed to making it work.
Sarah-Jade, who uses a cochlear implant, learned to drive both with and without it. On days when the implant battery died, lessons still continued. Adele adapted fully, teaching entirely through sign language instead of ending the session early.
For Sarah-Jade, this commitment meant everything. It gave her confidence and reassurance that she was capable of passing, regardless of the challenges.
The journey was not without difficulties. Adele’s Yorkshire accent sometimes made lip-reading harder, and regional differences in communication added extra layers of focus. Driving itself demands concentration, and Sarah-Jade had to pay close attention to facial expressions, signs, and limited sounds at the same time.
Despite these obstacles, both women remained patient. If something was not working, they discussed it calmly and adjusted their approach instead of becoming frustrated.
Sarah-Jade took her driving test in October, and neither she nor Adele expected the result that followed. When she was told she had passed, Sarah-Jade described the feeling as overwhelming, saying it felt like her “head exploded.”
Adele called it the most memorable driving test of her career and praised the examiner for being supportive and understanding. Overjoyed by the result, Adele celebrated by doing laps around the car park.
Both women admitted they became emotional, knowing how much passing meant for Sarah-Jade’s work, independence, and family life.
Since passing her test, Sarah-Jade says life has become noticeably easier. She can now drive her children to school, manage daily tasks independently, and enjoy the freedom that comes with being able to get behind the wheel whenever she wants.
For her, having an instructor who understood the lived experience of deafness—rather than reacting with impatience—was the key to success.
Adele says the experience has changed her as an instructor. Since teaching Sarah-Jade, she has begun working with another deaf learner. While communication styles differ and regional variations in BSL present new challenges, Adele now feels better prepared and more confident in supporting deaf students.
The two women have stayed in touch and remain friends, bonded by an experience that went far beyond driving lessons.
This story highlights how simple willingness to learn and adapt can transform lives. By meeting each other halfway, Sarah-Jade and Adele proved that barriers can be broken—not with special treatment, but with understanding, respect, and effort.
For Sarah-Jade, passing her driving test was more than just a qualification. It was a step toward independence and a reminder that with the right support, anything is possible.
Source & Reference:
BBC News – I taught my driving instructor sign language to help me pass test
