Teenager inspired by her brother to teach thousands how to sign
MEET the 14-year-old girl who wants the whole world to learn sign language.
Isabella Evans was 11 when she started to make quite an impression online with her sign language skills.
The social media star, who now has more than 200,000 followers on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok, teaches people sign language.
When she was younger, Isabella, from Bridgend, started learning Makaton sign language to enable her to communicate with her brother Lucus, eight, who has Down’s syndrome and is non-verbal.
She really wanted to find a way for them to form a bond and, since then, life has never been the same.
Isabella’s mother, Kellie Evans, 42, said: “She has a brother with Down syndrome who is eight, and a brother with cerebral palsy who is 10 and a younger sister who is six.
“She decided she wanted to do something to be able to communicate with her two brothers – especially Lucus with Down’s syndrome.”
What started out as something very personal snowballed when Kellie shared a video of Isabella signing to song “Rockabye” on her Facebook page.
People started asking if they could share it with their friends, ds, and the messages s of praise aise started rted flooding ding in.
Ke ellie l l i e said: “A lot of people ple were re inter- erested. ed. T h a t ’s how she started Isabella Signs. She was 11 when she started and she’s 14 now.
“She does a sign of the day – it could be a word or a song.”
As her popularity has grown, and people continue to follow her platforms, Isabella has even managed to get some celebrities to help out with her sign of the day posts.
Some recognisable faces who wh have appeared on her channel ch have included actor ac David Tennant and TV personality Calum Best. Be
Kellie said her daughter has ha also helped other people pl in similar situations to find fin ways to communicate with wi their loved ones.
Isabella has formed a very ve special relationship with wi Lucus.
Kellie said: “Lucas was starting st to get quite frustr trated, but she really wanted wa to reach out to him. hi She wanted to find a way wa that works and she gets ge messages of support from people all over the world.
“One of the moments we thought ‘wow – this is making a difference’ was on a Friday night. She had a message from these women in their 20s. They were having drinks on a Friday night and they were signing along to Isabella Signs.
“They had Isabella Signs on the TV watching her sign, and to think Isabella is on a TV on a Friday night I think is really incredible.
“We just think she is making a difference. Teenagers get a bad name lately, but we are so proud of her.”
Isabella has had plenty to keep herself busy with during lockdown. She has been busy making videos and has been involved with various projects – one of which has been very important to her family.
Isabella and Lucus have made a new video together to show their support to the thankyou/together initiative.
Its aim was to encourage people from all over the UK to unite at 5pm last Sunday to celebrate the NHS’ 72nd birthday.
The event gave people across the UK a chance to say thank you to everyone who has helped through the coronavirus crisis.
■ To find out more about Isabella Signs, visit her website.