At work a few years ago I met a Deaf girl who I kind of had to teach to ride/ some horse care. The communication issue was difficult but we both quickly learnt how to communicate with each other. Some of it was via me learning a bit of BSL (British Sign Language); either off her or from the net. Others were just from little signs we'd made up/ notes that I wrote to her on more complex stuff/ stuff I couldn't easily demonstrate there and then. She was very patient and happy to help and, most people, if they want to get on well with someone they will work hard to find ways for you to be able to communicate with them so hopefully they'll be able to teach you a bit of ASL (american Sign Language) and that would really help.
There are, here at least anyway, college courses/ evening courses you can go to where you can learn sign language that can lead to qualifications if you want to. They can be quite expensive (though your employer might put some money towards it) but also, I imagine, quite rewarding and may end up very useful. So, it may be worth you going on one of them to learn the basics
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