Officers at Woodseats Police Station are being treated to special lessons in sign language thanks to an inspiring young man who isn’t going to let his disabilities prevent him from achieving his goals.

PCSO Supervisor Natalie Dixon met Christopher Laurie Sampson whilst out on community engagement work and was so impressed with his enthusiasm for teaching that she arranged for him to teach valuable sign language skills to PCSOs and police officers at Woodseats Police Station.

18-year-old Chris lives with his mum and his two brothers in Millhouses, Sheffield. Chris has severe learning difficulties, Down’s syndrome, a small hole in his heart and hearing loss in one ear, but he is determined not to let any of that get in way of his dream to teach sign all around the country.

Chris’s mum Nicky explains: “On the day Chris was born I saw a young man who was going to be restricted by his disabilities, but here Chris is further from the truth doing what he has always wanted to do – teach.”

Chris spent the first 13 weeks of his life receiving specialist treatment in Jessops baby care unit and it wasn’t until the age of five that he started to overcome his illnesses and develop as a child. 

Chris has overcome all the odds and now attends Talbot school where he assists in assemblies and is also attached to Hallam University where he teaches, at the same time as studying, in Makaton signing. In addition to this, Chris just received an invite, along with two fellow students from his school, to an audition for a production of Macbeth by the National Youth Theatre.

Chris taught his first lesson to officers at Woodseats Police Station on Tuesday November 17 and will be back once a month for an hour at a time teaching officers sign language to levels 1 and 2.

PCSO Supervisor Natalie Dixon said, “The first time I met Chris he was very shy and wouldn’t speak to me. After discussing with his mum about Chris coming to Woodseats Police Station to teach staff here, his face just lit up and he beamed a smile.  Then I couldn’t shut him up he was trying to teach me straight away.

“The first lesson was a huge success.  Chris was nervous at first but soon relaxed and enjoyed teaching the officers. The staff at Woodseats were overwhelmed by Chris’s enthusiasm to teach and we all thoroughly enjoyed it and feel sign language is a valuable tool in our roles.

“I think he is a unique young man and I am glad that we are able to assist him in his dream.”