CHESHIRE charity Deafness Support Network has welcomed singing sensation Lady Gaga’s decision to learn sign language in order to communicate better with deaf audience members.

The singer has pledged to learn American Sign Language (ASL), after viewing YouTube clips of her deaf fans singing and signing along to her songs.

Charity spokeswoman Gill Reeder said: “It’s fantastic news and a welcome acknowledgement by a massive role model that people who are deaf or have a hearing loss are not second-class citizens and can enjoy performing arts just as much as the hearing community.

“We’ve got a first-class sign language teaching team operating in our Warrington, Chester, Northwich and Macclesfield support and information centres and we’d be only too pleased to provide Lady Gaga with free BSL tuition.”

DSN can be contacted on 01606 47831 or at www.dsnonline.co.uk.