Language and speech is the most important, it’s what we were born to do. Humans are a very social species, we communicate in many different ways using our voices, music, recipes and drawings. There is one that has been shunned and shamed into the shadows, not being considered a real way to communicate, after all this time it is only recognized as a real language in 41 states and that language is sign language.
Sign language is mostly used with the deaf community but also nonverbal, hard of hearing, CODAS (Child Of Deaf Adults). However, the community encourages everyone to learn sign language as it provides access to the ones who are repressed in the nation. Did you know South has an ASL advisory? It’s commonly taught by Mrs. King, a special education teacher and college professor, whose passion for ASL grew as she spent more time with the ones who struggle communicating with their voices. It is important for the students in our school to learn and be involved with ASL and all its greatness.
1: What made you want to start learning asl?
“I have a master’s for severe special needs and I have a master’s in moderate special needs. That’s where my interest is. Because communication, I think, is a human right, to be able to express yourself and have an expressively receptive language.”
2: What do you think are the benefits of having a proper ASL class
“It’s a language, it’s a part of the deaf culture, it’s recognized throughout this country and Canada, and it gives people a different set of skills. For example, I think I told you guys that I have a lot of nursing students, police officers and firefighters in my college class. So just in general life, you might come across people who are nonverbal, ASL is something in your pocket that you could pull out so you can communicate with other people in your life.”
3: Which would be more beneficial to teach to the student body, ASL or PSE?
Additional information: PSE (pidgin signed english) sign language in English grammar.
“I prefer ASL because it’s a universal language and more recognizable. When I worked with students before, at Florence school for the blind, we used a lot of signed English, but as the language has grown nationally, it’s more recognized universally.”
4: If South High provided a proper class, how would you want the curriculum to underline the discrimination and deprivation deaf people go through daily?
“Well, it’s interesting you say that, because part of my curriculum at the college is learning about deaf culture and I have a book they read, it’s called Deaf Voices in America, it’s a book that is written by deaf people, about the history of deaf culture in America. And part of my class’s weekly assignment is to read a chapter and write a summary of prejudice challenges and assumptions that deaf people have faced throughout history, so that is a huge part of my class.”
5: What is common advice you give to your ASL students?
“Practice, practice makes perfect. Similar to other languages, you study and practice to keep up with your knowledge base.”
ASL is extremely important and something we can depend on. This visual language is so beautiful and expressive, it’s a shame the school hasn’t added a proper class. American sign language is very beneficial especially to those who are very visual learners. Personally, I love everything about the language in its many forms and embracing the way of the hands. If you look at my hands in class, you’ll gaze upon me practicing sign after sign and not stopping until my hands eventually cramp. And truly I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that the only time ASL is provided it’s on a Thursday at 8:00 in the morning. Hopefully in the soon future ASL will truly be represented in this growing school.
