A girl who is deaf signs an informal greeting in American Sign Language at two girls who don’t know ASL. ASL has been an uncommon language in schools until being introduced in the early 2000s. “Approximately 500,000 people in the United States use ASL to communicate, and it is taught at 1,000 public high schools in the U.S.” Viewpoints Staffer Gillian Williams wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson
Without ASL at CCHS, deaf students face isolation. A class could change that.
Every day, Cedar Shoals High School sophomore Sa’ida Arnold walks into the cafeteria for lunch without hearing a single sound. Born Deaf and hard of hearing, Arnold has lived this reality for 15 years.
According to the University of Washington’s Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology program, “Functional hearing loss ranges from mild to profound,” with individuals identifying as either “deaf ” or “hard of hearing” depending on the severity.
There are several communication methods used by deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) individuals, including American Sign Language (ASL), a visual language expressed through hand and facial movements. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, ASL is the primary language for many deaf and HoH North Americans and is also used by some hearing individuals.
Without ASL instruction at CCHS, hearing students face a communication barrier with their deaf and HoH peers, limiting connection and inclusion.
Approximately 500,000 people in the U.S. use ASL, and it is taught at 1,000 public high schools, yet Clarke Central High School does not offer ASL as a foreign language.
Learning ASL improves communication and fosters a sense of community, which is especially important for students like Arnold.
“Because other students are hearing, they don’t know ASL (or) they only know little to no ASL. So because of the language barrier, (connecting with other students) has been difficult,” Arnold said.
Northeast Georgia RESA Educational Interpreter Taryn Magloire, who has worked with Arnold for two years, has witnessed these challenges.
“The cool thing about ASL, it’s actually pretty easy to pick up, but oftentimes students feel really awkward or intimidated. It’s hard to make friends,” Magloire said.
Without ASL instruction at CCHS, hearing students face a communication barrier with their deaf and HoH peers, limiting connection and inclusion. While funding and resources may present challenges, not offering ASL ultimately harms the ability of these students to build meaningful relationships.
