By expanding its American Sign Language program, the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD) has taken a significant step when it comes to responding to an important part of the D/HoH lifestyle. Deaf teacher Colleen Barber considers the initiative as a significant boon to her community. Before the enactment of the new policy, she had been the only teacher of ASL. But this time there is another American Sign Language instructor. Ms. Barber is hopeful about the future of ASL in her community as she witnesses the expansion of the program.. Within past years, high school students could only get just one year of language credits from learning ASL. Today, with the addition of American Sign Language level 3 and 4 classes, pupils can satisfy their second language requirements with ASL alone The SFSD‘s Rebecca Wimmer says that responding to the community’s diverse needs is progressively significant as the city of Sioux Falls develops. These needs would be the requirements of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing students. Because of this, the School District has expanded its ASL program to benefit these learners and hearing students. “For our high school students, we [need to] prepare them for that next phase of life, make sure that they’re getting access to college programs, that they have career readiness skills,” adds Ms. Wimmer. The Advantages of Expanding American Sign Language Programs 1. Social Advantages Giving hearing students the opportunity in taking ASL courses encourages higher inclusivity within the schools along with nearby local communities at the same time. Learning ASL as a second language furthermore widens the scope of hearing students’ social networks to involve members of the D/HoH populace. Likewise, educating American Sign Language in public schools gives D/HoH learners many added probabilities to interact with their hearing classmates. 2. Cognitive Benefits Numerous studies have shown that learning a new language enhances cognitive processes, which results in greater academic achievement and increased probability for career accomplishment. - Creative thinking - Mental flexibility - Problem-solving skills - Listening skills - Abstract reasoning 3. Bonus Benefits Communicating in a visual medium like signing boosts students’ visual sensitivity, spatial awareness and ability to mentally rotate an object and examine it from various perspectives. 4. Employment Opportunities Learning ASL as a second language broadens students’ career opportunities. From sign language interpreting and teaching to speech audiology and pathology, the range of jobs regarding American Sign Language is wide. Besides the many benefits that American Sign Language programs offer individual D/HoH and hearing students, they additionally help communities. Therefore, around 35 states currently recognize ASL as being a modern language within their school systems. And more and more US colleges and universities provide ASL classes.
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May 2023
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