ASL Exposure

Many times I have heard that hearing people assumed that all deaf person are fluent in American Sign Language, yet they are learning that it is a myth.

I have been deaf since birth and I was not exposed to the world of ASL until later at school. At home, my parents were told not to learn the language because their doctor believed that it would hinder my ability to form the language required for the speaking world. He believed that I would not function "normally" out in the world full of hearing people. Talk about dispelling his myth! I will get into that later, but first let me share how I learned the language.

The first time I saw a signed word was in the school cafeteria. My classmate suddenly threw up and it spilled over his tray full of lunch food. The teacher quickly puts down the silverware. Yes, at that time we had a nice hot meal with divided tray and silver cutlery not plasticwares. She placed her hand over his forehead and quickly signed a word by using open hand with one hand touching her forehead with middle finger and the rest of the fingers splayed open. The second hand was in the same shape but place on abdomen area indicating that he was "sick". She told him to go back to the classroom. He obediently walked back. 

The tray was across from me on the table, filled with pool of his projectile. I couldn't avert my eyes but stared at it in horror of the mess. Then the sight of it made my stomach churned and I began to throw up over my lunch. 

I was expecting her to ask me if I was alright, but her reaction was unexpected because she frowned and slapped across my face. I glared back at her. I stood up to turn around and walk away. Of course, I could hear her yell my name and out of the corner of my eyes, I could see the crowd of kindergarteners watching me. I marched back to the classroom where I found my classmate. 

I looked green in the gills and grabbed my hand to feel his forehead. He was burning up! I wondered if they ever took him to the nurse or sent him home to see the doctor. I will never know because he has passed away in 2022 of pancreatic cancer.

Since then, I only know one signed word, "sick" until a few years later in 4th grade at Forest Road Elementary School with our homeroom teacher, Mrs. Mary McCool.

Let's backtrack a bit to 2nd grade. Mrs. Mary McCool was our homeroom teacher for three years from 2nd grade to 4th grade and she was amazing. We have learned so much from her. She stood still facing the classroom and spoke. Her enunciation was clear, crisp and the voice I have acclimated after being her student from that point on. I had no trouble understanding her until the start of 4th grade when she came in the room, spoke and used the sign language simultaneously. 

I was surprised to see flying hands. I leaned over to my right where my friend, Lorraine, sat. "What is she doing with her hands?" 

"It is called American Sign Language," replied Lorraine.

"Cool. Why?"

"So we can understand her."

"I understand her just fine."

"Not for you," added Lorraine, "for me."

So I watched her hands and listened to her speech and I began to picked up more signed words. After all, when you spend six hours a day, Monday to Friday, you would be more likely to pick up much more that just one word. 

I have developed a skill in knowing the language and I felt a sense of pride. Since My father's native language was Italian and he studied German in college, my mother's native language was Lithuanian, my oldest sister is fluent in Spanish and my middle sister studied French; I was left with only speaking English. Now I know two languages!

By the time I was at a camp in Los Angeles during my teen years, I discovered that our language can be used in songs. My friends, Jackie and Keri, sat with me and listened to the song on a tape recorder that Jackie brought and read the lyrics that she wrote on a sheet of paper. The song we practiced and showcased our skill in ASL was Earth, Wind & Fire's Fantasy. Then we sang Bee Gee's How Deep is Your Love during our service on Sunday.

Signing to songs sparked my love for music much more than just listening. Currently, I interpret the worship portion of the Sunday Service at Calvary Church of Naperville. You can see the YouTube video that is accessible for the Deaf. 

The fight to preserve the language is crucial. Not only the language but everything that entails the deaf community. The accessibility to movie theaters, obtaining the ASL interpreter for doctor's visit and surgery at the hospital, and so much more. 

You can see the posts and discussion on LinkedIn. So many different types of people with disabilities in the community bringing awareness to DEIA - Disability Education, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the workplace as well in the medical, education and entertainment industry.