LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — In a vibrant display of diversity and cultural awareness, Los Alamitos High School hosted a series of activities celebrating American Sign Language (ASL) Awareness last Friday. Initiated by the school’s ASL Club, the activity aimed to instill among students an appreciation of deaf culture and inform why ASL is important as an element of effective communication.
“We wanted to give people an opportunity to try ASL in a laid-back and fun way, even learning a few signs can help make communication more accessible,” said Mrs. Bennet, ASL teacher.
Although the event wasn‘t crowded or highly advertised, it was able to attract attention through the posters and signs that were placed in common areas around campus, inviting students to learn more about the language and its cultural value.
The event focused on educating students on the importance of inclusion, highlighting many historical deaf individuals and how they have impacted our day-to-day lives.
“I think that this activity is important for our school community to become aware and sensitive to the diversity of communication methods,” said Jaelyn Guidry, who is in her first year of ASL at LAHS.
Students were welcoming of the activities, with greater respect for ASL and the culture of deaf individuals. Some students even expressed how this activity brought more awareness and admiration of deaf culture to themselves.
“It’s incredible how much you can communicate with your hands, and I think more people should recognize that,” said Amalia Berthon, an LAHS junior.
Even though the event was brief, it had a considerable effect. It opened up room for conversation and made students think about how they interact with individuals who communicate differently from them. In the future, the ASL program and club hopes that awareness events such as this will make the school environment more inclusive.
Carrying on the momentum, the ASL Club plans to host more events for the remainder of the school year to continue spreading awareness and inclusiveness on campus. For further information on upcoming ASL events, students can join the ASL Club or find more information on the club’s Instagram. For now, the small event is a big step in the right direction towards stressing the value of ASL and reminding the campus that connection is not always spoken.
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