ASL Club

On February 23, a new club came together in celebration of a culture and language often overlooked in the United States: The ASL Club.

ASL, which stands for American Sign Language, is a nonverbal language spoken mostly by America's hard-of-hearing population (although many others use ASL for other varied reasons). To outsiders looking in, ASL may seem daunting and difficult to understand. However, the newly-formed ASL Club seeks to bring attention to the language and alleviate this issue.

For many students, this may be the first time they have ever signed or have even seen American Sign Language in action, which will lead to a greater understanding of a large group of Americans that live in the United States. For junior Mia Bammann, who helped form the club, she believes that this understanding will be another step toward a more accessible Indiana.

"I was inspired to begin learning ASL over the summer when I was at work," said Bammann. "I work at Splash Island, and a woman who was deaf approached me and attempted to communicate that she had lost her child. No one was able to communicate with her, and I cannot imagine how terrifying that must have been for her. We found the child, but that experience stuck with me and encouraged me to learn ASL."

From this newfound appreciation for the language, Bammann wanted to share that knowledge with other students in the hopes that they could also communicate with people who may be hard of hearing.

Starting on March 8, the club will run from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. It is open to all people who are interested in learning about or signing ASL. No prior experience is needed, allowing a larger group of people, both experienced and newbies, to get together and discuss the contents of the language.

"I truly believe that ASL is a vital skill," said Bammann. "Having a club is a great way to ensure that ASL gets the recognition it deserves."

Story by Cameron Haughawout