ASL Club

While there are several language clubs, none are quite like the ASL Club. The ASL club is a meeting centered around American sign language. The club, led by Mrs. Brooks, is a safe environment for those who do and don't know the language to interact, play games, and learn sign language. Returning ASL club member Monica Horschler describes it as a “fun environment and you don't need to know ASL to join, just a willingness to have fun and be open to learning some cool signs.” The club is welcome to anyone, even those with no experience with the language. Mrs Brooks says she encourages “all students (regardless of whether they're taking ASL) to join the club. We teach about a minority group of people (Deaf people) and teach the students that Deaf people are just like us.”

The club teaches acceptance of hard-of-hearing people and the culture around American Sign Language. This class offers a causal experience in learning an otherwise complex language. It's not only a fun language to learn, but it also creates inclusion for those who are deaf and HOH. Mrs. Brooks states the importance of including deaf people in everyday life. “It is important because Deaf people exist. We should open the door to communication with them so that they don't feel othered or ostracized.”