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Utah State Legislature
Utah State Legislature
S.J.R. 1 Joint Resolution Recognizing Educators of the Deaf and American Sign Language Instructors
An issue that is important for state legislatures to continually support is the use of American Sign Language in schools. In 2017, the bill S.J.R.1 was introduced. The name of this bill was Joint Resolution Recognizing Educators of the Deaf and American Sign Language Instructors. Jani Iwamoto was the Chief Sponsor of the bill with Steve Eliason as the House Sponsor.
S.J.R.1 "recognizes the efforts of educators of the deaf and American Sign Language Instructors and highlights the contributions of American Sign Language to the culture of the state." This bill also "highlights the history of American Sign Language in the United States, expresses support for the Deaf Community in the state, and recognizes the efforts of Utah's educator of the deaf and American Sign Language instructors in sharing American Sign Language with students and community members across the state."
S.J.R.1 was effective as of February 22, 2018. There was no fiscal cost for the government to enact this bill as there was no performance necessary.
Although there was no action required for this bill, I think it establishes American Sign Language as a true language and an essential part of the Deaf community in the state of Utah. If any school considering if American Sign Language should be permitted at their school as an optional language course, they need only read this bill. This bill can also be the foundation for other similar bills to be enacted. It will be a catalyst for support and respect of the Utah Deaf community.
Community Partner Report
Community Partner Report
Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf (SLCAD)
The Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf (SLCAD) was founded in 2000 in Utah as a non-profit advocacy agency. "The mission of Sego Lily is to promote a safe and empowered community for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind people by providing culturally accessible services, advocacy and education." Upon analyzing their website, Sego Lily's services are to support Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled and Hard of Hearing to heal from abuse. To heal from times where the law did not protect them. Where policy and governance failed them.
Sego Lily states "Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse/Assault are much more common in underserved populations. Sego Lily aims to help any Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind individual in Utah find resources to diminish the effects and trauma of sexual assault." They provide direct services such as domestic violence hotlines, sexual assault counseling, crime victim support, domestic violence support groups, and case/care management.
One way the bill S.J.R.1 is explored by Sego Lily is their commitment to education. Sego Lily claims, "As a linguistic and cultural minority, we find that many members of our Deaf community benefit from education in American Sign Language. We offer many workshops in ASL that focus on healthy relationships and healing from the effects of trauma in our lives." Bill S.J.R.1 supports education in ASL and "declares its support for the state's Deaf Community and the rich, vibrant language it adds to our culture." S.J.R.1 does not explicitly point out its support for Sego Lily but the single fact that it supports the Deaf Community shows the connection. Like stated before, it is a bill that can be the foundation for similar bills to advocate for the Deaf Community.
I have worked with Sego Lily in the past, helping with decoration set up for their annual fundraising gala in 2023. They put on a beautiful "Under the Sea" themed Gala with support from other community partnerships and were able to raise some money for their nonprofit. I hope to help at the gala again this year because I believe in what they are doing. The Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communities are underserved, underrepresented, and unheard. Sego Lily is helping these marginalized people because policy and governance is not yet doing enough to protect them from trauma. Yes, it is hard for policy and governance to reach every small corner of our country, but more bills can be passed to protect people from trauma. Bills that support ASL being taught to children like S.J.R.1, is a great start. Then kids are given access to language and if trauma unexpectedly occurs in their life, they have the language and resources to speak up. Children and adults have more power to be heard.
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