Community Engaged Learning & Research

Concept Cue

CEL & R Concept and Cue

My involvement in the Deaf community has been limited up until the last few years. I have a Deaf cousin and his parents were against teaching him ASL to communicate. He was forced to use his voice to communicate until he graduated from high school. As I watched him interact, I thought ASL was simple gesturing, pointing, lipreading and making noises. My understanding of ASL was incredibly inaccurate. It was not until I started taking ASL classes at SLCC that I realized that ASL is an actual language with syntax and grammar. I’ve learned that gestures work together to create signs that create sentences that have meaning. I have learned the importance of the hand shape, the position of the hands, and the movement of the hands and how they play a big role in ASL.

As I’ve attended local Deaf activities in the community, I've observed how Deaf people position and move their hands to communicate using ASL. I have been able to join conversations using ASL and I recognize my learning at school supports my experiences in the deaf community. Recently I attended a Deaf activity and met an inspiring Deaf lady. She encouraged me to continue striving to become all I can be to become an ASL/English interpreter. She even offered to have me help as she teaches beginning ASL classes in Tremonton, UT. This connection to the community is valuable to me as I pursue my goals of receiving my degree in ASL/English interpreting and become a certified interpreter.

I have found my experiences in the Deaf community support the ASL courses and ITP program I'm involved in at at SLCC. And I'm grateful to make connections with my learning in school to my experiences in the Deaf community.

Picture below taken at a local Deaf theatrical event: September 2, 2023. The Hunchback of Notre Dame in ASL.

L to R: Jeralie Hymas, Anne Fife (Deaf woman I met and was lucky to sit by and chat with and was the director of the show) and me, Carmen Harrison.

Community Partner Report

I researched the community partner Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf (SLCAD) via their website: https://segolily.org/

“The mission of Sego Lily is to promote a safe and empowered community for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled people by providing culturally accessible services, advocacy and education.”

Societal issues are Sego Lily provides resources to:

· Sego Lily provides support to abused LGBTQ people. Any victims of abuse need the same love, respect, and validation they deserve.

· Sego Lily promotes “playing it safe online” concerning internet dating.

· Physical abuse is a crime, even if you are living with the abuser. Sego Lily promotes having a safety plan in place and provides a list of things you can do to prepare if you are thinking of leaving.

· Sego Lily provides information on a Protective Order and what options are available to you and your specific situation.

· Sego Lily defines sexual assault and provides examples including rape.

· Sego Lily defines three different kinds of stalking behaviors. Erotomania, love obsessional, simple obsessional.

· Sego Lily provides specific examples of verbal abuse and how to identify when someone is verbally abusing you. For example, put downs, humiliation at home or in public, threaten to hurt you or your family, etc.

There are many ways to get involved and become civically engaged in Sego Lily's mission. Opportunities are available to and support, assist, and empower the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind victims/survivors of abuse. A few of these are: become a board member, serve as an office volunteer, serve as an event planner, become a victim advocate. By joining the Sego Lily team, you can make a difference in the lives of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and promote a safe and empowered community for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind people.

In the future, I see myself joining Sego Lily's organization because I would like to play a small part in providing culturally accessible services, education, and support to the abused Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf/Blind people.

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