Connecting through Sign

Sign Language class teaches students to connect to the deaf

Sophomore special education major Sandy Stickland nervously walked into her ‘Elementary Sign Language for Therapists’ class for the first time thinking about how little experience she had with signing.

A pang of dread overwhelmed her when she imagined how fast paced and formal the class might be. Even though her family had recently adopted her little sister, a 100 percent deaf five-year-old, she was far from fluent in American Sign Language.

Yet to her surprise, the class began with the basics and she quickly picked up on signing numbers and the alphabet. Since then, Strickland has enrolled in the class for a second time in order to further her learning and gain additional practice and experience with the unspoken language. She hopes to one day earn a degree in deaf education and be an interpreter for her own classroom.

“Any practice I get now will help me in the future,” Strickland said. “I look forward to going to this class every week because I know I will get something out of it and learn something new every day.”

Although she plans to use American Sign Language as her primary focus in her future career, she wants to encourage students of all majors to learn sign in order to gain this uncommon yet beneficial communication skill.

”Sign Language is universal. You have no idea when you are going to run into someone that is deaf or hard of hearing. Just knowing a few signs to communicate with them could be so helpful and encouraging to them,” Strickland said. “I feel like people in the business world never consider that ever happening, but I think it should be more common than it is today because there is no telling who you could run in to.”

Vicky Robinson, a lecturer of the music therapy with over 20 years of experience in signing, teaches the course at the beginner level along with a signing music course.

She encourages students from all majors and career fields to become interested in Signing as the classes she offers are designed to produce and promote conversation.

“You can take signing wherever you go to work; whether you are a teacher, a therapist, a nurse, or even a parent that wants to use it to enhance communication and a positive relationship with your children,” Robinson said.

Her students are reassured by her wealth of knowledge in the subject and are inspired by the ease at which she presents this seemingly foreign language.

“Dr. Robinson does such a great job keeping the learning process entertaining while also taking it slow,” Strickland said. “She keeps in mind that not everyone has experience with sign and is very helpful by creating a relaxed environment with no pressure on the student.

Along with offering classes focused on learning American Sign Language combined with its interpretation and use, the Music Therapy department sponsors a Choir involving American Sign Language that hosts an annual concert.

This year, the Music Therapy Department will host the performance at Black Bird Coffee shop on Feb. 15 at 7 pm. Students and faculty are encouraged to attend as admittance is free of charge.

“This concert originally began as a performing venue for the Sign Language group,” said Chesley Mercado, Music Therapy Department chair.

However, the concert has evolved since starting in 2003 and will presently showcase the Sign Language Choir and 14 original songs that music therapy majors have composed. The performance will include all music genres from rock and easy listening to country and jazz.

Along with the 14 original performances, the Sign Language group will sign several modern and popular songs as well.