Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/381166
P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y S C O T T B U S C H M A N "I was the only high school ASL teacher in Riverside County for years," says Lippe, Murrieta Teachers Association. "Until this year, we never accepted freshmen because there wasn't room. We finally hired another full-time ASL teacher, so this is the first year we have been able to accept freshmen into our program." Some enroll because their s i b l i n g s to o k AS L . O t h e rs know someone who's Deaf, or they think it will be eas- ier than Spanish or French. Lippe conveys on the first day of class that ASL isn't as easy as it looks, and that she knows just by watching their hands if they are focused. Students attend shows at the School of the Deaf in Riv- erside and enjoy events like Pizza Night with members of the local Deaf community so they can practice their skills. T h e y a r e a l w a y s n e r v o u s before going out into the Deaf community, says Lippe, who believes it's good for them to venture out of their comfort zone. Her advanced students perform in ASL shows, which have interpreters for Hearing members of the audience. "I've been to all the shows," says sophomore Breanna Bilton, who has watched several older siblings perform. "I can hardly wait until it's finally my turn." ASL American Sign Language, a complete language for Deaf people. It has its own vocabulary and grammar that differ from English. The perception is that ASL is easy to learn, but many compare its complexity to Arabic or Japanese. Signed Exact English A system used to communicate in English through signs and fingerspelling that is often confused with ASL. Deaf With a capital D, Deaf indicates those who associate them- selves with Deaf culture including Deaf history, traditions, beliefs and behaviors. Those who are Deaf are usually born without hearing, and don't use their voice when signing. Deaf individuals communicate with the outside world through writing or interpreters. deaf People who are deaf with a small d may have partial or complete hearing loss. It also describes a medical condition of not hearing. hard of hearing The same as being deaf with partial hearing loss. hearing impaired A derogatory term in the Deaf community, since they con- sider themselves neither hearing nor impaired. Hearing People in the Deaf community may describe those who aren't Deaf or deaf as Hearing with a capital H. AB 455 A bill that would ensure Common Core tests are accessible for deaf and Deaf students who use ASL, sponsored by As- sembly Member Jose Medina. It is currently in committee. TERMS TO DESCRIBE ASL AND DEAFNESS: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEAF AND HEARING? THIS LIST WILL HELP TO FAMILIARIZE YOU WITH HEARING- RELATED TERMS. The packed ASL classes are a sign of the times. The classes are growing in popularity throughout California and the nation, says Lippe, who learned ASL to communicate with her daughter, who is Deaf. While classes are on the rise, the actual number of K-12 ASL classes available is a mystery; the California Department of Education only tracks foreign language classes generally, not by specific language. "What's your name?" sign Raylin Bowe and Karli Campuzano. P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y S C O T T B U S C H M A N Sierra San Jose signs her name. 45 V O L U M E 1 9 I S S U E 2