Advocating for ASL

1. Bill S1760: Recognizing American Sign
Language (ASL) as a NJ High School
Foreign Language Requirement
Presented by
Tammy Smith
March 26, 2015

2. An Overview of Bill S1760
• Sponsored by Diane B. Allen, M. Teresa Ruiz and Shirley K. Turner
• Introduced in the Senate and Referred to Senate Education
Committee on March 17, 2014
• Would recognize ASL as a world language meeting NJ High School
Foreign Language requirements.
• Does NOT require school districts to offer American Sign Language
courses.
• Bill was first introduced in 2010 and approved by Senate Education
Committee but died when session ended.

3. Demystifying American Sign
Language
• ASL is a complex, complete language.
• ASL is separate and distinct from English.
• It is a language in its own right.
• Uses complex grammar and word order.
• ASL has dialects and regional accents.
• ASL is not universal.

4. Considering ASL as a Foreign
Language
• ASL is not is not given the same merit as
other languages.
• The public is unaware of its sophistication as
a language.
• Is ASL truly a “foreign” language?
• ASL has no written literature.

5. History of ASL
• Exact origin is unknown.
• Most likely originated from a combination of local sign languages
and French Sign Language (LSF or Langue des Signes Française)
• Thomas Gallaudett was a hearing minister interested in teaching
deaf children..
• He teamed up with Laurent Clerc a brilliant deaf man from France.
• 1817, Gallaudett became the administrator of Connecticut Asylum
For the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons. (Now
called American School for the Deaf)
• Gallaudett University in Maryland is the largest Deaf university

6. The Growing Popularity of ASL
• ASL is the fourth most popular language choice of college
students.
• ASL course enrollment grew by 16% from 2006-2009.
• ASL competency is an excellent employment credential .
• Strong demand for ASL interpreters earning $40-$60
hourly as freelancers.
• ASL’s aesthetic appeal.
• Prior difficulties with studying Spanish, French, German
and other more traditional languages.

7. More Recent ASL Developments
• In 1965, William Stokoe published the first linguistic
study of sign and ASL was born.
• Dr. Stokoe established ASL as a genuine language.
• In 1975, first Deaf Studies program at California State
University.
• American Sign Language Teachers Association formed.
• American Sign Language National Standards committee was
created in 2007

8. Defining the Social Issue
• ASL is only offered in some NJ school districts.
• Deaf students mainstreamed in public schools
should be able to opt out of their foreign
language requirement.
• There is a growing need for sign language
interpreters.
• Students with learning disabilities may find ASL
easier to learn than Spanish, French, German, or
other languages.

9. Policy Advocacy
• Empower the rights of Deaf individuals.
• Rally with Deaf schools and organizations
dedicated to serving Deaf persons.
• Coordinate with the ASL clubs and departments
at local colleges.
• Target Mommy and Me and other Parenting type
groups where they may teach sign to babies and
toddlers.
• Target groups serving students with special
needs or individuals with learning disabilities or
IEP’s.

10. Educate the Public about Deaf Culture
• Deaf individuals are often considered the
silent minority when it comes to accessing
services.
• Deaf individuals do not consider
themselves handicapped.
• Deaf pride and love of ASL.

14. THE END