#whyIsign campaign from Nikki Pollard on Vimeo.
Why I sign. I really had to think about this, and the reasons have changed over time. A while back in high school, I loved theater. I was involved in a show, "The Miracle Worker," and one night after the show I noticed deaf kids in the audience. They were signing away and I was fascinated. ASL is a beautiful language, and that was the initial reason I learned sign. In college I decided to become an interpreter. Now I interpret for deaf students in middle school. But it's very sad that the hearing parents of deaf students never sign! I'll never understand it. The hearing parents can't communicate, express their feelings, chat, or ask their deaf child questions thoroughly. So there's a big disconnect. My deaf students feel angry, disconnected, and bitter. It's awful. So I sign because access to communication is important. Access to learning is important. Expressing yourself and feeling connected to those around you is important. That's why I sign.
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