By Havyn Basconcillo and Jasmyn Billy
April 17th was James Logan’s first day to represent National Deaf History Month known as “ASL Day”. It’s celebrated across both hearing and deaf communities all across the world. The day shares the importance of ASL’s history and its beginnings as well as its dedication to those who are part of the deaf community, hard of hearing, or part of CODA. Communities like these allow the ability to share their culture and traditions with others across campus.
Logan’s ASL students contributed to the event beforehand by creating posters with different factoids about Deaf history to help promote the upcoming event on the 17th. During both lunch periods, ASL students had the opportunity to invite fellow peers to learn more about deaf culture as well as being able to learn American Sign Language. ASL Club Treasurer and freshman, Trinity Tran expresses her thoughts about the event. “ASL Day…honors those who have been oppressed…it also highlights the struggles of why people need ASL and the whole history of the deaf people of America,” says Tran. While also informing Logan on the importance of ASL Day, she includes some factors of what she really enjoyed about ASL Day and believed some of the other students enjoyed as well. “My favorite highlight was probably the easter egg hunt. It was fun trying to see people figure out the signs and then actually learning what the signs mean.” Trinity said. Many ASL students also shared Tran’s excitement about the celebration.
Freshman William Trinidad Reyes shares how exciting it was having ASL Day at James Logan. It was a first time experience for him and all ASL students. He says, “ASL students were starting to teach…all their friends different types of signs that they learned throughout the semester and year, and it was a really fun moment!” Reyes says he also described the day as a very welcoming and warm place for everyone to learn about the traditions and cultures of deaf history. “ASL as a whole is not exactly represented at Logan or in the district or any other place”, says Reyes. Representation for those who are part of deaf communities, hard of hearing or a part of CODA matters. Evidently, the representation for the deaf community isn’t as good as it can be. However, JLHS is making progress by having ASL classes and celebrating ASL day and having an ASL club!
Our school’s deaf community is quite neglected and by being able to share and express the traditions and culture with the students of Logan, it gives recognition to those part of the community. Indeed, Logan celebrates many different cultural months but by introducing National ASL month, it allows us to expand more, not just as a school, but as a community.
