FRISCO, TEXAS — According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, two in every 1,000 babies are born deaf. That means roughly 670,000 people are born deaf in America. Despite this, many people report not knowing a single deaf person. 

While many people have a hard time communicating with deaf people, there are many methods of communication, including the use of American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is a language made up of hand gestures or signs. While ASL is not a commonly learned language, it carries great importance.

Luckily for Centennial High School students, the school provides the opportunity to take an ASL class to raise awareness about and connect with the deaf community. Centennial not only provides a two-year course on ASL but also provides additional opportunities beyond the classroom walls in the form of an ASL club led by President Andrew Shin and Vice President Hajoon Yun.

“I think ASL is a great skill to have just in life in general cause you’ll never know when you run into a deaf person,” Yun said.

Deaf culture was historically studied because for an extended portion of history, deaf people could only communicate with each other, as sign language was not commonly taught.

“It’s not just about a language; it’s more like a culture. Learning a new culture,” Shin said.If diving into this new and fascinating culture excites you, contact the officers at [email protected] or [email protected].