Access and Accommodations taught American Sign Language (ASL) to students to highlight the deaf experience for Disability Awareness Week. 

“People who are deaf are part of the community just like anyone else,” said Dominique White, Access and Accommodation Services director. “We talk a lot about belonging and inclusion. If we’re going to talk about those things, we have to live those things out and one of the ways we do that is to immerse ourselves in their culture, instead of all the time expecting them to immerse themselves in our culture.”

Macie Copeland, a licensed interpreter for the state of Arkansas, led the presentation, teaching students numbers, colors, letters and more in ASL. She also gave some tips for people just starting to learn sign language

Copeland taught students the basics of sign language, including which way a speaker’s hand should be facing, as well as types of signs such as one-handed, symmetrical and asymmetrical. 

A one-handed sign uses one hand to communicate. Symmetrical signs use both hands in a symmetrical handshape and movement, while asymmetrical signs do not. 

In addition, Copeland explained the difference between what is referred to as “big D Deaf” and “little d deaf.” 

“Everyone’s looking at ‘little d deaf’ the person thinks there’s an impairment, but there’s not an issue there. They typically may go out in the regular world with the rest of us and don’t use sign language,” Copeland said. “Whenever we are looking at Deaf, the ‘big D Deaf,’ they’re part of the culture. They went to Deaf school, they learned the language, they use the language, it is everything about their lives.”

Copeland added that for students just starting to learn sign language, to have a conversation a new speaker can use gestures, spell out any words they don’t know, or look up images on their phone. 

Gabrielle Brown, a sophomore nursing student from Marion, Arkansas, said what she learned in the event would help her with a career in nursing.

“Just being able to do the bare minimum can make somebody’s day so just saying, ‘How are you?’ to somebody who is deaf, that could be so awesome. If I can do that for somebody, that’d be cool,” Brown said. “People actually live lives and they can’t communicate the same way I can. Even though we’re different, it shouldn’t be a barrier.”

Access and Accommodations hosts Disability Awareness Week twice a year, once in the fall semester and once in the spring. White said the office had been trying to host an ASL learning event previously, but was unable to get an interpreter to attend. However, this semester the schedules finally worked out to allow Copeland to attend.

“We try to survey our student population at least once every two years. On that survey, we ask them questions about what they’d like to see,” White said. “We had a couple of people that just emailed us about being interested in sign language. It’s something that I know a bit about, but not as much as I would like to know about in the position that I’m in. I was just interested in learning.”

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