Bill S1760: Recognizing American Sign Language (ASL) as a NJ High

School Foreign Language Requirement

Presented by Tammy Smith

March 26, 2015

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

THE END