American Sign Language is often overlooked and underappreciated. The Deaf community has been equally overlooked and marginalized for around 150 years. Thanks to Civil Rights Movements in the 1960s and 1970s, ASL and Deaf culture have gained more recognition and awareness across the country. At a local level, students recently created an ASL club to promote understanding of the language and culture of the Deaf community. The club meets in E232 after school on Tuesdays, with attendance steadily increasing each week.
The ASL club previously existed at the high school but ended due to low attendance and lack of interest. However, this year the club has made its return. It is led in part by sophomore and co-president Vada Knudsen, who helped revive and organize it.
“If we wanted to have a club, someone had to stand up. So I decided to take action and here we are,” Knudsen said.
Since its return, the club continues to reflect the same student-driven mindset it was founded on. While some activities are planned, students take an active role in shaping the direction of the club.
American Sign Language teacher Becky Mazzara emphasized the importance of this approach, saying she wants students “to really create this and take ownership over the club and this beautiful language.”
In addition to its student leadership, the club fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment. It is open to students of all experience levels and encourages those with little to no background in ASL to participate.
“If you don’t know anything about sign language, we’re here to help,” Knudsen said. “If you want to learn more, this club is a great place to start. It’s full of welcoming people and others who want to learn.”
Beyond building community, the club also aims to increase awareness and respect for Deaf culture, which is still often overlooked. It does this by reinforcing ASL as a fully developed language and educating students about the experiences and perspectives of the Deaf community.
Sophomore and co-president Nora Leach expressed the importance of this goal, saying she hopes members gain “more respect for Deaf culture and ASL,” as people often perceive it as “not as important as other languages.” She also shared her enjoyment of learning ASL and her hope that the club provides more opportunities for immersion in both the language and culture.
The club also offers students opportunities to practice ASL in more real-world ways. While some aspects are similar to classroom learning, the environment allows for more natural communication and engagement.
Mazzara said the club gives students the chance to “engage in another language and in another culture.” She added that it has been a “great experience for students in the past,” and expressed excitement for its continued growth.
As the club expands and reaches more students, it will increase its impact on the school and help deepen understanding of Deaf culture. The club has the potential to create a more informed community as more students join and engage with the language. Additionally, the club may help challenge long-standing misconceptions and encourage a more respectful and inclusive school environment. What began as a small, student-led effort plans to be a lasting space for connection, learning and cultural appreciation.
