ASL students and faculty celebrate deaf culture and community at Lee

In celebration of National Deaf History Month, which takes place during the month of April, the American Sign Language Club is partnering with ASL students to host their first talent show on April 25. Students will be signing stories, signing songs and much more.

“We’re having an ASL talent show, and it’s our students that are going to be signing songs,” said Dr. La-Jaun Bradford, director of academic support and professor of deaf studies. “[Students will be] signing cultural stories called ABC stories, where they tell a whole story using the alphabet of the language. Or they’ll tell a whole story with just one handshake.”

While ASL classes have been offered at Lee for over 20 years, deaf studies is becoming increasingly popular with students because of the community and opportunities it provides.

Rebecca Rinehart, a junior pastoral major, is a deaf student at Lee and president of the ASL Club. Rinehart said she has gained a community among the ASL students at Lee and within the ASL Club.

“The best way people can celebrate Deaf History Month is by learning sign,” said Rinehart. “There’s a lot of misconceptions of the deaf community. Some people always expect me to know how to read lips and it’s difficult, especially whether they’re facing me or not.”

Students may take ASL to fulfill a foreign language requirement, but the ASL Club provides a community for anyone who is seeking to learn more about deaf culture.

Faithlyn Hall, junior special education major, is a member of the club and said she loves the opportunities it provides.

“It is such a fun way for students who know some of the language to learn and hang out,” said Hall. “We alternate having bible studies or playing games. It’s a good way to pause and take a break from homework.”

Hall completed her deaf studies minor and is planning on studying for a master’s degree in deaf education to teach at a deaf school.

“I think the deaf studies minor just really gives you a small snapshot of deaf culture and the ability to look at the world through their perspective a little bit,” said Hall. “It really has changed my life and I’m so grateful for these classes and this community.”

In January 2020, the National Association of the Deaf Board chose April 1-30 as the official National Deaf History Month. Originally, NDHM was celebrated from March 13-April 15.

“The proposal for NDHM to occur April 1-30 was designed to simplify and incorporate the celebration in one month and also to focus on overall celebration of American deaf history from all parts of the deaf community rather than focusing heavily on the schools,” the NAD Board said on their website.

Lee University officially approved an ASL minor in the fall semester of 2016. ASL has been approved as a foreign language since 2011, a Deaf Studies minor since 2013 and Human Development major with an emphasis in Deaf Studies since 2021.

Lee students founded the ASL Club in the 2019 fall semester.

During her 13 years at Lee, Bradford has developed the deaf studies programs and played a critical role in pushing American Sign Language to be approved as a foreign language at Lee.

“I learned sign language when I was at Lee as a student, and I became very much in love with deaf people and the deaf culture. I was good at it. After graduating from Lee, I volunteered a whole summer in Costa Rica working at a deaf school,” Bradford said. “That’s when I realized I really wanted to continue to work with people who are deaf.”

Bradford began teaching at a public school at the age of 22, then began interpreting at a community college before pursuing her master’s degree in deaf education. After earning her degree, she taught deaf children at a deaf high school. After several other teaching positions, Bradford earned her doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis in deaf studies.

When Bradford began teaching at Lee, ASL classes were offered, but not considered a foreign language.

“The first step was for the faculty to vote on it being a foreign language – that was approved. Then I developed the minor – and then that was approved. The minor is really strong right now. I think we have [approximately] 34 students in the minor and seven students in the major – this is the first year of the emphasis major,” said Bradford.

Laura Harris, senior theatre major with a deaf studies minor, said it is important to learn about and engage with the deaf community.

“A lot of people look down on deaf people and feel sorry for them because they’re deaf, but deaf people can do everything a hearing person can– except for hear,” said Harris. “I think it’s important to learn about the community because they’re people, just like us. Deaf studies changed my whole life, because it’s made me face my own prejudices and biases that I didn’t even realize I had.”

Students in Bradford’s Level 5 Advanced American Sign Language class are required to interpret as part of their curriculum. Students often fulfill this requirement by helping sign songs and messages in chapel each week.

“I get the list of [chapel] songs ahead of time and I forward them to my advanced students. This semester I’m teaching an ASL interpreting class, and those students are required to have to interpret,” Bradford said. “It builds this community upstairs – as you’ve seen in the Conn Center building of us all signing together – there’s unity. When you’re hearing, you hear and sing all the same words. Whereas our deaf student Becca, she feels unified because everybody is signing her language with her, so it brings her unity and brings us unity.”

Bradford believes finding community is essential for growth and success.

“Something that has surprised me in a beautiful way is the community that has developed. Some people find their community in their dorm, with Greek life or with jobs off-campus, and it’s been really neat to see that this has been a place for students to find their community. That just thrills me,” Bradford said. “I encourage students to come and be involved. They are welcome to sit in the signing section located in the balcony, next to the speakers during chapel.”

The ASL Club will host their talent show on April 25. For more information, follow @leeu.aslclub on Instagram. For more information on deaf studies at Lee, contact lbradford@leeuniversity.edu.

Editor in Chief Anna Shand contributed to this article.