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McDonnell inks ASL bill at VSDB | The News Leader | newsleader.com
Students at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind raised their arms and shook their hands, signing clapping, as Gov. Bob McDonnell, signed a bill Monday validating their language in Virginia public schools.
"American Sign Language is the language of our students," said VSDB superintendent Nancy Armstrong. "It's the language we believe in."
McDonnell signed HB1435, proposed by Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell, R-Staunton, stating that ASL will be considered a foreign language and will have the same weight as any other foreign language course taught in schools.
"The most important lobbyist is you, a citizen," McDonnell told the VSDB students, as well as ASL students from Loudoun County, who suggested the bill to Bell. The House of Delegates and Senate passed the bill April 6.
McDonnell said that he hopes the bill will inspire more people to be trained in ASL and as interpreters.
Armstrong said that for the more than 90 deaf students and 20 blind students, having the governor at their school and having him validate the language that many of them speak was a great experience for students.
Loudoun junior Sarah Briner traveled twice to Richmond to testify before the General Assembly about the importance of sign language being classified as a foreign language.
She along with many of her ASL level 3 classmates traveled to Staunton on Monday to see their work made real.
"This day changed everything for all ASL students all over the state," Briner said. "We represent a lot of other classes and languages and (have) shown that they can get their language or passion out there, too."
When asked by the General Assembly why ASL should be considered a foreign language she said, "If it's not something you understand, something you're not comfortable with, than it's foreign. This is a language that is foreign."
McDonnell told the students from Loudoun County, "I really appreciate that you put your heads together to come up with this good idea."
the more than 90 deaf students and 20 blind students, having the governor at their school and having him validate the language that many of them speak was a great experience for students.
Loudoun junior Sarah Briner traveled twice to Richmond to testify before the General Assembly about the importance of sign language being classified as a foreign language.
She along with many of her ASL level 3 classmates traveled to Staunton on Monday to see their work made real.
"This day changed everything for all ASL students all over the state," Briner said. "We represent a lot of other classes and languages and (have) shown that they can get their language or passion out there, too."
When asked by the General Assembly why ASL should be considered a foreign language she said, "If it's not something you understand, something you're not comfortable with, than it's foreign. This is a language that is foreign."
McDonnell told the students from Loudoun County, "I really appreciate that you put your heads together to come up with this good idea."
Students at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind raised their arms and shook their hands, signing clapping, as Gov. Bob McDonnell, signed a bill Monday validating their language in Virginia public schools.
"American Sign Language is the language of our students," said VSDB superintendent Nancy Armstrong. "It's the language we believe in."
McDonnell signed HB1435, proposed by Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell, R-Staunton, stating that ASL will be considered a foreign language and will have the same weight as any other foreign language course taught in schools.
"The most important lobbyist is you, a citizen," McDonnell told the VSDB students, as well as ASL students from Loudoun County, who suggested the bill to Bell. The House of Delegates and Senate passed the bill April 6.
McDonnell said that he hopes the bill will inspire more people to be trained in ASL and as interpreters.
Armstrong said that for the more than 90 deaf students and 20 blind students, having the governor at their school and having him validate the language that many of them speak was a great experience for students.
Loudoun junior Sarah Briner traveled twice to Richmond to testify before the General Assembly about the importance of sign language being classified as a foreign language.
She along with many of her ASL level 3 classmates traveled to Staunton on Monday to see their work made real.
"This day changed everything for all ASL students all over the state," Briner said. "We represent a lot of other classes and languages and (have) shown that they can get their language or passion out there, too."
When asked by the General Assembly why ASL should be considered a foreign language she said, "If it's not something you understand, something you're not comfortable with, than it's foreign. This is a language that is foreign."
McDonnell told the students from Loudoun County, "I really appreciate that you put your heads together to come up with this good idea."
the more than 90 deaf students and 20 blind students, having the governor at their school and having him validate the language that many of them speak was a great experience for students.
Loudoun junior Sarah Briner traveled twice to Richmond to testify before the General Assembly about the importance of sign language being classified as a foreign language.
She along with many of her ASL level 3 classmates traveled to Staunton on Monday to see their work made real.
"This day changed everything for all ASL students all over the state," Briner said. "We represent a lot of other classes and languages and (have) shown that they can get their language or passion out there, too."
When asked by the General Assembly why ASL should be considered a foreign language she said, "If it's not something you understand, something you're not comfortable with, than it's foreign. This is a language that is foreign."
McDonnell told the students from Loudoun County, "I really appreciate that you put your heads together to come up with this good idea."