Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
http://www.athensnews.com/issue/article.php3?story_id=24171
"Talk with your hands, listen with your eyes, and communicate with your hearts," was the quote written on the blackboard at the Ohio University Sign Language Club's kick-off meeting Thursday night.
"We found that we are lacking a sign-language club at OU, so it's a good year to start one," said Liz Yazbek, one of the student organizers. "We want to help the sign-language program and bridge the gap between hearing and deaf people."
Nearly 25 people -- including some with hearing impairments and others involved in the School of Hearing Speech and Language Sciences -- gathered in Grover Center to share their own stories and meet those with similar experiences.
"I was the only deaf person in my entire [high school] graduating class," said Yazbek, a freshman at OU. "But being deaf is our identity, and we overcome it and get through it."
Emma Kreiner, another organizer and first-year student, said she started having hearing problems when she was 8 years old. Though her Personal FM Hearing System helps to pick up noises throughout the room, she said, sign language often makes it easier for her to communicate.
"An important part of learning ASL [American Sign Language] is in conversation with people," said Kreiner. "You learn much faster using it -- not just from a book."
The club will provide opportunities to learn about deaf culture and history of the language and to bring the communication to life through group discussions, games and "test-your-knowledge" trivia, said the planners.
Yazbek said that deaf people are often stereotyped, but can easily work with hearing people.
"It takes time," said Kreiner, "and we're ready for the challenge."
The group welcomes all OU students, faculty, and anyone else interested in learning about the language regardless of his or her signing ability, since improving skills is a main goal of the club. "Even I'm still learning," Kreiner said.
"And we don't always have to be in this room," added Yazbek, laughing. "We can be active outside and have fun with it."
The organizers hope to have fundraising events, a club picnic in May, bowling nights, and other events to encourage members to be active around the community.
Brooke Hallowell, director of OU's School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, noted that a three-course sign-language sequence is offered every quarter and during summer sessions, "We are hoping to expand to serve more students," she added.
At the meeting, Hallowell said she hopes to eventually create a two-year sign-language sequence, to bring in more full-time professors for the program, and to work with the OU regional campuses as well.
After some of the new club members shared their individual ties to sign language, Kreiner said that being deaf can be difficult at times, but that "you have to take a leap of faith and trust that you're going to do OK."
Club members will meet weekly to learn sign language from one another, offer tutoring sessions, and most importantly, to support one another, organizers said.
"Talk with your hands, listen with your eyes, and communicate with your hearts," was the quote written on the blackboard at the Ohio University Sign Language Club's kick-off meeting Thursday night.
"We found that we are lacking a sign-language club at OU, so it's a good year to start one," said Liz Yazbek, one of the student organizers. "We want to help the sign-language program and bridge the gap between hearing and deaf people."
Nearly 25 people -- including some with hearing impairments and others involved in the School of Hearing Speech and Language Sciences -- gathered in Grover Center to share their own stories and meet those with similar experiences.
"I was the only deaf person in my entire [high school] graduating class," said Yazbek, a freshman at OU. "But being deaf is our identity, and we overcome it and get through it."
Emma Kreiner, another organizer and first-year student, said she started having hearing problems when she was 8 years old. Though her Personal FM Hearing System helps to pick up noises throughout the room, she said, sign language often makes it easier for her to communicate.
"An important part of learning ASL [American Sign Language] is in conversation with people," said Kreiner. "You learn much faster using it -- not just from a book."
The club will provide opportunities to learn about deaf culture and history of the language and to bring the communication to life through group discussions, games and "test-your-knowledge" trivia, said the planners.
Yazbek said that deaf people are often stereotyped, but can easily work with hearing people.
"It takes time," said Kreiner, "and we're ready for the challenge."
The group welcomes all OU students, faculty, and anyone else interested in learning about the language regardless of his or her signing ability, since improving skills is a main goal of the club. "Even I'm still learning," Kreiner said.
"And we don't always have to be in this room," added Yazbek, laughing. "We can be active outside and have fun with it."
The organizers hope to have fundraising events, a club picnic in May, bowling nights, and other events to encourage members to be active around the community.
Brooke Hallowell, director of OU's School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, noted that a three-course sign-language sequence is offered every quarter and during summer sessions, "We are hoping to expand to serve more students," she added.
At the meeting, Hallowell said she hopes to eventually create a two-year sign-language sequence, to bring in more full-time professors for the program, and to work with the OU regional campuses as well.
After some of the new club members shared their individual ties to sign language, Kreiner said that being deaf can be difficult at times, but that "you have to take a leap of faith and trust that you're going to do OK."
Club members will meet weekly to learn sign language from one another, offer tutoring sessions, and most importantly, to support one another, organizers said.