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North Jefferson News, North Jefferson, AL - Sign language club seeks to improve communication
A Gardendale woman is helping teach others to communicate in a new way with a new group of people.
Desiree Baird, a student at Wallace State Community College (WSCC) in Hanceville, has started the Talking Hands Club at the college along with fellow student Adam Schrimser of Hartselle.
Baird and Schrimser, who are both deaf, are teaching sign language to their hearing classmates and to others.
Heather Congo, an English and reading instructor at WSCC, is a sponsor for the Talking Hands Club.
Congo said the men and women learning sign language are being introduced to a whole new world.
“It has opened their eyes to a new culture,” she said. “It has broken down barriers. They’re not afraid to approach Adam and Desiree now. Before, they felt a little intimidated.”
Congo said up to 30 people are attending the club, which meets about once a week.
She said that according to surveys, those learning sign language mostly enjoy “being able to communicate in a different way.”
Baird said that she and Schrimser enjoy teaching people sign language.
“We’ve had several hard times communicating with people,” said Baird. “We never thought we would make an impact. ... The fact Adam and I have helped so many people communicate with their deaf relatives and friends really put us at peace.”
Schrimser said he enjoys helping people learn what is basically a new language.
“Hearing have their own language, and so deaf have their own language too,” he said. “They seem fascinated about it.”
Baird said that she has been personally impacted through her participation in the club.
“I put myself out there and showed that I want to be involved,” she said. “Ever since, people are more and more comfortable talking to me.”
Baird points out that she, Schrimser and other deaf people are just like everyone else, but simply have “lost one sense.”
Miscommunication is a big issue between deaf and hearing people, she said.
“I think we all need to learn from each other,” said Baird.
Congo agrees that hearing and deaf people have much to offer each other.
She knows it from personal experience, since her best friend from college was deaf.
The first few times she met her friend for coffee, the two communicated by writing notes back and forth.
Congo began to pick up sign language from her friend, and rapidly became fluent.
Congo even requested that Baird and Schrimser be put into her classes because she knows how to communicate with them.
Congo is helping the Talking Hands Club reach beyond the college campus.
Club participants recently attended extra meetings in order to learn Christmas carols in sign language. They then sang and signed the carols to residents of Hanceville Nursing Home.
The club is open to the public, not just to college students. Congo said she encourages the deaf community to get involved also.
“We’re just trying to reach out to people to show them a different culture,” said Congo. “Sign language is such a beautiful way to communicate.”
Schrimser said there is one thing he would like for those who can hear to know about those who are deaf.
“I don’t want hearing people to think that deaf people are way different than them. I want them to come up and ask us to hang out,” he said. “I want them to treat deaf people as they would treat others. Don’t treat deaf people like they need help. We are as normal as the hearing world.”
For more information about the club, call Congo at (256) 352-8054 or email her at heather.congo@wallacestate.edu.
A Gardendale woman is helping teach others to communicate in a new way with a new group of people.
Desiree Baird, a student at Wallace State Community College (WSCC) in Hanceville, has started the Talking Hands Club at the college along with fellow student Adam Schrimser of Hartselle.
Baird and Schrimser, who are both deaf, are teaching sign language to their hearing classmates and to others.
Heather Congo, an English and reading instructor at WSCC, is a sponsor for the Talking Hands Club.
Congo said the men and women learning sign language are being introduced to a whole new world.
“It has opened their eyes to a new culture,” she said. “It has broken down barriers. They’re not afraid to approach Adam and Desiree now. Before, they felt a little intimidated.”
Congo said up to 30 people are attending the club, which meets about once a week.
She said that according to surveys, those learning sign language mostly enjoy “being able to communicate in a different way.”
Baird said that she and Schrimser enjoy teaching people sign language.
“We’ve had several hard times communicating with people,” said Baird. “We never thought we would make an impact. ... The fact Adam and I have helped so many people communicate with their deaf relatives and friends really put us at peace.”
Schrimser said he enjoys helping people learn what is basically a new language.
“Hearing have their own language, and so deaf have their own language too,” he said. “They seem fascinated about it.”
Baird said that she has been personally impacted through her participation in the club.
“I put myself out there and showed that I want to be involved,” she said. “Ever since, people are more and more comfortable talking to me.”
Baird points out that she, Schrimser and other deaf people are just like everyone else, but simply have “lost one sense.”
Miscommunication is a big issue between deaf and hearing people, she said.
“I think we all need to learn from each other,” said Baird.
Congo agrees that hearing and deaf people have much to offer each other.
She knows it from personal experience, since her best friend from college was deaf.
The first few times she met her friend for coffee, the two communicated by writing notes back and forth.
Congo began to pick up sign language from her friend, and rapidly became fluent.
Congo even requested that Baird and Schrimser be put into her classes because she knows how to communicate with them.
Congo is helping the Talking Hands Club reach beyond the college campus.
Club participants recently attended extra meetings in order to learn Christmas carols in sign language. They then sang and signed the carols to residents of Hanceville Nursing Home.
The club is open to the public, not just to college students. Congo said she encourages the deaf community to get involved also.
“We’re just trying to reach out to people to show them a different culture,” said Congo. “Sign language is such a beautiful way to communicate.”
Schrimser said there is one thing he would like for those who can hear to know about those who are deaf.
“I don’t want hearing people to think that deaf people are way different than them. I want them to come up and ask us to hang out,” he said. “I want them to treat deaf people as they would treat others. Don’t treat deaf people like they need help. We are as normal as the hearing world.”
For more information about the club, call Congo at (256) 352-8054 or email her at heather.congo@wallacestate.edu.