Today, April 15th, we observe National ASL Day! It is a great opportunity to celebrate and learn more about American Sign Language.
On this day in 1817, the American School for the Deaf (ASD) opened in Hartford, Connecticut. There, teachers and students worked together, and by intermingling Native American Signs, French Sign Language, and even Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language, American Sign Language (ASL) was born.
With time, more schools for the deaf were founded and ASL spread not only to those schools but to the world. ASL is used in the majority of Canada, throughout the American continent, and has even expanded to Central Africa, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.
6 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL ASL DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOL!
- Learn or share some ASL words and phrases with your classmates or coworkers
- Create ASL Day cards for friends, teachers, employees and client
- Search YouTube for a song you love being signed and share it with your classmates or co-workers (ASDC’s YouTube channel is a great place to find a song!)
- Talk to your friends and co-workers leaders about volunteering on local community projects that support Deaf/HH organizations
- If you or someone you love uses ASL in your day to day, don’t be shy and share your story!
- Thank your friends, co-workers, and classmates for signing and keeping it Deaf-Friendly by posting the two downloadable posters/flyers below
Have more ideas? Share them on your social media sites with the hashtags #ASLDay #NationalASLDay #ASDC #ASDCCelebrates. Don’t forget to tag us!
