ASLD Fall Game Night Offered Fun, Community, and Skill Development
The American Sign Language and Deaf Studies (ASLD) program at KU Edwards Campus recently gathered for their traditional fall semester game night that offers an ASL-centered space where individuals of all fluency levels can practice signing in a relaxed setting, connect with faculty, meet other students, and engage with Deaf community members.
The event was hosted by School of Professional Studies faculty Stacey McIntosh-Lily and Petra M. Horn-Marsh, and drew participants from local high schools, KU’s Lawrence campus, Johnson County Community College, and ASL & Deaf Studies majors at the KU Edwards Campus.
“At game night,” Horn-Marsh said, “we found ourselves marveling at how busy our hands, eyes, and faces were from all the signing.”
Lawrence professor Larry Finn has been teaching ASL 1 and 2 at KU since 2011. He works with program leaders at the Edward’s Campus and Johnson County Community College to coordinate curriculum between their ASL and Deaf Studies degrees.
When asked for advice for future students, Finn said, “ASL is different [from] an oral language. It is a visual language that uses your whole body to communicate. You use facial expressions and body language, and I think that is the beauty of ASL.”
“It’s exciting to see students pairing ASL and Deaf Studies with other majors, showing that interpreting isn’t the only path [for ASL and Deaf Studies majors], and that direct communication belongs in every field,” Stacey McIntosh-Lily said.
According to Kimberly Kuhns, chairperson and professor of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at Johnson County Community College, students should be prepared to “turn off their voices” when they come to class. She noted that she brings an interpreter to the first day of class, but normal ASL classes consist of only signing and no spoken English.
Donna Duong, an ASLD at KU Edwards, is continuing her education after leaving the nursing field. She grew up in a bilingual household and fell in love with ASL because the idea of a language that wasn’t spoken intrigued her.
“Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. As hearing people, we are not often put in situations where our language is not being spoken and are normally uncomfortable with that. You will get comfortable, but before you are, be okay being uncomfortable. It will help you learn.” Duong said.
With more than 50 attendees joining in the fun, the ASL and Deaf Studies game night was a huge success and a great environment for students to practice their skills, connect with faculty, and learn more about the program. Game night is typically offered once each semester, so look for future information about the spring game night and join the fun!
Learn more about the School of Professional Studies ASLD program at the KU Edwards Campus.
