How Sign Language Classes This September Are Breaking Barriers In Communication

The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges is starting up a new series of sign language classes this week.

Director of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, Susan Nelson, said the classes range in difficulty. In Sign Language 1 students learn the alphabet, in Sign Language 2 they move on to vocabulary, then in Sign Language 3 they put it all together to create conversational sentences.

"We really want more people to feel comfortable with signing and have fewer misunderstandings about what deafness means," she said.

The 10-week sessions are open to the public, but The Center also offers the class to its members.

Wanda Dean first learned ASL in the 70's and took a job working with deaf and blind children out of college. She is using the member class to improve on her skills.

"I am the only person in my family that knows it and I would like to be able to go more in depth," Dean continued saying, "I can communicate at a certain level but anywhere there is sign language classes, that is convenient for me, I take them."

Leslie Livingston is in the class with her. She learned sign language at the University of Tulsa and Tulsa Community College years ago but needed a refresher course.

"There are a lot of deaf people in the world and they cannot communicate and they get left out a lot," said Livingston.

An issue she saw within her own family.

"I had a sister-in-law and she quit coming to family functions because no one in her family signed," Livingston added.

Sign language is the third most commonly used language in the United States. Nelson said it bridges a gap between the hearing and deaf communities that interpreters often have to fill.

"I think it is important that we can communicate with people directly, not always having to use an interpreter," she continued saying, "We love our interpreters, they are critical to us, but for basic human communication just to be able to have that direct connection is always best."

Something the members at The Center can relate to in their own way.

"It is just like accessibility," said Livingston. "I am in a wheelchair and the world is not very accessible and I cannot imagine communication. This is frustrating enough, but communication is so important."

To learn more and get signed up for a sign language class visit https://www.tulsacenter.org/service/deaf-hard-of-hearing-services/. The cost is $120 per person and $20 for the textbook.

The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges is also hosting events throughout September for Deaf Awareness Month. You can find the full schedule at https://www.tulsacenter.org/service/deaf-hard-of-hearing-services/.

Sign-Ups Here

Deaf Awareness Month events include:

1. Tuesday, September 24 from 4-8 p.m. - Silent Dinner at Incredible Pizza
2. Wednesday, September 25 at 8:30 p.m. - Open-Captioned Movie Night at TeePee Drive-In (playing Transformer One)
3. Thursday, September 26 from 11a.m-1 p.m. - ASL Fair at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah
4. Saturday, September 28 from 2-4 p.m. - ASL Poetry Walk/Social at Oxley Nature Center