FEATURE
ASL: A Miracle BY LAURENE SIMMS In November 2017, I posted a YouTube video sharing some inspiring miracles that led me to write this article. I should start by letting you know that American Sign Language (ASL) is not my native language. Shocking, isn’t it. As a mother of three, with two who are deaf, I’m lucky to have raised my children using ASL. Growing up oral had me on a journey of being a “failure”. I was one of many deaf children who were labeled “oral failures” because society believed we couldn’t talk. I’ve had my hands and mouth slapped, a classic experience that many others share as well. Ironically enough, even after being labeled a failure, I still managed to get a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska, a Master’s in Deaf Education from Western Maryland College, and a Doctorate in Language, Reading, and Culture, with a minor in Teaching and Teacher Education, from the University of Arizona – that’s some education background for someone who society dubbed as a failure. Even with that journey, ASL managed to be a part of me. When I was five or six years old, my mother and I could communicate with each other, although the signs were particular to us only. I remember one day Mom and I went to a store to browse, and I noticed a woman and a little girl both signing. Naturally, I was curious. I grabbed her attention, “Mom, look! They’re signing!” Fortunately, Mom took my hand and together, we walked to meet them. As our mothers talked, that girl and I began a lifelong friendship. The mother we met at the store informed Mom about a deaf school that was near my home, maybe five 14
Laurene looks on during a student discussion in her classroom.
miles away, the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD). Eventually, Mom and I visited ISD and I remember being blown away. I was so mesmerized by how many students were signing. Even though I didn’t understand a word, I remember being in complete awe. Quickly, I immersed myself and picked up sign language. I remember just how amazing it was. ASL was a miracle then. Years later, when I was in high school, I was part of the Big Brother/Big Sister project. I was assigned to a little boy who was maybe four years old. As I signed with him, I noticed he wouldn’t look at
