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April 13, 2006
Student's deafness inspires sign language club
Ruthie Bickel and her friend Ashley Barr had trouble communicating, even though both Lebanon High School students understand English. Ruthie said she sits behind Ashley in homeroom, but the 17-year-old juniors might as well have been miles apart. Ashley is deaf, and Ruthie didn't know sign language.
"Before, she'd ask me a question and I'd have to write down my answer. It took a long time to have a conversation," Ruthie said. "Then, she told me to talk to her interpreter so I could talk to her."
Ruthie took her friend's advice, and so did more than a dozen of Ashley's other friends. They asked Ashley's interpreter, Jeannie Hubbs, to teach them how to sign.
Before too long, the group grew to about 30 and into an official club.
For several weeks, Hubbs has met with the club members for 20 minutes twice a week. They've learned the alphabet and have started learning words.
Hubbs said she's impressed by the students' desire to learn sign language.
"They get so excited when they learn something new. They're like sponges," Hubbs said. "And, by learning how to sign, they help people with hearing impairments get rid of the feelings of awkwardness they often feel. I think everybody should learn how to sign. It benefits everybody."
Aside from Ashley, her students had other reasons for joining the club. Some have family members with hearing impairments, while others are considering a career as interpreters. But most of them, like juniors Noel Rivera and Ashley Conzelmann, both 16, said they wanted to be able to communicate with Ashley.
Ashley Conzelmann, who has known Ashley Barr since they were in elementary school, said she's felt bad because deaf people are often ignored, whether it's intentional or not. Now that she knows sign language, Ashley Conzelmann said she can ask how Ashley Barr is doing when she sees her in the hallway at school.
Noel said signing takes getting used to, and it showed. He was having trouble manipulating his fingers when practicing the alphabet.
There were even some giggles when he was having a silent conversation with another student using basic words and sentences, such as "How are you" and "I'm fine, thank you."
"It's pretty fun," Noel said. "I think it would be nice to talk with deaf people in general. It's like learning a new language."
By Carrie Cassidy
http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1144833838120250.xml&coll=1
Posted by 4HL on April 13, 2006 3:10 AM
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