Gallaudet University
Who We Are
Our Work
Overview
News & Stories
Apr 15, 2024
Apr 11, 2024
Apr 10, 2024
Upcoming Events
April 18, 2024
University Wide Events
No Communication Compromises
Areas of Study
Schools
Programs
Changing the world
Research
Community & Innovation
Research Experiences & Services
Our Global Presence
Global at Home
Global Learning For All
Global Engagement
Your Journey Starts Here
Admissions
Financial Aid
Explore Our Campus
Connect
Discover
Influence
Directories
Popular Keywords
Explore
Quick Links
GU
/
Signing ecosystem
Connecting you to the Signing community around the world.The signing ecosystem provides a lifetime of opportunity for our signing communities to connect, discover, and influence.
[Start Video Transcript]
[Music]
hey
do you want to explore dc today yeah
sure but
today let’s do something different why
don’t we check out the local signing
ecosystem
what’s that i’ll show you
want a drink how about a chai latte sure
starbucks signing starbucks yes
let’s go what’s next
let’s see how much you know about
gallaudet sure
you’ve worked here for 12 years and you
didn’t know
i know i know i know i’m starving you
want to grab some pizza
yes
mozzarella perfect and it’s deaf owned
too
perfect let’s go
[Applause]
another pizza we’re stuffed dessert
[End Video Transcript]
The global pandemic has challenged us and provided opportunities like never before.
We now have the opportunity to learn,
grow, and expand the reach of our signing community
and vibrancy of our language.
Each one of you had to adapt.
In fact, all of us have been able to adapt.
We are all in this together and together we will succeed.
Tracey Smith, Information Security Human Resource manager,
reached out to me and said
“our CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), Kostas,
wants to see more diversity and inclusion
in Information Security, do you have any ideas?”
I said “Yes, actually.
Why don’t we start a partnership with Gallaudet?”
We met with P&G’s Digital Forensics
and eDiscovery executives.
At the end of the meeting, the executives were intrigued
and wanted to visit Gallaudet the very next month.
After we spent all day with them,
it was agreed upon that they would commit to take
in three interns from our IT department.
All three were assigned to three different parts
of cyber security.
P&G has a high bar of standards here.
We expect employees and interns to come in and
perform at their peak.
Additionally, P&G loaned Scott to teach a course remotely
here at Gallaudet.
This was part of our efforts to help strengthen
the IT curriculum.
I didn’t realize I had actually gotten the internship.
It’s truly been life changing.
We’ve learned and played with new ideas.
It’s been fun, and in talking with my mentors
it’ll really help my future professional skills.
It’s been comfortable as if I just belonged there.
I was able to connect and converse with others.
It’s the perfect field for deaf people.
Deaf people are used to analyzing with their eyes.
and many times we find things that others may not right away.
They were ongoingly committed to our interns.
They were very excited in making this happen.
They took action right away and it was a very successful
experience, as a result, for both the company
and our students.
This was their first time hosting deaf interns
but it was effortless, because everyone at P&G was on board.
They truly respected the value to add diversity
and inclusion to their workplace.
All three interns exceeded my expectations.
Captioned by aslcaptions.com
What you’ve just seen with us,
as well as what happened at the Metro,
was gestural communication.
How did we start using this all over the world?
You can imagine [hearing] parents having deaf children
and beginning to communicate by gesturing.
Perhaps it’s at a workplace communicating
with a new deaf hire.
Gesture can be used as a form of communication everywhere.
This question led to our pursuit of and founding of the
Gesture Literacy Knowledge Studio.
Our lab is unique because it is deaf-centered.
The lab is operated by deaf people who look at gestures
through the lens of sign language.
The goal is not to benefit deaf and hard of hearing [people],
but rather, all of humanity.
Gestures and sign language communication involve using
your body, pointing, facial expressions,
acting and gesturing.
Also involved in this communication process
is eye contact.
Making this connection
really improves communication in many ways.
There are many sign language forms in the world.
The root of all these languages comes down to gesturing.
When you have become comfortable with gestures,
you have already set the foundation.
This makes it easier for you to learn sign language
on top of this skill!
This allows us to broaden our worldview, giving us freedom
and increasing its use in social situations
means that deaf people have more access.
People will always use gesture,
whether it’s at work, or at school in the classrooms,
where teachers might gesture
to aid in the visual learning process for students.
Gesturing impacts us on multiple fronts.
We are making practical use of this idea to make the world
a better place, and increase communication within our society.
hello Mr. Cook I am thrilled to be sending you what may be your first ever
letter in American Sign Language last week I had a historic and memorable
visit to your Apple Store to observe the training of our K through 12 teachers
related to their bilingualism curriculum it was remarkable to see 22 deaf
employees along with interpreters and the bilingual communication happening
there this was an unprecedented opportunity for us our community for
Apple and for Gallaudet
Gallaudet made an investment decision to purchase iPads for all of our K through
12 students on the recommendation of our teachers and staff
this was after various technological options were assessed to decide the best
fit for bilingual learning we selected your iPads the combination of the impact
of our decision to adopt your technology along with Apple’s corporate commitment
to accessibility and diversity and hiring people with skills is simply
unmatched
we are thrilled to see this partnership grow with your store we are thrilled to
see the impact of your commitment to accessibility and hiring diverse people
including our students and our alumni who work at your store the impact we are
making collectively on the future lives of deaf children and indeed on deaf and
hard of hearing people all over the world is just phenomenal I look forward
to continuing our collaboration in fostering economic growth in our
communities and in the signing ecosystem thank you and congratulations.
ASL is the most taught language in the U.S.
$10.3
(Gallaudet University, 2021)
61
(World Federation of the Deaf)
(Annual Survey, Gallaudet Research Institute (2012))
(CSD)
(WHO)
Workplaces, services, and events such as conferences, concerts, and more, that already provide accessibility accommodations, or will gladly provide upon request
Selling or teaching ASL or ASL-related products with no involvement or approval from deaf or hard of hearing perspectives
Hiring and supporting talented deaf artists and entrepreneurs
Glamorization of sign language interpreters or hearing people who use ASL with lack of recognition for deaf people themselves
Learning ASL or any signed language to communicate with a deaf or hard of hearing person in your life
Propaganda with misleading messages that prioritize assistive devices and the ability to hear as the only or cure-all solution for deaf and hard of hearing people
Understanding and accepting the wide variety of identities and accommodation needs across the deaf spectrum
Denying sign language access for deaf children, which causes language deprivation, while popularizing the use of baby signs for hearing children
Innovative technology solutions that elevate accessibility for large communities, not just for the deaf and hard of hearing
Protecting the signing community’s collective wealth and opportunities means combating our resources from being exploited and dispersed into the larger society.
We might think Gallaudet is pretty small, just us within each other.
Really, no, it’s a lot bigger than that. We have an entire community on the outside.
From grocery stores to Starbucks to restaurants to just about anywhere!
You’ll be able to bump into people who sign, easily order a burger and they’ll respond in sign language.
Where else can you find that? No where, really, besides here.
We call that the signing ecosystem.
Why do I love Gallaudet? There’s signing everywhere, not just on campus.
My world expands into Washington DC too.
For example, when I go out to eat, go out for coffee, go grocery shopping, I’m surrounded by signing.
Plus jobs, internships, with interpreters, and with deaf co-peers like myself.
That’s the signing ecosystem.
By filling out the form, you’ll receive information about admissions, invitations to special events, news, and how our students and professors are changing the world.