Petition for William and Mary to Offer Courses in American Sign Language

I've been learning ASL for about 5 years and is one of the most beautiful, and underrepresented languages.

This is a lovely idea! There are job opportunities with knowing ASL and can be a healthy hobby

This would be incredibly useful to know how to use! (I've worked in customer service and it sucks when you can't help someone out because you don't know how to better communicate with them!)

Thanks!

As a school focused on inclusivity, it is so important that WM incorporate ASL into the curriculum!! ASL is the 4th most used language in the United States and offering it would open William and Mary students up to a vibrant Deaf culture. Even many of the Ivies offer ASL. If William and Mary offered ASL classes, I would have committed to the school much sooner than I did, and I would certainly be taking said ASL classes.

ASL education is crucial to ensuring accessibility in the future and should be taught just like any other language

More accessibility!!!

I don't understand why this hasn't been offered before.

ASL would have been one of the most useful classes that I could have taken; as an alum I am trying very hard to teach myself ASL, but I would have definitely preferred to learn it in a classroom with a professor and other students.

I would take this class. Disappointed they don't have it already.

I am an alumnus, and this will induce me to give money to the College.

Offering ASL classes is so important! My sister is Deaf and I grew up speaking ASL at home, so this is an issue that I feel very strongly about. ASL is an incredibly useful (and marketable) skill for students who want to be able to communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. This is a super important step towards making our campus more accessible!

There are many good reasons to offer courses in ASL on campus, and really no good reasons not to.

Wish they had this class when I attended, good luck!!

The availability of this course at W&M is long overdue!

William and Mary. Is a community that is inclusive. Sign language is a way to bridge the gap between two cultures and should be included as a part of William and Mary's curriculum.

This is a very important language!!!!

I would have taken this course if it were offered. This would be an important step in showing William and Mary's commitment to diversity!

This is so important! Not only will this make the college more accessible and welcoming to those with hearing impairments, but it is an invaluable skill to be learned and brought to future employment and endeavors after graduation.

!! this is so important to increase campus diversity in a way so many of us don't think about in our day to day lives