Protect West High's American Sign Language Program

Stop ending ASL in high school. This decision is harmful and short-sighted. American Sign Language is not just an elective — it is a complete language with its own grammar, culture, and history. Ending ASL removes access to communication for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and reduces inclusion in our schools. ASL helps students develop empathy, cultural awareness, and real-world communication skills. It also supports careers in education, healthcare, interpreting, and community service. Taking away ASL sends the message that Deaf culture and accessibility do not matter. Our schools should expand language options — not eliminate them.

It should be mandatory!

ASL is a great language!

Please continue the sign language program. Training students to sign benefits them as well as the hearing impaired that rely on a limited number of people that know sign language Thank you

ASL is an invaluable skill to learn and maintain. More high schools across the country should offer these programs since they can be utilized in future careers as well as communicating with Deaf and non-verbal people in everyday life.

Sign language is a language that can save lives, if someone is in danger they can signal to someone nearby that they are in danger. Signals for help have saved lives, or you need to communicate with someone who can't hear

Keep the ASL class!!!!

This is one of the worst decisions I think the school has made, this is like how Mandarin-Chinese was almost cut. West High is one of the only schools to have ASL as a class, and apparently, it's one of the most taken language classes. Also, I think it's a bad idea in general because we're just cutting classes for no reason.

This is an important class and should definitely be offered. This is one language that is soooo overlooked and disregarded, but is vital for communication no matter where you go in this world. I pray ALL schools would offer it.

This language class is about accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing community and so vital to create unity amongst all.

My niece is a Senior at West High School. The only thing she ever shared with me and felt so passionate about in school, is ASL and her ASL class. This ASL class has been a major pathway in her exploring the possibility of even going to college and pursuing a career in this field. She is actively pursuing a college to continue her academic journey in ASL. West High School should listen to their student's stories and continue this program for future generations.

I LOVE THIS IDEA!!! Kids who wanna learn it should be allowed to!!! It’ll save them from having to write on paper or someone else translating for said deaf person!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This language should be taught nationally.

It should be mandatory to learn. Communication

I took ASL at west and I don’t regret it. I think everyone could benefit from learning ASL. For one that makes interacting with deaf people easier and shows them you care enough to try to learn their language. It also comes in handy in other ways as well that would take too long to list here. It is a very useful language to know. I would argue that in some ways more useful than most of the other languages you can learn at West. Please keep ASL!!!

Keep ASL

I work in the healthcare and I wished I learned ASL during highschool, ASL is more common than you think. Please don't take this away from other kids that can benefit from learning ASL.

ASL is not just a class, it is a language, culture, and identity. As a Deaf person with a degree in ASL Linguistics and Deaf Culture, I know how important access to ASL education is for future students. Please protect and support ASL programs.

ASL is not only for Deaf and hard of hearing people, it is also for people who can't talk or have trouble communicating . I learned ASL when I was in college, as it was not available at the highschool level. It is wonderful that it is being offered to so many students. Please do not cut it.

Hi there and yes need to me ASL as it is imported that deaf be able to communicate as well those cannot talk too I’m deaf use BSL but I’m born American but live in uk since 6/7 months old live to learn ASL as I have a book to learn it keep fighting