Cleveland State University's Campus Activities Board and its campus partners hosted an event Sept. 23 marking The International Day of Sign Languages. The organizers hoped to strengthen understanding of American Sign Language (ASL) while also connecting students to global awareness of the issue.

The U.N. General Assembly in 2017 declared Sept. 23 The International Day of Sign Languages to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in preserving the rights and cultures of Deaf communities. The day is also about supporting and protecting the language and culture of Deaf people and sign language users everywhere.

“It’s important to celebrate it on campus to represent our Deaf students and to promote awareness of the use of sign language in a fun and engaging way,” said Julie Cutcher, CAB diversity chair. “My goals are to spread awareness about Deaf culture and also to give students a chance to learn something new while connecting with each other.”

The evening featured a guest speaker who led a mini lesson in ASL and spoke about Deaf culture. That was followed by games which encouraged students to practice basic signs and rely on visual cues such as eye contact. Tables were set up with campus resources, including information about Cleveland State’s ASL minor.

Cutcher said she was especially excited to introduce students to ASL for the first time. “I myself don’t know sign language, but I’ve always wanted to learn,” she said. “My hope is that students will come to the event and be inspired and empowered to take the first step.”

For many students, the event was a chance to try something new.

“I’ve always wanted to learn another language, but I learn better visually,” said Julia, a third-year student who attended the event. “Sign language just makes sense to me because it’s based on movement and expression. Plus, ASL feels like it’s becoming more common, so I thought this was the perfect chance to start.”

“We came here to take advantage of opportunities that Cleveland State offers,” another group of students said. “It was cool to see how much you can communicate with just your hands.”

The International Day of Sign also gave organizers the chance to highlight the wider significance of the holiday. “Although we are focusing on ASL for this event, there are more than 100 distinct sign languages around the world,” Cutcher said. “I wanted students to see how diverse sign languages are and how important it is to celebrate them.”

Students interested in continuing their ASL journey can join Cleveland State’s ASL Club, explore classes through the ASL minor or participate in future events focused on Deaf culture. More information can be found through CSU’s Modern Languages Department.