The American Sign Language club (ASL) is experiencing many changes this year.

Amy Graham, formerly an intervention specialist, has taken over the position as the new ASL teacher and club adviser.  

Graham hopes to expand the ASL club.

Junior Savanna Shields, who is co-treasurer along with Sawyer Borland and Sami Stimpert, has been a part of the ASL club since she was a freshman. 

Shields is excited for another year or ASL club and to work with a new adviser after the former ASL teacher Sharon Weisman retired.  

“I will definitely miss Mrs. Weisman, but I am excited to have a new advisor,” Shields said.

Graham is optimistic that they will gain more members due to the addition of more ASL classes. 

“This position has changed from part time to full time, and we already have over forty students in ASL 1, so I am hoping that the program itself will grow, which will allow our club to also continue to grow,” Graham said.

Senior Londyn Travis, who has been active in the ASL club since she was a freshman, feels that the key to growing the club is for current club members to reach out.

“We can make sure the kids who are in the ASL classes are involved in the club, in addition to the fundraisers that we are planning because it will have more outreach outside the clubs,” Travis said.

Shields explained that you don’t have to be in the ASL class to participate in the club.

“We should expand to people outside of the ASL club and ask them to  join field trips to help the deaf community and build awareness in Beachwood through fun activities,” she said.

Shields believes that by expanding the ASL club they will be expanding awareness of the deaf community so more people can learn about it and the challenges that the deaf community faces on the day to day basis.

“Before I joined the ASL Club, there were a lot of things I didn’t think were challenges for the Deaf community and things we needed to be raising awareness about, like police training for the deaf community and the difficulties they face in everyday life,” Shields said.

Graham has many ideas to get students more involved. 

“Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center is one of the main organizations we will work with to involve students and have them practice sign language as a hands on activity as well as continuing to build awareness regarding the Deaf community,” she said.

“We are looking forward to a field trip [to Kent State] to look into their educational programs and interact with other deaf and hearing students who know sign language,” she added.

With a new teacher and new ideas, the ASL club is excited for a year of growth.